When you hear stories of children born into poverty, violence and criminal activity, with absent parents, your mind automatically thinks: poor little mite, he didn’t stand a chance. Alternatively, there are stories of a childhood marked by deprivation where the narrative arc focuses on triumph against all odds. This memoir centres on the former but, incredibly, the adult writer has triumphed. Peter Norris’s story highlights his survival instincts, along with an innate intelligence. (Incredibly, Peter was once employed at Kmart, becoming a department manager while claiming to be 16, but aged only 11.)
Norris’s father was Clarence ‘Clarry’ Norris, a ‘hardened criminal’. He made his living through robbery and occasional violence. Peter was the last of the four kids of Clarry and his wife (who deserted the family soon after Peter’s birth). Peter’s older brother, Dave, lived with their mother’s parents, while Peter and older sisters, Tina and Kelly, were placed into care. Clarry had been imprisoned but vowed that he’d find them so that they could be together again.
Peter’s early life is filled with violence, petty theft and homelessness, with occasional compassion shown by care workers, police and foster parents. Peter has a decision to make: does he continue to follow his father, or choose to live within society’s boundaries? The memoir is impressive in its candour and the writing skill of its author. A heart-rendingly magical narrative.
Reviewed by Bob Moore
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Peter Norris is not your ordinary CEO.
The head of Club Corowa, a multimillion-dollar venue that employs more than 100 staff, he is also a world-class athlete who’s won bronze in the Obstacle Racing World Championships and two national bodybuilding titles.
And he’s the son of one of Australia’s most notorious bank robbers.
In his debut memoir, The Bank Robber’s Boy, Peter exposes the shocking truth about his turbulent childhood and the heartbreaking choices he had to make to escape his father’s shadow. Baring his soul, Peter recounts harrowing stories of violence, betrayal and loss that he faced as the son of a fugitive. He also reveals the love and loyalty that bound him to his father, despite the danger and disorder of living with a wanted criminal.
But Peter’s life is not defined by crime and tragedy; it’s shaped by courage and transformation.
Refusing to follow in his father’s footsteps, Peter broke free from his shadowy past and forged a bright future. He graduated from La Trobe University with a business degree that launched his leadership career in the hospitality industry. He overcame the obstacles that threatened to derail and eventually destroy him, transforming barriers into breakthroughs.
As a former State Ward, he now provides a safe and secure home for vulnerable children and young people as a dedicated foster carer. He is also a motivational speaker, sharing his inspiring messages of resilience and redemption with audiences across Australia.
In a journey that spans far beyond the boardroom, Peter is living proof of how one man can change his destiny and make a difference; not despite the odds, but because of them.
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