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AUSTRALIAN GUNNER
OBITUARY RESOURCE
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Norman Leslie Mills
11 April 1937 – 18 January 2016 |
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| Printed Version |
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Norman Leslie Mills was born at Sale in Gippsland Base Hospital, Victoria on the 11th of April 1937, the son of Alex and Alice Mills and one of six children. His siblings included four sisters – Rae, Barbara, Helen and Kathleen – and a brother Graham.
Norm’s education began at Stratford Primary School followed by Sale Technical School where he completed his Junior Tech Certificate. He left school at the age of 14 and undertook a three-year apprenticeship as a motor mechanic at Sale Tech. He also played football and cricket for Stratford.
At the age of 17 Norm joined the Australian Regular Army. After recruit training at Kapooka, Norm went to the School of Artillery at North Head, Manly. Whilst at North Head, Norm played first grade Australian Rules with North Shore for four years. It was also while at Manly that he first met his later wife, Yvonne. |
Norm’s first unit was the 103rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery and then 111 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery. It was from there he joined 101 Field Battery at Holsworthy for a posting to Malaya.
Norm and Yvonne were married in December 1958 just prior to heading to Malaya where they lived and Norm served there from 1959 to 1961. On returning to Australia, Norm was posted to 101 Field Battery, 4th Field Regiment at Wacol in Brisbane. It was here that their son Gary was born in March 1963. Norm was then posted to 11 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery for another tour of duty in Malaya, defending the RAAF base at Butterworth, for a period of six months.
Norm returned home to his family in Sydney but was soon posted to Woodside, South Australia to be among those forming the new 110 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery. After 12 months in South Australia, Norm was again posted back to Malaya where he and his family spent another two and a half years. It was while on Penang Island during this posting that Norm and Yvonne’s daughter Leanne was born in July 1966.
On returning from Malaya Norm was posted to A Field Battery, 12 Field Regiment at Ingleburn. This unit then transferred to Townsville for a period of 12 months to prepare for deployment to Vietnam. Norm, now promoted to Sergeant, moved his family back to Sydney and served in South Vietnam with 12 Field Regiment from the 28th of January 1971 until the 28th of October 1971. Norm spent time in Vietnam on the guns with A Field Battery and as a Liaison Officer with American and South Vietnamese forces in Baria. On his return to Australia, Norm was posted back to the School of Artillery at North Head. It was from here that Norm took his discharge from the Army.
Following Army life, Norm took a job with Rank Industries of Australia for a year. He then applied for a job with The Department of Main Roads as a service mechanic inside the north pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Norm then changed his line of work to driving tow trucks, removing breakdowns that occurred on the Harbour Bridge. He also drove a sweeper at night for some time. It was while working her that Norm suffered a heart attack which require a triple bypass and let to his retirement in 1992.
Norm enjoyed his retirement playing golf with the El Rancho, Forster and Tuncurry Golf Clubs. It is at Tuncurry that Norm and Yvonne have a holiday house whir they have spent many holidays with family and friends. |
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Norm had many nicknames, one of which was ‘Bucket Arse’ which many of his Army mates will all know him as. Another nickname was ‘Norman the Doorman’. Many will remember Norm standing at the door of El Rancho on ANZAC Days, where any ladies wishing to enter would have to supply a kiss before being granted entry.
Norm was a great family man who loved and was greatly loved by his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He had the pleasure of celebrating the weddings of three grandchildren in the last four years of his life. His five great grandchildren also brought much joy and excitement into his life.
Norm led a very active and social life. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need and was loved and respected by all those who knew him.
A celebration of Norm’s life was held at a service at the Magnolia Chapel, Macquarie Park Crematorium North Ryde on the 25th of January 2016.
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Acknowledgements:
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- Syd Farrow for providing a copy of Norm’s Service and eulogy.
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- Family members for providing an insight into Norm’s life.
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