With a well thumbed copy of Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, journalist Ian Mackay not only detected a spelling error in the name of the South Australian Governor Sir Willoughby Norrie (our blue Norris) in the post about Northern Territory crusading editor Jim Bowditch and his missing Distinguished Conduct Medal, he detailed a vice-regal anecdote. To give him his full moniker , Sir Charles Willoughby Moke Norrie , a founding member of the British National Hunt Club since 1933, was thrown from a camel in Alice Springs during a visit to the Centre .
While the snobbish Adelaide Advertiser treated this as a serious mishap, On Dit , the disrespectful Adelaide University publication, at one time edited by young Bob Ellis , ran a cartoon of the vice- regal person wallowing in the dust after being tossed by the dromedary , the caption : Willebe Sorry ?
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Wartime ALP PM Ben Chifley,left, with SA Premier Thomas Playford and governor , probably swapping dubious fish catch yarns .
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During his time reigning over SA , the governor said his greatest achievement had been catching on rod and reel a shark weighing 2225 pounds off Port Lincoln . A keen amateur magician , he was appointed Governor-General of New Zealand where he played a key part in setting up the big game fishing council .
When elevated to the peerage in NZ, he adopted the style Baron Norrie of Wellington , New Zealand , and Upton County , Gloucestershire . South Australia did not rate a mention in his fancy title , despite his thrilling shark catch . It is interesting to note his first wife was Joyce Helen Gosling ... could there be a connection with the new ALP MHR for Solomon , Luke Gosling ?
