windhoek
Coming from the rocky and dry grasslands of his farm located south of Windhoek in the Rehoboth area, 79-year old full-time farmer Chris Smith is content with the 42 fruitful yet challenging years of farming.
Interestingly enough it was during the same time that Smith decided to open his very first Standard Bank cheque account at the Windhoek branch. He proudly admits that he’s been running his cattle business with Standard Bank ever since.
“I can still remember when I could just walk into my branch and speak to my branch manager Mr Jan Theron to ask for an overdraft for my farming business and I got it on the spot,” said Smith when reminiscing about the good old days.
Some of the money he generates from his farm the father of three children – who are now grown-ups and living their own lives – uses for a noble cause: to look after his bedridden wife Jackie Smit with whom he shares 55 years in marriage.
As he relates his story, one realizes that he is a father with a mission to do something affectionate for his wife who is bedridden with an intestinal cancer called Crohn’s disease.
“I am blessed with so many years added to my life. So the least I can do for my dear Jackie and others like her is what I hope to achieve by the time I turn 80 years old next year,” said Smith with a warm smile.
Smith also wants to expand his mission to touch the lives of other cancer patients through a fundraising walk from Windhoek to Swakopmund on behalf of the Cancer Association of Namibia .
Just like his admirable character of loyalty and dedication to raising cancer awareness, Smith has been steadfast in keeping his journey with Standard Bank Namibia as a long standing customer.
“I stayed with Standard Bank because it was my first bank and also nowadays it takes a lot of effort and time to change to another bank. So I’m here to stay because Standard Bank offered me many opportunities to grow my business and sustain my family – and I am satisfied,” he added.
Coincidently, the blue blood also runs in the family as one of his daughters Heloise Smith works for Standard Bank in Johannesburg, South Africa in the procurement of foreign investors division.
Besides his farming, Smith has a rich history and qualifications as a charted accountant from the University of South Africa (Unisa) and a CA, MBA through the University of Cape Town. He also runs his own ‘C.J Smith Accounting’ business in Windhoek.
There is a saying in Afrikaans that ‘‘n Boer maak ‘n plan’ which literally means – a farmer makes a plan – and for Smith his plan is to walk that walk for cancer patients on his 80th birthday come the 20th of January next year. And that surely makes him a noble husband, farmer and father.