Babette Smith OAM

23/11/2021

Vale

Babette Smith OAM, who served as the New South Wales Bar Association’s Executive Director from September 1993 to June 1997, passed away yesterday aged 79. Babette was the first and only woman to serve in the role of the Association’s Executive Director, and in that time she was at the forefront of a substantial change in the Bar’s approach to governance.

Following her time at the Association, Ms Smith returned to her work as an historian, where she continued her pioneering research and writing in the field of female convict history. She published three highly successful books, Australia’s Birth Stain, The Luck of the Irish and Defiant Voices - How Australia’s Female Convicts Challenged Authority 1788–1853. She also held the position of Adjunct Lecturer at the University of New England.

Ms Smith was awarded an OAM in 2015 for her services to history.

Members will be advised of funeral arrangements when they are available.