Lavis Norman Edmund
| Type of person | Individual |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1937 |
| Place of birth | Gawler |
| Principal occupation | MANAGER OF SPORTS AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS – COCA COLA |
| Date of death | 2012 |
Norm was born in Gawler in 1937 to Gwyne Alfreda and Lloyd Douglas Lavis. Beth, his sister, was born 15 months later. He continued to live in Gawler for 40 years surrounded by a close-knit family.
At first, his family lived with his maternal grandparents Etta and Jesse Norman and his Auntie Hazel and Uncle Jack Norman. Eventually the family moved in with Mr Quarton in his 31 Blanche Street home and this is the family home to this day. Norm attended Gawler Primary School and later Gawler High School. For 8 years Norm was involved with St. John Ambulance in Gawler. He played ruck for Central Gawler Football Club, and, when he discovered girls, he coached the Gawler Marching Girls. In 1956, Norm joined the navy to do his National Service as a Sick Berth Attendant.
Norm enlisted in the Army in the Citizen Military Forces. When Norm finished his 14 years of continuous service in 1973, he was awarded the CMF Efficiency Medal for Long Service, the Australian Defence Medal and the National Service Medal. Brigadier (Oscar) Wayland described Norm as “a mate”; “larger than life”
Norm commenced his working life with “Pink Pages”, then Weapons Research, BP, The Treasury Department and the Post Office, before joining George Hall & Sons as a Sales Rep, which was eventually bought out by Coca Cola. He rapidly moved through the ranks of Coca Cola until he retired as Manager of Sports and Community Affairs.
This is a position he revelled in, travelling throughout Australia and Asia representing Coca Cola at FIFA events, and managed to get stabbed in the chest in Jakarta on one of these ventures – fortunately he survived to tell the tale. The story became bigger than Ben Hur; eventually the knife that stabbed him became a samurai sword and the one assailant became 15. Norm met some of the world’s best sportsmen and women, politicians, entertainers, businessmen and women.
The Rotary Club of Kingston Park was chartered in 1983 and Norm was a founding member becoming their 2nd President. In his 23 years in Rotary he was heavily involved in the Exchange Student Program, and the building and raffling of 2 homes for the Adelaide Children’s Hospital. Rotary nominated him to assist them at the Paralympic Games in 2000.
Norm Married Ann Grier in 1963 and they had 2 beautiful daughters Tracy and Suzanne. He later married Alison Ellis and Timothy was born in 1977. Norm had 7 grandchildren, 6 boys and eventually a granddaughter.
In recent years Norm and Mary were grey nomads travelling throughout Australia and taking cruises. Sadly Norm passed away on 25th February, 2012. He will be missed but never forgotten.
Please click here for photos of Norman Lavis.
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