A short version of Norm’s bio was included in our 50th anniversary class book. A fuller version is below.
Author: David
Latest Sydney Gathering
A group of Sydney classmates and partners gathered in Sydney in support of Bill Houston who was briefly visiting the big smoke with his wife Marina. To our surprise and delight a member of class who has not been seen for some time joined us for the event. Question is who was that classmate? Vale RSM WO1 Norm Goldspink.
L to R: Peter and Gayle McCann, Dave Goggin, Peter Martyn, John Price, Jeff Brock, Sue Martyn, Rowan Tracey, Bill Houston, Don Muirhead, Marina Houston, Giuliana Despoges, Anneliese Lawrence, Peter Lawrence, Steve Despoges.
Funeral Arrangements for Norm
From Norm’s daughter Louise, taken from a post by Ross Eastgate on 1YLI Old Mates FB page:
“Good evening Ross
We met with the funeral director this afternoon and made arrangements for Dad’s funeral. The attached notice has the details and will appear in tomorrow’s Canberra Times.
It will also be live-streamed. Click on the following link and the PIN number to watch the event is 3834.
[https://www.norwoodpark.com.au/service-streaming/client/…](https://www.norwoodpark.com.au/service-streaming/client/…)
Regards
Louise”
At this stage there are no arrangements for a coordinated response from the various classes that were covered by Norm.
Stand Easy, Norm
Just received initial advice that Norm has died. No other news at this time.
Class of 1973 Book – Bad Link
The initial link to the COST book was somehow corrupted, and opened our Class book. That has been fixed. Apologies for any inconvenience.
Class of 1973 (COST) Anniversary Book
The Anniversary Book of the Class of 1973 has been uploaded at https://duntroonclassof1972.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/duntroon-class-of-1972-50-years-since-graduation-master.pdf
A couple of our starting cohort, missing in our book, make an appearance.
Norm Goldspink
From the 1 YLI (Class of 1971) FB page:
“Happy 96th Birthday Uncle Norm!
We have been sitting on this for some weeks, but it is now in the public domain.
This email today, Norm’s 96th birthday, from Roger Wainwright (via Uncle Max) says it all.
Hello everyone,
Many of you will know Norm well, so I advise you that he is in hospital in Canberra after a fall at home in late November. Since then, he has been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in multiple places so the prognosis is not good.
His daughter Louise told me this morning that he will not be able to return home and they are looking at transferring him to an aged care facility in Calwell ACT. She says he is doing as well as can be expected but his memory is failing him, probably due to the cancer diagnosis and alzheimer’s/dementia disease. I had a long chat to Norm about two months ago and I thought his memory was fine at that stage. He lost Lois, his wife of 66 years a few years ago and that has also impacted him.
Norm was a drilly at RMC for many of us in the early 1960’s and was also at OTU Scheyville. He served with 1 RAR in Korea and was CSM of Charlie Coy 5 RAR in Vietnam in 1966-67. Norm returned to RMC as RSM from late 1967 to 1971 so has had an impact on generations of officers.
Today (20 Dec) is Norm’s 96th birthday so let’s raise a glass to this fine old soldier. I’ll let you know of any further developments.
Regards and season’s greetings to all.
Roger (Wainwright)”
Sydney Gathering 12 December
A representational group from the class and one from the 71 class gathered in Sydney to mark graduation plus 51 years on Tuesday 12 December.
Canberra Pre-Xmas, last of the year catchup
Two photos of the group as in one the photographer is missing and the second some faces are obscured. You get the picture?
Left to Right: Debra Jones, Marina Houston, David Cran (at rear), Geoff McPherson, Bill Houston (at rear), Mike Swan, Trish Cran (rear) Elizabeth McPherson, Dave Urquhart (hidden at rear in this one!) Brenda Elliott, Warwick Elliott, Trish Thomas, Kym McMillan, Steve Jones, Paulette Rigter, Eric Rigter, Darryl Poole, Alison Kelly, Garry Kelly, Michelle White, Nev White.
Canberra Lunch – 27 November
Latest from Kym:
“Christmas greetings to all – I hope you have your Xmas trees and lights up by now!
As per my previous message, the final class (Christmas lunch) is on next week on Monday 27 Nov at 1200 midday.
But due to popular demand (ie, 2 of you), the venue has been changed to the Kingston Hotel (I’m sure you can all still remember where that is!) in the ‘Maddies Dining’ area.
As always, partners are more than welcome, as well as any other classmates who might be in town.
I’ve booked a table, but could you please let me know numbers by Thursday evening so I can confirm them with the hotel.
Looking forward to our final gathering of the year,
Kym
Kym MacMillan
36 Wallangara St, O’Malley ACT 2606
M: 0418 295511”
RMC Class of 1972 