Pythian Games

This is Norma’s Life

Posted in Portraiture by Heather Blakey on April 19th, 2007

 

Norma Elder runs the busy animal rescue centre in the Riversleigh Village. One moment she is telling a villager that a squirrel is using his tail as a sunshade and is not stuck on the power lines, the next she is offering advice about a fox cub with a broken leg. Norma, a former circus trainer, set up the rescue centre from her small cottage just outside Riversleigh. She has one volunteer who helps to recover wild animals including swans, owls, buzzards and foxes. Norma will tell you that the greatest buzz she gets is when an animal returns to the wild, when they are reunited with a partner like a swan she put back on the lake.

6 Responses to 'This is Norma’s Life'

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  1. imogen88 said, on April 19th, 2007 at 8:49 am

    What a great portrait of Norma ;-)

  2. Anita Marie said, on April 19th, 2007 at 12:19 pm

    Norma Rules.

  3. Vi said, on April 19th, 2007 at 2:25 pm

    Anyone who works with and loves animals is a friend of mine. I love the picture.

    Vi

  4. lorigloyd said, on April 19th, 2007 at 10:32 pm

    Yes, we must have more animals at Riversleigh.

  5. gwenguin1 said, on April 19th, 2007 at 10:56 pm

    Welcome Norma!! What a lovely addition to our crew you make. Now I know what to do with the otter pup I found this morning. I can tell the pup is a male, and not very old.

    I’ll pop by in a little while and give him a chance to return to the wild. I’m already getting attached to the little dickens!! He sure enjoys my claw-foot bathtub!!
    Hugs and kisses,
    GwenGuin

  6. lois daley said, on April 20th, 2007 at 3:19 am

    Well girls I wish I had an address for Norma , at the moment I am looking after a very old female dog called Missie ,who belongs to my brother who has nicked off to Tasmania for 2 weeks with his wife.
    Now this little madam has not been socialised with people or other dogs and is very anti social with my old Jessie Dog who is wanting to be friendly …but so far after 4 days nothing is happening.
    They are like 2 ships passing in the night but without any horns blowing…….
    Does Norma Elder send out written ideas for such a dilema ?,
    Is there a cost ? Is there a discount for age pensioners ?
    The problem is this little Missie will not get into the car and when I try I am liable to be bitten,so visiting Norma’s refuge is nigh on impossible……any suggestions…….
    Eating what we have is also proving a problem ,never a vegetable has passed her lips ..chicken yes tuna no ….Oh whoa is me.

    Lois (Muse of the Sea) 20/4/07.

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