Life Of Norm Hills

A LIFE WELL LIVED NORMAN ARTHUR HILLS RIP 29/8/1927 – 25/11/2008

The Clock of Life is wound but once, No man has the power to tell just When the hands will stop, At late or early hour Now is the only time you own, Live , Love, toil with a will Place no faith in tomorrow for the Clock may then be still.

Norman was the 3rd child to Arthur James Hills and Nellie Hannah Harding. Arthur started his naval career as the chief Stocker in an English naval warship, (powered by steam) and ended his career as a Chief Petty Officer. Arthur and Nellie lived near Essex in the UK and were married in 1915. After the War they left the UK for New Zealand with their 3 year old daughter Jo (Norms eldest sister). Connie was born soon after they arrived, and Norm was born in 1927. Nellie was 32 years of age when she gave birth to Norm and Arthur was 34. Norm was born in a sleepy railway town of Ngaruawahia (pronounced Narrowahia).

Norms Mother Nellie Hannah Harding

Norms father far left as a young stoker

Normans childhood was a happy one, he trecked and tramped across New Zealand on foot and by pushbike having all sorts of adventures. Norm and his mates had all sorts of adventures, including the time they were rewarded 2 pounds for alerting railway authorities that a large stone had fallen on the railway line, little did the authorities know that Norm and his mate actually placed the stone on the line, then feeling guilty the boys alerted the authorities to the trains imminent plight! Luckily all passengers and the train were fine. As a young man, he commenced his 4 year apprentiship as a Motor Mechanic in 1944 completing his qualifications in 1947. Norms mother and father

Above left-Norm with his dog Norm with his prize winning calf Right- Norm back row 2nd from left

Norm with his mates and long time friend Ron Skinner far left

Norm front row second from left Below-Norm is the one dressed as a woman!

One of the other interesting points that dad was able to talk to me about was the fact that he joined the Free Masons when he was 30 years old.-His mate was a free mason and said that he might as well join, join he did, however after the 1st meeting he decided that he couldn’t be bothered with it and never went to another meeting-it was all a bit weird for him.

Norm with the Holden

Norm and Ron at the Devils Marbles in the 1950’s Norm left New Zealand for Australia. He was never out of work and purchased a motorbike, and with his best mate Ron travelled the length of the land including a visit to Darwin and across the Nullabor. He came to Darwin in 1950, and mentioned that he could see the wrecks of WW2 still in Darwin Harbour. The road was all dirt in those days and it was a hard ride. For those of you who were here for Pats wake, he told the story of how he chased her across Australia to find her.

I will now refer to Norm as dad. Little did I know that before he left to chase mum across Australia he was engaged to be married, mum obviously made an impact on him!-needless to say the engagement was off and he left for Melbourne to find her. He travelled to Adelaide where he found out that she was living in Melbourne, and the rest is history.

Mum and Dad were married in the East Kew Presbyterian Church in Melbourne 3rd Jan 1959. Not long after they were married they headed back to New Zealand for 3 months, saving a little money. They then returned to Australia and bought a caravan and started their life of adventure together. They both hated the cold so decided to head north. Mum had worked on Sth Molle Island for a while before she met dad so she liked the tropics. They travelled through Queensland and WA, working in canning factories, and other mechanic and dressmaking/cleaning jobs as they went.

Mum and dad on their wedding day

They purchased a caravan and named it the “Reluctant Dragon” as it was a large green beast. This was also my home until the age of 7.

I came along in 1967, mum was 37. We travelled throughout QLD and Western Australia. Dad and mum were never out of work . Dad secured many mechanical type positions including work at the Texada Salt Mines as a diesel mechanic and crane operator. Mum had various jobs from dressmaking to working as a cleaner, in the kitchen or as a waitress. Dad still held a heavy truck license and crane operators license at the age of 81!

After travelling around we settled in Darwin after living in Katherine and the Mindil beach caravan Park. Life in Darwin was enjoyable, with mum and dad living simply but managing to still have a great time.

We moved from the Caravan Park where WOW now stands to the block at Howard Springs in 1972. Dad had also secured a position with Transport and Works and I started School at Berrimah pre School and then Berrimah and Howard Springs Primary School. School holidays usually incorporated a camping and fishing trip to the Daly, Manadorah, the Finnis or Corroboree. They purchased the block at Howard Springs for $11000. All that was on the block was a donga-which still stands today. In 1974 Cyclone Tracy came along and blew Darwin away. We were in the caravan. I can remember mum using an old potty of mine for dad to go to the toilet in, as he was holding a mattress up to the window of the caravan which had blown out, he had to go but couldn’t move from the window. During Cyclone Tracy only one sheet of iron was blown off the donga. We remained on the block after the cyclone as we had a generator for power and the bore still pumped water. It took 3 days to clear the block of trees to get to the front gate. Dad fishing on the Daly River

Christmas and New Years generally involved a party with many family friends who are with us today. Mum and dad were excellent dancers.

Photo of dad and a friend erecting the Horse stable. Dad also became an Australian citizen 25th May 1999. Gerry Wood presented him with his certificate. Dad was generally a fit man, however 14 years ago he had heart trouble, this resulted in a triple bypass, however, within 6 hours of the operation the grafts failed and he had to be re-operated on. He was in a coma for 10 days, this was a hard week. Against the odds he pulled though extremely well. Cups of tea at mums were always a challenge from then on with the powdered skim milk she used in the tea!. Many family friends came and went during their time on the block, the Nunans and Bickertons (now in QLD) and many friends from mum and dad’s working life. Retirement was a happy time for mum and dad-having worked dam hard all their lives. The bowls and garden club were a big part of their life, as was fishing. Most importantly they valued their friendship with family and long time friends Derek and Carol, Lyn and Kevin, Aloha and Ken, Ros and Gary, Joy and Col and those of you who are with us today.

Dad and Frank Nunan.

On 27th April mum passed away from a stroke. We said goodbye to her. We were all in shock. Dad was relieved it was quick. My cousin Ann was with mum when she passed away. Ann has been a pillar of support this past year, we love and thank her for this. Ann is a diamond. In May I had Sam. Dad was chuffed. He told me many stories over the past 7 months, some that I had never heard before. He came out sailing with us and held a baby turtle for the 1st time in his life. He even started learning how to sail! However, he missed mum terribly. She was a driving force in his life. Now they are together, on the block nourishing a tree together. Here’s Cheers!

July 2008

Les Parents (George and Marj) with dad and Sam.

On Bare Sand Island August 2008

Sam August 2008

Sam July 2008

Mum and dad 1987 Dad at Mums wake May 2008

Mum, Dad and Frank Christmas 2007

Wedding September 2008

From Left Tanya, dad, Auntie Norma, Auntie Del, me Les & Sam, Janice, Kerry and Pat.

Wedding 2008 Me and Dad August 2008

I would like to thank everyone for their support, love and actions during 2008. You are all gems. It has been one of the biggest years of my life with a mixture of elation and sadness. Lets all look forward to 2009 and remember Pat and Norm with a smile, they were wonderful and kind hearted people.