Bryan Norrie is Eugowra’s guest speaker on Australia Day this year.
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Bryan grew up on the family farm at Eugowra and attended Eugowra Public School. He started playing rugby league for the Eugowra Golden Eagles in the under 8’s.
When the club was unable to field a team in his age group he played for Red Bend until he went to Yanco Agricultural High School where he played for his school and the local football team Yanco-Wamoon.
He represented Yanco in rugby league, rugby union, Australian Rules and tennis. He played for the Australian Schoolboys rugby league team against Great Britain and France.
Norrie started playing for St George-Illawarra as an 18-year-old and made his debut in the NRL in 2004. He played with St George-Illawarra for five years and later for Penrith and the Sharks.
At the end of 2009 believing his time in the NRL was over signed on with the Wagga Kangaroos. However, a call from Storm coach Craig Bellamy and a generous release from his contract by the Kangaroos allowed him to continue his NRL career.
He played six years for the Melbourne Storm and was a member of the 2012 premiership-winning team that defeated Canterbury.
In 2013 he toured England and won the World Club Challenge against Leeds. He retired from NRL at the end of 2014 having played 180 games.
During his time with the Melbourne Storm, Norrie was an NRL Ambassador for young players helping them obtain and complete apprenticeships to set themselves up for life after footy.
He was passionate about this having started an electrical apprenticeship while at the Sharks and completing it in Melbourne around his football commitments.
He later gained qualifications in in the education and welfare space as he wanted to be able to support country players in relocating to the city and furthering their careers.
On his return to NSW he worked for the Sharks as a Welfare and Education Officer before being offered a similar role for the NRL.
Then on the eve of the 2016 season the NRL introduced ‘The Bunker’ and Bryan was given a part-time position in there as an official during games.
Bryan is a firefighter for Fire and Rescue NSW having successfully completed his training in 2016 and is stationed at Redfern in Sydney.
He enjoys the team environment and working for and helping the community. He still fits in his commitments to the NRL.
Bryan is married to Kim and has three boys: Brody 5, Zane 3 and Cooper eight months.
What’s on Australia Day
The Australia Day celebrations in Eugowra will commence at 11am at the Eugowra Community Bowls and Recreation Club with the raising of the flag.
The presentation of awards to deserving residents will then be held indoors, which will include the awards from Cabonne Council to the Citizen of the Year, Junior Citizen of the Year and the Group of the Year.
Ambassador this year will be former local and rugby league legend, Bryan Norrie.
Representatives from Council will also be in attendance.
Following the official part of the day a light lunch will be served, with everyone requested to please take a plate of food to be shared.
There will also be a free sausage sizzle available.
Earlier in the day the swimming pool will be open for anyone wishing to go along between 8-30 and 10am.
Entry is free and there will be food available to purchase.
