The Australian Women's Register

Summary

Sheila Wesley Smith was born in Western Australia and the family moved to Belair when she was five. She enjoyed riding and music. Wesley Smith went to the Kindergarten Training College in Palmer Place, North Adelaide and opened a kindergarten at Blackwood. She and her students were involved in the pageant for the South Australian centenary in 1936 and Wesley Smith was the Spirit of SA. She became the Director of the Franklin Street free kindergarten and then taught at the PGC in the junior school. She married Harry Wesley Smith and in 1939 left for England. World War II broke out so they returned to Australia in 1942. Her husband joined the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) and Wesley Smith raised their four sons. Wesley Smith joined the Kindergarten of the Air and worked on programs for five years in the 1960s. She was involved with community work with handicapped children and people in nursing homes.