Norm lived in Coolaroo in my electorate and, as an elder of the Gunung-Willam-Balluk clan of the Wurundjeri community, the traditional custodians of the land where my electorate office is essentially based, Norm was a very proud and respected role model.
Whilst not large in number, the Indigenous community in my electorate remains culturally rich, and they are enormously proud of their heritage. Uncle Norm, as he was known in the community, was committed to his people, to guiding and teaching the young and to recognising and correcting the past wrongs that the Indigenous community endured. Norm gave himself totally to the community, with his lifelong commitment to reconciliation and to Indigenous people and their culture. With his loss, our community has lost a very valuable supporter.
In 2001, Norm’s commitments were recognised with the honour of a Centenary Medal for his service as an advocate of reconciliation and as an elder of the Wurrinjeri community. It was with great pleasure that I presented this Centenary award to Norm. He was a much deserving recipient who achieved far more in the community than he was recognised for.
For many years Norm was involved in Hume City Council activities, including his valuable participation on the Indigenous Advisory Committee—which he continued, despite his long illness—and his contribution most recently to the Weaving Lands Basketry Project in 2004, where Norm was honoured with the naming of the final sculpture, The Galgignarrak Yirranboi Tree, which means ‘the Backbone of Tomorrow’, representing the growth and strength of the local community.
Norm also played a prominent role in setting up the Gunung-Willam-Balluk Indigenous Learning Centre at Kangan Batman TAFE in Broadmeadows. This is a state-of-the-art centre where Indigenous students can learn about their culture while completing their TAFE studies. Norm was a part of this project literally from start to finish. At the sod-turning celebrations at commencement of construction in 2003 Norm performed a special fire ceremony to signify the ‘new beginning’ represented by this facility and at the launch of the centre in 2004 Norm spoke and performed the welcome to country ceremony. Unfortunately I was unable to attend that launch, but I did visit the centre shortly after and was thoroughly impressed—and continue to be impressed—by the centre, its facilities and the tremendous amount of work that it does locally for Indigenous young people.
With over 400 people attending Norm’s funeral service, the extent of our community’s loss is very clear. In the eulogy given by Terry Kildea, the Koori programs manager at Kangan Batman TAFE, Norm’s fighting spirit and commitment to the young were acknowledged. Terry spoke of Norm’s passing and noted:
You have left spiritual footprints for us to follow.
This he has done. Norm has left an exemplary legacy for others to build on and to develop. He has provided an example for the continued promotion of respect for Indigenous cultural heritage and for reconciliation and social justice for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Norm’s contribution to the community was commemorated at the Gunung-Willam-Balluk Learning Centre as part of this year’s Reconciliation Week events, with Norm’s daughter, Tammy Hunter-Capocchi, telling the gathering the story of her people and their ties to the land. For the benefit of the House, I would like to quote Tammy. She said:
The story of the Gunung-Willam-Balluk people is an epic tale of survival and adaptation. Strip away the present layer of buildings, freeways and suburbs and try to imagine the distant past. You will come across a distant land of meandering waterways and vibrant forests, lagoons and wild grasses, basalt plains and rivers. We have always been here. We have been here since the beginning of time. We come from the land. Our identity is bound up with the land. To understand our aspirations, the land needs to be recognised.
Norm leaves behind Annette, his wife of 38 years, as well as his six children, his seven grandchildren and many members of his wider family and many friends. I express my sympathy to Norm’s family and community. He will be remembered fondly and respected for his commitment and wisdom.
