AS the world was reeling from the MH17 tragedy, the news that former Nannup resident Nick Norris was a passenger has brought it even closer to home.
Mr Norris made a lasting impact on the community when he was the principal at Nannup District High School in the late 1980s.
Mr Norris was on the Malaysian flight with his three grandchildren Mo, Evie and Otis Maslin.
The flight was shot down over the Ukraine on Thursday, killing everyone on board.
The school’s current principal Felicity Dear told the Mail that staff, local community members and former students were very saddened to hear of his passing and remembered him fondly.
“The thoughts of the Nannup community are with his family, friends and colleagues at this sad time,”
- Nannup District High School principal Felicity Dear
Former student Andrea Johnstone said she remembered Mr Norris as a great principal and very intelligent man.
She said he also taught French and was always very involved in the school.
“I was fortunate enough to see Mr Norris in a brief encounter at a conference in late 2011, which I will always remember,” she said.
Former Nannup District High School gardener Tom Longbottom said he was grieving a friend and a fishing buddy.
Mr Longbottom said Mr Norris was “a decent bloke” who had been popular with school staff in the three years he had been principal.
“I was at the school 35 years and I saw a lot of principals come and go – he was up there with the best,” he said.
The MH17 tragedy has left a heavy toll on West Australians as tributes for the eight WA victims continue to take place around the state.
The plane was carrying 298 passengers, 37 of which were Australian citizens.
The Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak has reached an agreement with the Russian separatist forces, who are controlling the crash scene, to transfer the bodies and black box to the Netherlands for identification.
For more coverage on the MH17 tragedy go to busseltonmail.com.au
