Love, Loss And Legacy Mackay Widower Honoured With State Volunteer Award

The late Leah Smith, riding horses fearlessly in shorts. Photo sourced

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After losing his wife to asbestos-related cancer in August 2024, Mackay father and widower Phil Smith has spent the past 22 months relentlessly advocating and fundraising through Ride In Shorts For Leah, an initiative to which he has devoted more than 1,200 volunteer hours and raised over $42,000 for asbestos education and disease prevention initiatives.

On May 15th, Mr Smith proudly, yet humbly, received the Queensland New Volunteer Award for 2026.

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Advocacy Australia and its Asbestos Education Committee announced the win, presented by the Governor of Queensland, Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, at Brisbane City Hall.

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The recognition comes in the wake of profound loss, following the heartbreaking passing of his wife, Leah Smith.

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Leah had unknowingly been exposed to asbestos fibres as a three-year-old when her parents built their family home. At just 49 years of age, and only eight months and one day after her diagnosis, she tragically succumbed to malignant mesothelioma.

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She has since been remembered as a woman of great courage, often doing what she loved most – riding horses fearlessly in shorts, with a beer in hand.

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It is a legacy now carried forward through Ride In Shorts For Leah.

Since her passing, Mr Smith has become a powerful voice in educating Australians about the dangers of asbestos exposure and the importance of safe renovation practices.

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He said the award was dedicated to Leah and to every family impacted by asbestos-related diseases including malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.

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“Leah wanted people to be warned about the dangers of asbestos and how easily exposure can happen when asbestos-containing materials that remain in 1-in-3 Australian homes are disturbed during renovations, maintenance and demolition.

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“I made a promise to Leah that I would share our story and if it helps prevent even one family from going through this heartbreak, then everything we’ve done will have been worth it,” Mr Smith said.

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“This award doesn’t just acknowledge my efforts. It belongs to Leah, our sons, supporters and volunteers, especially Jade Flack and Stephanie Wood, who supported me through the toughest time of my life and continue to support our Ride In Shorts For Leah fundraising and awareness activities.

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“The riders, donors and every person who’s helped raise awareness and funds to support asbestos education across the community; this award belongs to them all,” Mr Smith said.

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Advocacy Australia chair and Asbestos Education Committee chair Clare Collins said, “Phil embodies everything volunteering is about - courage, compassion, leadership and service to others.

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“What makes Phil’s contribution so remarkable is that his advocacy for asbestos awareness was founded on profound personal loss.

“And yet despite his grief, Phil continues to relive his loss publicly to keep a promise he made to his beloved wife Leah - to protect other Australians from exposure to asbestos fibres that can kill,” she said.

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“Through Ride In Shorts For Leah, Phil has not only honoured Leah’s legacy but created a powerful and growing grassroots movement that is helping save lives through awareness and education about asbestos risks,” Ms Collins said.

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