16/07/2023
Vale Alan Small
There was nothing Alan enjoyed more than racing around his store serving customers and mentoring his team, delivering them better life and business skills, and of course, improving his valued customers photography skills.
Having been fortunate to lead a very healthy and active life, and still working until January, Alan passed away peacefully on the evening of July 10 at the Mayo Hospital a few months shy of his 86th birthday.
While negative stories abound about our health system, Alan, and his family, could not fault the kind and generous care he received, and the amazing people who delivered it at both the Manning Base, and Mayo Private, Hospital’s. His family are eternally grateful for the care Alan received.
Alan started Taree Photographics in August of 1962, after working as a newsreader for radio station 2RE. His association with 2RE continued for many years through the Sunday Sounds program broadcast on Sunday mornings. The stores name changed to Taree Camera House in 1983.
Alan was a founder, and driving force of the Australia wide Camera House group, serving 11 years as Board Chairman, and a further 6 years as Deputy Chairman. Like all successful organisations, Camera House was built on solid ideals and sound structure, and Alan was the leader of the group that provided the conceptual ideals and then built the successful company Camera House is today. He was awarded life membership of Camera House in 2002.
From the Inside Imaging Newsletter: “Alan was an accomplished photographer, and an astute businessman. Always forthright, he was an expressive and articulate speaker and writer. He was always generous with his encouragement for us here at Inside Imaging. He could keep a Frontier running with duct tape and bailing wire. Truly one of the greats.”
Alan was a long-term member of the Manning River Aero Club, and the Rotary Club of Taree.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jan, four children, nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
