Norman Heldon was born in 1917, the year a deadly flu killed many, including his father. As the youngest of 7 children he feels his mother deserved a medal for their survival. Then came the Great Depression and somehow they survived again.

Things began to improve after the Great Depression. My brothers and sisters found work. With more food and plenty of sport my health improved and I got a job in a carpet warehouse.

The second World War started. I joined the Army, then transferred to the Air Force. Service in England followed. I was the wireless operator in a Lancaster bomber.

On the first operation at nighttime, I admired the pretty flashes of light in the sky around, until the pilot said they were exploding shells! One night after an operation, a large number of us airmen were lying in bunks in a blacked-out room, telling jokes and laughing. I realized that I could hear the voices but not what they said. That must have been the start of my deafness. Was it because my seat in the plane was just inside one of the engine bays?

By 1945, the war over, we were back in Australia. I was not trained in anything except wireless operating so it was back to the warehouse. Then I began to work for myself, laying carpet.

Ruth and I married, bought a house. Along came children, two boys and a girl. Then grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren. Yes, they are great!

I think it was in my late 50’s that I began to study by correspondence short story writing and then poetry. Ruth was a stalwart, typing for me many hours. She also managed to do secretarial work for the church. She had her own hobby, craftwork, making many beautiful things. I wrote this verse for her:

Rich, if not money wise
Usually crafting surprises
To give happiness
How nice that is!

However, Ruth was battling cancer, and the cancer won.

My deafness had been worsening, and eventually became profound. The Hearing Centre sent me for tests to see if at my age (then 90) I was still a suitable candidate for a cochlear implant. I passed the tests, Prof. Gibson performed the operation, and now I’m an implantee.

What a wonderful difference that has made! I can follow conversations again, am no longer dependent on sub-titles for the TV news, and can enjoy church services and meetings.

My hearing problem had something to do with my turning to gardening. The big church garden had been neglected, no plan, no order, weeds flourishing. After many months of hard work such a difference was made that it caught the eye of a writer from Burke’s Backyard Magazine. The article appeared in the Magazine in October 2006.

I am among the many in the world who have benefited from Professor Clark’s vision, persistence and success in developing the Cochlear Implant. With them, I say a heartfelt “Thank You”.