Science Teacher, Author, Head of Senior School

For 33 years, Alan Smith inspired generations of Carey students with his unwavering belief in teaching for excellence. A brilliant chemist, he nurtured a lifelong love of learning in his students and challenged each one to “realise their maximum potential.”

Raised in Northcote, Smith excelled academically, earning a Dafydd Lewis Scholarship to the University of Melbourne, where he graduated with distinction in chemistry. After early work as a research chemist, he was drawn to teaching -an influence he credited to his own headmaster, who called teaching “the noblest profession of all.” Smith taught first at Northcote High before joining Carey, where he became Head of Senior School.

A demanding but inspiring educator, Smith authored ten internationally used chemistry textbooks and was renowned for the exceptional achievements of his students. Many entered the school specifically to study under him, and countless went on to distinguished medical and scientific careers.

Beyond the classroom, Smith lived a life rich in interests - Australian bushland, scientific inquiry, sport and especially the Carlton Football Club,. He is remembered for his belief that “not failure, but low aim is a crime,” a philosophy that shaped the lives of many Carey students.

Alan Smith’s legacy endures in the generations he inspired.