Bill Norling

Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2002.
Bill successfully combined a pioneering role in the road transport industry with a contribution to community service and devotion to his wife Heather and family.
A gifted engineer in the 1950s, Bill developed many design solutions to imported vehicles that needed modifications for Australian conditions, but he also did things like converting vehicles to left hand drive for the overseas market.  Bill had initially left school at the age of 12 and spent a few years on his father's fishing boat. Bill spent time with both the Army and Navy during WW11.  After the war he took a job as a bus driver and in 1952 moved to North Clayton, Victoria, with his wife Heather where they built a home and workshop together.  Bill designed and built semi-trailers and other purpose-built commercial vehicle including buses, horse floats, 4WD mining trucks and prime-movers and he contributed to the development of a national code of practice for heavy vehicle modifications. Their business, W & H Norling Engineering, operated there until 1995 but ceased to operate prematurely because Bill had suffered a serious accident while on holiday in Canberra.  Bill was a man who was willing to help his friends at any time of the day or night and his home became the stop-over for countless truckies who called in for a feed or a yarn.Bill was a member of the local Rotary Club for nearly 30 years and also served on the local Oakleigh Council alongside of Heather.  Bill passed away peacefully at home on 30th March, 2000 just short of his 81st birthday.  The Norling family members have been great supporters of the National  Road Transport Hall of Fame in the years since.