COLEMAN, Norman Richard Bruce
| Service Number: | 2785233 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | Not yet discovered |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 5 January 1946 |
| Home Town: | North Ryde, Ryde, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Darlinghurst Primary, North Ryde High, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Motor mechanic |
| Memorials: |
Vietnam War Service
| 3 Sep 1968: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 2785233 | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan 1969: | Involvement Australian Army (Post WW2), Corporal, 2785233 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Tim Hanna
Norman Richard Bruce Coleman was born in Paddington Women's Hospital in Sydney, New SouthWales on 5 January 1946, the eldest of eight children to Norm and Freda Coleman. Norm snr was a motor mechanic.
After attending school at Darlinghurst Primary and Epping High and then North Ryde High, Norm commenced work in a garage and started his motor mechanic apprenticeship.
In 1963, Norm joined the CMF (103 Fd Wksp in Leichhardt). He then transferred to the National Service scheme in September 1966 and attended recruit training at 1 RTB, Kapooka.
After that Norm went to 2 Base Wksp Bn at Moorebank to confirm his motor mechanic qualification. He was then posted to the School of Arty at North Head for 18 months and also completed his promotion courses for Corporal.
A posting to 161 Recce Flt in Nui Dat, South Vietnam followed in September 1968 where Norm was in charge of the vehicle workshop. In January 1969 Norm was posted to HQ 1 ATF LAD where he worked on a very large fleet of vehicles.
On return to Australia in September 1969, Norm was discharged in Sydney. He eventually found his way to Darwin as a motor mechanic with Land Rover and then as the Service Manager for Fiat and BMW in the Northern Territory which included trucks and agricultural equipment.
During this time Norm met a nurse, Colleen Clarken, and they married on 17 March 1973 (St Patrick's Day). They eventually had two sons - Christopher and Anthony.
Norm pursued a highly successful career in sales in many industries in Darwin, Sydney, Melbourne, Geelong and then Adelaide from 1978 until his retirement in 2012.
After moving to Vale Park in January 1985, Norm joined the Walkerville Sub-branch of the RSL in 1987 and commenced a long and distinguished career supporting the needs of veterans in the district. At the time of writing, Norm has served as sub-branch president for 15 years and was awarded the OAM in 2019 for his work with veterans. He was awarded the Walkerville Council community 'Volunteer of the Year' in 2026.
As described to Tim Hanna by Norm Coleman on 29 May 2026.
Click images to start slideshow.