Donald Sydney Smith OBE (27 July 19201 December 1998) was an Australian operatic tenor. His voice had a bright Italianate quality which could match, in size carrying power and tonal allure, the voices of most sopranos and mezzos. He attracted a fiercely loyal public following, and many Australians who had no prior experience of opera became opera lovers through Smith's work. His performances were regularly sold out with The Australian Opera at the Sydney Opera House.
Early years and background
Donald Sydney Smith was born in Bundaberg, Queensland, on 27 July 1920. Smith's early schooling and education was spasmodic and at around 10 years old, while in 4th grade primary school, he was removed from school by his parents (Donald Sydney Smith and Elizabeth Maud Smith - née Clarque), to help work on his family's milk run and dairy property.
At around the age of 12 years old he was sentenced to the notorious Westbrook Farm Home for boys (outside Toowoomba), where he spent some seven months for allegedly stealing and 'joy riding' in a friend's sister's boyfriend's motor vehicle with some of his mates. It is understood that Donald was the only youth in the group who was able to drive a motor vehicle, which he learned to do helping his father deliver milk on the family milk run. (Today such a misdemeanour by a child of 12 years old would barely warrant a slap on the wrist). Donald was subsequently released into the care of relatives of his mother a Mr Leslie Robertson in Toowoomba and he then went to live with them in Brisbane. The circumstances of Donald's 'trial' and 'sentence' have never been detailed. Also it still remains a mystery as to why his father Donald Senior and his mother Maud would have allowed such a sentence to be carried out (with appeal) for such a small misdemeanour.
During the period after Donald's release from Westbrook, in his early teenage years, Donald continued to educate himself whilst working as a sugar cane cutter on properties in and around the Bundaberg area. At the age of 16 years Donald gained his first employment with the Bundaberg Millaquin Sugar Mill and started training in the capacity as a sugar chemist. At the age of 18 years old, Donald met Ms Thelma Joyce Lovett, who eventually became his lifelong partner and whom he married in Bundaberg in 1942. They remained together until Donald's passing in the Pleasantville Nursing Home in Wynnum Brisbane. In 1942 their son Donald Robin Smith was born in Bundaberg, and Donald's two daughters Deanna Joy and Carol Beth were born in Brisbane in 1943 and 1945 respectively.
On 4 October 1941, during World War II, Donald Sydney Smith enlisted in the Australian Army (47th Battalion AFI Military Services Number QX48665). Donald served at Milne Bay in New Guinea. It was here in New Guinea whilst serving as a private and a machine gunner that he was wounded in the right hand by 'friendly fire’ after being mistaken for the enemy, whilst setting up range markers for the machine guns. Following being wounded, he was first transported to an American-based hospital ship believed to be the 'SS Tasman', for treatment of his injuries, and where he also contracted malaria and lost so much weight down to 6 stones. The Australian Army at that time were unaware of where he was being treated. Therefore, it was during this time that Joy (who was on her way to hospital to deliver their first daughter Deanna Joy), was advised by the Army that Donald was still alive, as they had previously reported that he was "missing in action, believed to be deceased". During recuperation for his injuries and after being repatriated to Australia Donald was eventually discharged from the Army on 28 October 1943.
Singing career
Donald Smith began his singing career on the local radio station 4BU Bundaberg, firstly singing mainly 'country and western’ music. He also toured the local area with a group called ‘Novac's Troupers'. Although a natural tenor voice from birth, it is understood that Donald had his first ‘singing lesson’ in Bundaberg with a lady named Kate Gratehead. It was she who helped him refine his musical ability and vocal technique for his natural tenor voice. Following Donald's return to civilian life after being discharged from the Army, he and Joy firstly relocated from Bundaberg to Toowoomba and then eventually to Brisbane. In Brisbane Donald found work as a clerk with the Government's ‘Repatriation Department’. He also found additional work to support his young family, including that as a ‘lift driver’ in a David Jones department store.