For decades, Illawarra paramedic Norm Rees has moonlighted as a security guard, with John Travolta the latest in a long list of stars he's worked with.
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Normally spotted attending accidents and emergencies across the Illawarra, Mr Rees was by Mr Travolta's side at every moment during his quick visit to the region.
Mr Rees has provided security to Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Blondie, U2, the Wiggles, Pink, Ben Harper and the Finn Brothers, to name a few.
The "pinnacle" of his career was working as a bodyguard for Muhammed Ali during the Sydney Olympics, where he formed a close relationship with the boxer.
Read more: All the photos from John Travolta's visit
The pair parted with a hug, and Ali even sent Mr Rees Christmas presents, including a framed letter of thanks and autographed boxing gloves.
While nothing can beat that special bond, Mr Rees said working with Mr Travolta had been an "absolute pleasure".
"I go though and think about the people I've worked with, and there's some that I think 'jeez, you're lucky I'm being paid to guard you'," he said.
"But working with John Travolta, he was just an absolute gentleman. He was so fan focused.
"We were running behind on the schedule, all over the place, and that was because he just wanted to talk to everyone."
"At the end of the visit he was just about to leave, I put him into the helicopter, and he said 'nup, can't do this' and jumped out and went and saw all the fans. He's certainly up in my top 10 of the people I've worked with."
Mr Rees said his day job undoubtedly helped him to cope under pressure.
"I'm used to handling difficult and complicated situations," he said.
"Also, I don't get in awe of [celebrities]. Once you get past all the hype and just sit with them, they're just really nice people - they've got the same things going on in their life as we do - so John was sitting talking about his kids..."
"Mind you, I still feel special that I'm doing those jobs. There's been times where I've been, like, sitting with Muhammed Ali and I'm just having dinner with him, and I'm just chatting and stuff, and I think 'jeez, I wish the world could see me'."
"Inside I'm absolutely jumping and so happy, but I apply myself to the professionalism and I'm straight by the book and I work in their best interests."
Mr Rees' career as a security guard to the stars began by accident.
He left his job as a Wollongong Hospital wardsman when he was 30, went back to school to get his HSC and applied to the ambulance service and police force.
He was accepted into the ambulance service, and as a break from "the intense medical study" applied for a security licence.
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
