Conversations Encore: the life of Norman Swan
Dec 12, 2025
Norman Swan, an Australian physician and renowned broadcaster, reflects on his remarkable journey from Glasgow to becoming a trusted voice during the COVID-19 pandemic. He shares poignant stories of his family's Jewish roots and the name change that shaped his identity. Highlighting his career, he discusses the challenges of being a doctor and a parent, and his unique approach with children facing pandemic fears. Norman emphasizes that pandemics are social and political events, and aims to empower readers by debunking health myths in his latest book.
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Tracing Family Roots In Odessa
- Norman Swan visited Odessa to trace his family's origins and found a complex, often painful history tied to pogroms and migration.
- He learned many ancestors landed in Britain believing they were bound for America, revealing common immigrant misunderstandings.
Migration Can Recreate Familiar Lives
- Norman describes how immigrant communities often reproduced the look and living conditions of their origin, sometimes landing where they started socially and economically.
- He observed that escaping persecution could still result in settling into similar tenement-style environments back home.
From Swirsky To Swan And SS Motors
- Norman's grandfather Sam Swirsky ran a garage called SS Motors which ultimately failed financially.
- The family later changed their surname to Swan, which Norman links to his father's improved job prospects.
