Norm Nelson
After four decades of working for and with the timber industry Norm Nelsen is about to bring that chapter to a close. Source: Timberbiz
It’s now a case of “have van will travel” for Norm and his wife Lilian as the Ryan Media advertising rep for Australasian Timber takes his well-earned retirement at the end of May.
Norm and Lilian are already well travelled but as Norm says: “there’s still a lot we want to see”.
Norm’s “timber connection” started in 1975 when he worked for Wills Timber, he later moved to Canberra with Leopold Barnett. Next was a stint with Corinthian Industries (“they were a brilliant company”).
Norm and his family (children Brad and Fiona) moved back to Melbourne and he joined Delta Timber then decided to go it alone so he formed Norm Nelsen Timber Agency, importing from South East Asia, North America and Europe.
The introduction of GST brought about a change to his business with the Malaysian suppliers deciding they would cut out the “middle bloke” and market direct.
Norm joined JustUandMe Publishing with his first job with that group at AUSTimber 2004 in Albury.
He worked as a sales rep for the Forest Logger & Sawmiller magazine and what was then Australian Timberman.
In September 2007 Norm joined Ryan Publications after it bought Australian Timberman [now Ryan Media which has since re-badged the publication Australasian Timber].
“I’ve met and dealt with a lot of wonderful people along the way,” said Norm.
He and Lilian have just sold their house in The Basin and are getting a new house built at Warragul for their retirement years.
But, as Norm says … “we’ve got a lot to see and a lot to do and we’ve got to do it while we can. So, we’ll be hooking up the Jayco Journey to the Territory and be hitting the road first”.
His friendly demeanor and his knowledge of the timber industry will certainly be missed.
We wish Norm and Lilian all the best for their retirement years.
