Australian Aussie entertainer and Vietnam veteran Normie Rowe gives us an insight into his personal struggles with life after war, returning home and PTSD.
Normie loved you when you hit the music scene back in the 60’s. I was called up for Vietnam but Gough saved me. I often wonder how different my life would have been. I passed you at the Blues Festival at Broadbeach a few years ago and you stuck your hand and shook mine. I’ll never forget that, you didn’t know me from a bar of soap. I wish you all the best for the future mate.
On ya Norm. You are on the money. When the N.V.A. took Saigon in 75 I was watching it on the tv and cried my eyes out. All that effort, what for, NOTHING. Regards Robert. 11pl D coy 4RAR 1971-72.
My brother went to Vietnam and when he came home he was actually spat on and called a baby killer he was never the same he went a sane human being came back broken was never the same.
what a legend of a man you are , you gave so much to your fans , and then to your country, never give up on life Normie , there are so many people who you touched with your great music, and you are part of our lives forever, good luck in the future , and i will still be playing your songs till i die , cheers bill
You're a terrific Australian Normie, the first time I saw you we were both sharply dressed in our 3 piece suits. That was a long time ago in Perth, Anyway we glared at each other, I was waiting for my mate Robbie Snowden. I remember it being a very scary time turning 20 in Australia in those days. Best wishes Normie.
G’day Normie. We were in Country at the same time, different Units. Both Nash’os. If you can remember the time you spent some time on stage at a Bruce Rock West Aus concert for Vet’s. my Wife was the one who spoke to you on stage. Hilarious at the time, Bruce rock collapsed as we all faded away. I guess we all fade away Normie, but we NEVER FORGET. “ up the old red rooster Normie”. Stay safe Mate. Bloody Gallopin’ Grasshoppers.
Thanks Normie for how you have educated us about war over the years. This is so sad - l hate what war does to our soldiers, and how long it is taking our society to understand it. It sickens me how politicians glorify our soldiers as they go to war, but do so little to look out for them when they return.
I haven’t seen this previously... I fell out of my tree in 1992... It came after years of not knowing until my GP sent me to a shrink. At the time I thought, “what an insult” but he was probably the only person who would still talk to me... ..
He's a good bloke this fellow, thanks again Normie for your service , I hope you are a happy individual at peace ,with yourself , you don't deserve any hassles , just keep singing mate. And old Ron Casey , he really didn't understand , he would have in the end. Thanks.
Thanks to Currumbin RSL for doing this. It took 4 years for PTSD to hit me and it happened when I was lowering the Australian flag to half mast because of the London terrorist attack. Somewhere between full and half mast I felt myself crack. Like Normie Rowe I never really did it hard but there were times when I certainly was in harms way. The hardest thing was not having anyone to talk to...
Hope your okay now brother I'm hearing you mate similar thing to me but 3 yrs after the Gulf war I was at a shopping mall went to get my car at 7pm in the dark and had no idea where i was or what I was driving had to get center m'gment to drive me around in a golf buggy while I pressed the remote key 3 rd time around an acre of cars I saw lights flash twice. The guy driving me thought I was a fruitcake as I told him I had a white Falcon (as I had no idea what I had) I just guessed the most obvious It was actually a green commodore lol I got in the car but then realized i had no clue where I lived, so rang the 1st number in my phone contacts just happened to be my best mate he drove 19 klms across town when I told him where I was after reading the Westfield sign. I followed him to my home. At the time I had no idea what happened but diagnosed with severe PTSD after 2 weeks in hospital so any men or women or child even out there don't try to block it and tuff it out seek help before you meltdown because, at some point even years after you will, Stay safe. Cheers..
Oh man ....love this bloke ..didn't know went thru all this ..shell shock ..PTSD ..far out .. thank you normie ...thought he was just singer performer ...see ... it ain't necessarily so !
i understand fully Normie its a dreadful thing that ptsd. i didnt know what it was either i just thought i was going insane for some reason and i didnt get help for over 45 years after i had got home from Vietnam after Cathy Wayne was shot on stage on 20/8/69 i saw a lot of other things in Vietnam but that tipped me over te edge. i didn't know then that other members of our show suffered depression too. it was not until Don Morrison wrote that book and interviewed me for that book. and suddenly it all flowed out where it had been bottled up all that time. the insane nightmares the insane moments have stopped now. but i still have memories of how i felt for over 40 years.i did try in the beginning to tell friends about it all but an English girl i knew at the time make a mockery of my stories and laughed , she said she didn't believe me so that's probably why i didn't open up again until someone i trusted wanted to listen.I WASTED MOST OF MY LIFE BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID OF BEING MOCKED AGAIN. IT HURT REAL BAD!.
Normie, I highly recommend that you read 'Saved by the Light of the Buddha Within' (the extraordinary life story of one of the fellow artists that you performed beside back in the 1960 and how he changed his poison into medicine).
Normie, idk if you'll read this. But Yes, I understand about a 'lifeless' human who once was.. No way do I understand completely, yet, I'll tell you my experience albeit very different to yours. My Dad brought me into the world....just Mum, Dad & Me being Born. Yet, when it came to my Dad leaving this World, I held him securely. Dad breathed his last breathe in his own bed at Home (Dad's Wish). Dad was gone. Dad brought me into this World ( with Mum of course 🤣). I was Privileged To be with Dad in his passing. That's it Normie. A Privilege really to help our loved ones to cross over. Sad it is. Hope you understand my message of love 🙏
I think it is terribly sad that the Government of the Day sent these young boys to fight a war we should never have been in and then to top it off, when they came back, they turned their backs on them. Even the RSL who I will never forgive what they did.
The returning of our (OUR) soldiers the reception was the most disgraceful and obscene things we Aussies have ever done to our protectors, our soldiers. You can take the war politics out of all this, the fact is these blokes DID THEIR JOB! That was the orders. I was in the age group, I was a lucky boy , I never got called , but I never ever had anything but extreme respect for our soldiers, I new one fellow that never came back, I was glad it was over , but never ever did those boys do anything but their duty! I love them then and now. Welcome home a billion times over Norm.
Not that going was a good thing but your aware that if you are an allie with a country . . In that case the US of course . . You won't have them keeping you safe . .and that's the size of it . . If you don't fight with them when war comes? You realise there would be no Australian if the Americans hadn't come ww2
Man, that was heavy, but Normie Rowe was fantastic here. Such a strong mind, when I stress, the first thing I reach for is a beer. Glad I have never had to go to a war. My old man did (WW2) and he had a lot of problems adjusting to normal life after what he went through. War has to be an absolute last resort. A lot of people are itching for another one with China. Well, if that's the case, then, are they going to volunteer to send their kids to that war? As for Normie's short pop career, I still reckon his version of 'Shaking all Over' is the best version of that song, even better than the Who's version. I think the original was Johnny Kidd and the Pirates??
This bloke refused to admit that he'd been involved in this matter when I first raised it in 2005. And he was part of a organised gang of cowards who vilified members of the infantry who were involved for even raising the matter. Now he remembers it???
Australian Aussie entertainer? A tautology! Whoever writes the descriptions for this video channel needs to go back to school, all the way back to First Grade!
