Samuel Norris was born on 30 April 1889 at Lake Cargelligo, the fifth child of Samuel Norris and Eliza Mary Thompson. He married Margaret Holmes on 20 May 1915 at Euabalong. Samuel Norris died on 24 June 1965 at Orange. The Lake Cargellico News included the following obituary:

With the death of Mr. Samuel Norris another chapter in the history of the district has closed, and in its closing a wonderful tribute was paid to him by his friends who made his funeral one of the largest in the history of Euabalong.

He was laid to rest beside his wife, who passed away six years ago, following a service in the Presbyterian Church at Euabalong last Saturday morning.

This service was conducted by the Presbyterian Home Missionary Mr. Alan Bailey.

Mr. Norris was born in lake Cargelligo 76 years ago and has lived most of his life in the district.

He was one of the teamsters in the early days, driving both horse and bullock teams. In his early days he worked for Sir Samuel McCaughey on "Yanco" Station.

He loved to recall the past. As a boy of 16 he, with a group of men, drove a herd of drought cattle up into Queensland and was left to return home with the horses and dray on his own, a wonderful feat that showed his will to persevere and win through which won him so many friends throughout his life.

To start on the land as he did with 40 acres and over the years build his holdings up to 22,000 acres was in itself a wonderful feat but the greatest thing of all is that in doing this he didn't make one bad friend.

His friendly advice and wise council was something sought after and respected by all who knew him.

Before the present town of Euabalong was built Samuel Norris was a much sought after person who, with his button accordion, would play for dances.

This natural harmony showed itself right through his life.

The family of five boys and five girls he raised knew what hard times were but they also knew the wonderful happiness of a family life based on love and understanding.

Wonderful memories are left with his family and friends to mourn his loss so deeply at this time.

Samuel Norris lived a wonderfully full life.

The late Mr. Norris is survived by daughters Mary (Mrs. Frank Barby, Euabalong), Ethel (Mrs. Smith, Bargo), Alma (Mrs. Carney, Tottenham), Norma (Mrs. Thomas, Euabalong West), Pam (Mrs. Gander, Orange), and sons Jim (West Wyalong), Cecil (Orange), Jack (Orange), Bill (Euabalong), and Robert (Walgett).

EARNING A LIVING ON THE LAND

Sam and Maggie Norris' original land holding and site of their home was a riverfront property along the Lachlan River on the southern outskirts of Euabalong. The name of this property "Norholm" was derived from a blending of their surnames, Norris and Holmes.

Over the years many incidents occurred on Norholm. One such happening was an ill-fated aeroplane landing in the 1930's. The pilot, Captain T.W. Shortridge (later pilot of Smithy's Southern Cloud), was flying a hotel broker from Trundle to inspect the Euabalong Hotel. He was meant to land at the Racecourse but, instead, landed at Norholm. Whilst landing, a wheel became stuck in a rabbit burrow, the plane tipped forward and the wooden propeller broke. A replacement propeller arrived some days later and the broken one was presented to Sam in memory of the landing.

When Sam died and Norholm was sold, the propeller was given to the Lake Cargelligo Museum. [Courtesy Jack Norris]

We were one of the lucky families who lived on the bank of the river. A few times the river was terribly low, so low in fact that we could walk across it. At one time it was so dry that it was only a few water holes.

We had a windlass to draw water for our house and garden. As I remember, our family always had fruit and vegies growing and, at one stage, we even grew peanuts. [Memories of Mary Barby]

During the depression, work was scarce. However some of the men around Euabalong found work on the road teams working on the road from Euabalong to Murrumbridge. They formed the road in 1930 and put the gravel on it in 1931. Some of the men who worked on the road were Sam Norris (boss), Jack Watson, Harry Barby, Frank Higgins, Roy Norris, Herb McLain.

To form the road, horses and scoops were used; this took about seven to eight months. The gravelling of the road was delayed until 1931 due to the flood water which came over the plain. [Memories of Jack Watson]