Norman Taralrud-Bay
Multiple Ruby Paul Harris Fellow
28 October 2020
Norman Taralrud-Bay was inducted into the Rotary Club of Melbourne on 11th June 2014 with the classification Investment Management. Norman had enjoyed a very extensive global career in investment, finance and consultancy particularly in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Australia and was on the verge of retirement when he joined.
Norman was born in London to a Norwegian father and Swedish mother. He boarded at Harrow School before winning a scholarship to study Modern Languages at New College, Oxford in 1966. He took all opportunities to be involved in the sporting and cultural life at Oxford and on graduation he joined the merchant bank NM Rothschild & Sons in London. So began an extensive and incredibly full international working life. After a decade in London he was appointed to Hong Kong and soon after Norman was poached to be the founding Managing Director of an institutional investment management company for Fidelity International.
It was in Hong Kong that Norman’s Rotary life began. He joined the Rotary Club of Victoria (Hong Kong) in 1984. It was one of the few English speaking clubs at the time. He was soon Chair of the Community Service Committee and in 1985 led the club’s major fundraising for Polio Plus (the initial campaign). He served on the Youth and Vocational Committees and was President Elect 1988-89. His presidency did not eventuate as Norman’s work took him to Sydney soon after the Asian financial crisis.
One door closes and another opens. Norman joined the Rotary Club of East Sydney and was soon the club’s Secretary. He served as President of the club in 1989-90. Then Melbourne beckoned. Norman had started an international marketing consultancy in Sydney in 1993 and a major client, Colonial Mutual asked him to move to Melbourne to manage the Finance, IT and Client Administration functions for their investment management company. Norman wasted no time in reconnecting with Rotary. He joined the Rotary Club of Balwyn where he was a member for two decades serving on many Committees, and as Secretary, Vice President and on the Board, he helped develop an indigenous reconciliation project and was on the International Committee developing work in East Timor.
By joining our club in, we became the eventual beneficiaries of his extensive business and Rotary experience. He has been involved in range of activities for the Club serving as International Director in 2016-18 and is a great supporter of the Rotary Foundation. Most importantly Norman instigated, established and now Chairs the Rotary Action Group for Family Safety. Rotary Action Groups bring clubs and districts together to share expertise and solve problems. RAGFS aims to significantly reduce family violence not just in Australia but anywhere it can bring influence to bear, focusing on awareness, education and recovery.
In recognising the role trauma plays as a precursor to family violence, Norman helped create the Trauma Recovery Network for national disaster recovery and potential treatment of perpetrators as well as victims of family violence. He has also been involved in promoting Rotary Connects and providing advice on funding possibilities.
We are blessed to have Norman as a member of our club. He brings experience, enthusiasm and an impeccable record of over 30 years of Rotary service. His creative problem-solving ability is prodigious, his work ethic is supreme and his commitment to Rotary unquestionable. It is with great pride and pleasure that the club names Norman Taralrud-Bay a Paul Harris Fellow.
