Queensland greyhound industry mourning loss of Syd Norris

By Jordan Gerrans

Revered greyhound man Syd Norris is being remembered as a passionate advocate for the code that passed down the love of the animal through the generations of his family.

Norris was a former trainer, administrator and writer about the code.

He passed away on Saturday night. He was 90 years of age.

He had been suffering from ill health for a number of years before his eventual death.

Norris was widely known as 'Knocka' by his mates.

The late Norris prepared several top chasers in his heyday, but Solar Beach was arguably his best as the outstanding stayer was crowned the 1978 Greyhound of the Year.

The love of the greyhound industry has been carried on through five generations in Norris’ family.

The two generations before him were involved in the code and he passed it on to his daughter before his grandson Dan Broxham also developed a passion for the sport.

Broxham is now the deputy chief steward at the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission for greyhounds.

“When I was really young, we used to go to trials together,” Broxham recalled from the Capalaba track on Wednesday morning ahead.

“I'd get up early in the morning, go to the trials with him every second day on school holidays, things like that.

“So, I spent a lot of time at the dog track with him at races and trials. We were pretty close; we were thick as thieves. We'd always do stuff with the dogs together. His passion for greyhounds is where I got it from, being there all the time.

“I helped him when I was getting in my later teen years. But, I just assisted him all the time until he got to an age where he just couldn't train anymore.”

Broxham last recalls his grandfather training in 2005 when he campaigned a dog to Capalaba.

The grass track is a place that was always special in the mind of Norris.

Capalaba named a race in his honour on Wednesday’s program.

He loved taking dogs there for their education, to race them later on and then socially once he had finished training to spend time with his close mates such as Kevin Ellis and Adam Mcintosh, among others. 

He was handed a life membership at the Capalaba club for his service.

Bray Park-based trainer Mcintosh knew Norris lived around the corner from him when he was re-entering the code a few years ago after a break from training.

A mutual friend suggested he wander down to Norris’ place one day and seek out advice.

They were close mates from that day onwards.

Mcintosh was able to spend some time with his beloved mate in the day before he eventually passed, which meant the world to the trainer and breeder.

“He was very wise and knowledgeable,” Mcintosh said.

“I didn't know him prior to meeting him because he lived close by, but from then on, if I needed advice or whatever - he'd be there.

“He'd come over every second day we'd go slipping the dogs at Lawton, he'd slip them up to me. We went travelling together and went to the races together.

“We were pretty close and we had some long trips in the car together to race dogs, up to Bundaberg and down to Grafton. He was an absolute champion and so genuine.”

As well as Solar Beach, Norris also enjoyed success with Rusty Ole Reno, Sagacious Queen, Wild Occasion and Tralee Star, among others, over the years

The greyhounds were not his only passion as he had a long association with rugby league across Queensland while Broxham notes that he was also a talented swimmer in his younger days.

Playing sport was always drummed into Broxham and fellow family members from a young age by their grandfather.

Such was Mcintosh’s bond with Norris and his family, he regularly attended sporting events of his children.

“He was always interested in my kids and their sporting events,” Mcintosh said.

“He used to come to them, come to a couple of swimming meets or a soccer match. He was definitely just one very special kind of person.

“We just had a real good friendship. He was always there for my dogs and he was always interested in my dogs.

“He had his finger on the pulse and he was a great help.”

Mcintosh has named a greyhound in his late mate’s honour and he has high hopes for the chaser, who will compete under the name Sagacious Syd. 

“Hopefully he it can live up to name,” the trainer said.

“If the dog can be half the person or have half the ability Syd did, then I'd be ecstatic. The dog will probably race in the next couple of months.

“He is not far away from the track, everything's going well. Everything seems to be going the right way at the moment.”

Despite not actively being involved in the sport and battling with his health in recent times, Norris always kept an eye on the game.

“He'd always be down at the track,” his grandson said.

“Even to the last couple of years, he'd still come to the track and follow the dogs. I saw him a couple of weeks before he passed and he asked me, “how's the dogs going?”.

“I think that's the first thing, he always asked me, “how's the dogs going?”. Wherever we went around greyhounds, he was always very respected by people of all ages.

“Wherever we went, there's always someone wanting to talk to him and ask advice and that, as well.”

Broxham said his late grandfather was a strong supporter of his decision to head into the stewarding ranks.

“He was always proud of the industry,” Broxham said.

“The main thing is that he was always a big supporter of greyhounds and his family. He was well respected - that sums him up.”

Syd Norris’ funeral will be held on Monday from midday at the Albany Creek Memorial Park.

 Racing Queensland extends its condolences to the Norris family.