Gents it is my sad duty to inform you of the passing of the oldest former COM.  Steve Norrish

Steve Norrish was aged 95, Steve played Rugby League for South Sydney Fernleighs, Chelsea United and South Sydney Presidents Cup 1941-42.

The funeral service has been held.

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Vale from his son Steve Norrish.

Steve Norrish passed away peacefully in August 2018 at 95 years of age. At the time of his death he was the oldest surviving Newtown grade footballer, having played reserve grade for Newtown in 1943 when it won the first and third grade premierships and the Club Championship in the Sydney competition.

Before that he was a South Sydney Junior, having played for Kensington United and South Sydney Fernleighs. For 20 years in the 80s and 90s he organised joint reunions for these two clubs. He played Presidents Cup for South Sydney in 1941 and 1942 as a lock forward, the South Sydney team winning the Presidents cup only for the second time in 1942.

He was arguably at the time of his death the oldest surviving Presidents Cup winner. After World War II he boxed professionally fighting many main events at Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane stadiums. He defeated Len Dittmar on one occasion and drew with him on another.

In mid 1947 when Dave Sands was middleweight champion he was ranked next after him, but was injured in a training accident at Billy McConnell’s gym and retired at 24. He owned a billiard room in Paddington in the late 1940s and was during that time was Secretary of Paddington United in the East’s juniors. He went to Wagga Wagga in 1951 where he was captain coach for a year and last played for the Wagga Magpies in first grade in 1954.

 

Whilst living in Wagga he refereed Dave  Sands’ last fight against Alf Woods for the Australian heavyweight championship in 1952, a month before Sands was tragically killed.

He was the New South Wales Veteran Boxer of the Year in 2012. He was a Life Member of the Veteran Boxers Association of NSW.In his later years after Newtown left the competition he was a dedicated South Sydney supporter counting amongst his friends, Jack Rayner, Bernie Purcell, Fred De Belin, whose brother Bill he trained with, until their deaths and after Greg Hawick came to Wagga to captain coach in 1956. Brian Hambly Captain Coach in 1959 from where he was selected to go on Kangaroo Tour. Ross Kite and Billy Wilson also coached the Wagga Magpies.

Dad was a member of Chelsea Old Mates at the time of his death.

 

Some of the Life and Times of Steve Norrish written by his son Steve.

 

 

Thanks Steve for allowing us to share your Dads Life and Times.

And what a Life………

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