By Victoria Stone-Meadows
The Cranbourne Secondary College and wider Cranbourne community are mourning the loss of a great teacher and all around top bloke, Norm Avard.
Norman Richard Avard, affectionately known as Normie to his students and colleagues, passed away after a long battle with cancer on Wednesday 12 July.
He was the woodworking teacher at Cranbourne Secondary College for 15 years and was well-liked by staff and students at the school.
Tributes have flowed for Norm on social media with people from far and wide expressing their condolences to the Avard family.
Past students, friends and families have shared memories of a lovable man who loved his footy and his teaching as much as he loved his bright yellow kombi van.
Norm was a loving husband to wife Helly and a dedicated father to five children who have remembered their dad as a man who cared deeply for his family.
Norm’s youngest son Tony Avard, 29, said his dad was a rock for the family who was always there when they needed him.
“Dad was, and us kids found him to be, everybody’s ear and he would listen to everyone,” he said.
“We found him to be a compass; he would never tell you what to do but he would guide you along a path and never said ‘I told you so’ if you went another way.”
“He was always there, always dad, always he went to everything, and was a very hands-on dad.”
Tony Avard said his dad was not afford to show how proud he was on his kids and always encouraged them to be who they are at heart.
“He had five kids but raised five individuals; we have similarities because we are family but we are all very clearly individuals and that was a big motivator for dad.”
Norm’s second eldest son Brose Avard also has fond memories of their ‘hands-on’ dad and his no-nonsense approach to parenting.
“Dad was very hands on; he got us all up and ready for school in the morning, usually by bellowing our name through our open bedroom door,” Brose Avad said.
“He’d make breakfast and send us on our way before heading to school himself. On Mondays he would pop home at lunchtime to put the weekly roast in the oven for dinner that night.”
“On weekends he would drive us to footy, cricket, the church to play music, or anywhere else we needed to go.”
Norm Avard was best known at Cranbourne Secondary College as a teacher that had the respect of his students for his sensible demeanour and fair treatment.
“He was tough with his students and spoke in a casual manner and earned their respect,” Brose said.
“He was once told by a vice-principal; ‘Norm, if you are going to swear around the kids, could you only use the word once? It’s easier to defend that way’.”
Norm was loved and respected by the whole school community from the moment he started there in 1995 to when we stepped down from teaching duties in 2007.
Cranbourne Secondary Assistant Principal George Massouris said Norm was a great colleague to have; always happy to lend a hand.
“He was a pretty loveable guy,” Mr Massouris said.
“He was always was our Santa at end of year functions because he had the beard and the look and is honoured on our 15-year service honour board.”
Mr Massouris said Norm was always up for a joke and found creative ways to get a laugh out of people.
“He was famous for writing notes for students to go to the office on blocks of wood and we were always quite impressed he had that kind of method.”
“He was a pretty straightforward kind of guy, not like a regular teacher but more like a tradie; a bit more laid-back.”
“He was also a mad Collingwood supporter and would always talk footy with anyone that would listen.”
Norm Avard was farewelled by family and friends on Wednesday 19 July at the David W. Bull Funeral Home in Cranbourne.
The family have asked in lieu of flowers that donations to Ward 5G North of Frankston hospital would be preferred.
Neal Corcoran, former student, sent a personal message to Brose Avard and the family recounting how Norm had become his favourite teacher.
“Norm was my favourite throughout my years of schooling,” Mr Corcoran said.
“I was bullied quite a lot for the first few years and he always kept an eye on me in woodwork/metalwork and gave me a nickname that stuck to this day.”
“He really made a difference for me in those years and was the only reason I did woodwork. He passes me even though I was s*** – couldn’t do woodwork to save my life but in a way he saved my life as I knew I was always safe in his class.”
“A truly lovely man and I will be thinking of you in the coming weeks.”
Another former woodwork student of Mr Avard’s, Peter Douglas said students simply warmed to him.
“Like many others, Norm’s classes were always something I looked forward to,“ Peter said.
“In a funny way, he was really humble in his ability to connect with students and get them interested in what he was teaching.”
“He could be funny but get a message through at the same time, which is why he was such an outstanding teacher.
“I’m sure he put countless students on the right path, both in their careers and in their lives.”
“He was one of a kind and he’ll be sorely missed.”
