Highly respected Royals member, Bob Smith, passed away on 28 October 2024 following a long illness.
Bob was well known to sports clubs across Canberra through his businesses, Classic Framing and TrophyLink.
His sons, Nathan and Damon, both played rugby for Royals.
Bob made an enormous contribution to Royals over the years in a number of areas.
He was a key member of the Royals Rugby Foundation which raised significant funds for Royals player development. He also generously donated items for fundraising functions organised by the Foundation and framed rugby memorabilia for auction at these events.
He took on the Presidency of the Royals Licenced Club when it entered into administration in the early 2000s and guided the club through that difficult and complex process.
Bob also played the key role in negotiating ongoing funding arrangements with the Raiders Club, which took over the management of the licenced club, for a further three-year period. This gave Royals the ‘breathing space’ to set up new sponsorship arrangements with the Southern Cross Club and other key parties. This funding, together with the Rugby Foundation funds, kept Royals afloat during a very difficult period in the Club’s history.
He was also a tireless volunteer for Royals across a range of areas, including set up/ clean up on Royals home game days, and assisting past Club Patron, Keith Hawke, with catering for sponsors and special guests at home games.
Bob will be greatly missed by his many friends at Royals and across the Canberra sports communities.
A memorial service for Bob Smith will be held next Wednesday 6 November at 3pm, Norwood Park. For details of the service and to RSVP, please go to https://pp.events/robertvsmith
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