Norm Golding will have plenty to talk about when he celebrates his 100th birthday at a community celebration later this month – including his role in saving lives during the 1939 bushfires atBy Kath Gannaway
NORM Golding has not only lived through the depression, the 1939 fires, the timber worker’s strike, and survived being a councillor with the Shire of Upper Yarra for 18 years – he’s thrived on it.
On 29 May, Mr Golding, one of the Upper Yarra’s best-known identities will add another milestone to a lifetime full of adventures and achievements when he turns 100.
Newspaper cuttings, photos, letters and a stack of certificates and awards, including an impressive framed certificate and bronze medal from the Royal Humane Society, document his considerable contribution to the Upper Yarra area.
“Norm is just an amazing person, who has had an equally amazing life,” said friend Dave Gill who is helping to organise a big community birthday bash at the Upper Yarra Dam on Saturday, 26 May.
A Mallee boy, who had gone to work in Melbourne because of the Depression, Mr Golding recalls that he was on a weekend visit to Powelltown in 1928 when a fire started in the area. As a volunteer fire-fighter back home it was only natural he would pitch in to help fight the fire.
“I went home but when I was offered £3 more to work up here than I was getting in Melbourne, I moved up,” he said.
That was the start of the long and happy relationship which saw Mr Golding marry, raise a family, run several businesses, become a shire councillor and contribute to numerous community and sporting organisations over almost 80 years.
“This is really an occasion worth celebrating and we want everyone who has known Norm over the years to come up to the dam and make this a really memorable celebration,” Mr Gill said.
The party will start from around 11.30am allowing plenty of time for people to enjoy a picnic or barbecue lunch (BYO) before the cutting of the cake and a bit of a chat from Mr Golding about the old days.
Mr Gill said if the weather doesn’t come to the party, then the party will move indoors.
“No RSVP is needed, but if anyone would like to help make this a very special day for Norm, or wants further details they can contact me on ,” Mr Gill said.
