A trusty employee of Balranald Shire Council from 1944 to 1974, Norma Male recently returned to the town for the official opening of Council’s new office extension, which has been named in her honour.
Norma now lives in Wagga Wagga, but was invited back to Balranald in October to open the building – the Norma Male Chambers.
On 7 August 1944, Norma Male was appointed as Town Clerk of Balranald Municipal Council and was provided with 25 pounds for the cost of moving to Balranald. On 12 September 1944, then Mayor, Alderman Jim Lloyd, held a Special Meeting of Council to extend a welcome to her. He advised that the purpose of the meeting was to confirm the appointment of Norma and it was resolved that she be appointed as ‘a fit and proper servant’ of Council.
At the first meeting of the Provisional Council of the newly formed Balranald Shire in 1957, Norma was appointed Shire Clerk.
Prior to moving to Balranald in 1944, Norma worked with the Cootamundra Municipal Council. She is responsible for starting and assisting the careers of many people in Local Government and quite a number were in Balranald for the opening of the new building.
Norma’s achievements and contributions to Balranald and the Shire over her 30 years included the formation of the new Shire in 1957; the establishment of Western Shires Dental Service, which no doubt resulted in Balranald still having a dentist today, when many towns Balranald’s size do not; the development of a rural road network, baby health centre and library; the establishment of Council offices to house the new administration; and the establishment of many other facilities associated with pioneering a new council.
Norma is featured in the National Pioneers Women’s Hall of Fame under the category of ‘Leaders of Men’ as possibly the first female Town Clerk and Shire Clerk in Australia, but certainly the first in New South Wales. She was also awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1975 for her dedicated service to Local Government.
At the opening of the new building, Norma, who is nearly
93, spoke for ten minutes without referring to any notes. She generated plenty of laughs from an appreciative audience of many people who had worked with her in the past.
