Obituary / Norma Roach, OAM CM, September 25, 1930 – February 1, 2021. By Bill Stephens.
WITH the death of Norma Roach in the Queanbeyan District Hospital on February 1 at age 90, the Queanbeyan and Canberra theatre community lost one of the region’s most energetic, passionate and dynamic theatre pioneers.
Possessing an enormous capacity for friendship, Norma has been described as a matriarch, trail-blazer, joyful, creative, kind, capable, a caring spirit with a great sense of humour.
Born in the industrial city of Sunderland, England, Norma and her two sisters enjoyed an idyllic childhood in the seaside area of Roker. Her family attended the local Methodist church and were very involved in the busy, lively community. Norma sang in the church choir with her parents, Ralph and May Parnaby, where she learned to read music by “watching the dots go up and down”, and performed in many church concerts.