William Norton

William Ian Norton (Bill) was born in 1941 William Ian Norton was born in Lismore where he attended high school. He left at intermediate level aged 15 and joined the family business. His father, Gordon Norton had served during World War Two. After he was discharged from the Airforce in May 1945 he started an Auto Motor Repair shop in Woodlark St Lismore which he later moved to Esmond Street.

Bill attended Lismore Tech for Auto Mechanical /Diesel and helped out with the maintenance at the workshop which also operated as a small general carrying business. Bill remembers table top trucks, old Chevrolets, an Austin and a Dodge Fargo. The family built their own truck bodies. They also built a single axle 30ft and a 34ft bogie trailers The family also had the Pepsi Cola agency for a time, ran to Brisbane regularly for fertiliser, cordial and full loads of Weet-Bix for Sanitarium Health Foods Lismore. By 1654 they had Leyland Hippo trucks carting spuds Brisbane to Sydney markets, loads of timber from Lismore to Sydney and return loads through East Coast Transport. Goods included chemist goods, spare parts, tyre, food and coffins for delivery to the Casino, Ballina, Lismore, Murwillumbah and surrounding areas.

Bill sold out to Mayne Nickless Transport and worked for them until they changed course. He then started up again with one semi and the business grew over the following years. Bill finished up with ten 45ft trailers, four tautliners, five crane trucks contracted to Smorgans, One Steel, Hurfords and Metal Corp and a truck fleet of three x LTL Fords, five Kenworths and a Freightliner. Bill credits much of his success to the fact they had fantastic staff some who worked there for 25 years and many others for over 10 years. During this time Bill married the love of his life, Roslyn Dargie who he met while she worked in the office. They had three sons and a daughter and are now very proud grandparents.