It is sad to report that Bruce Collett passed away at 7am this morning after being in poor health for some time. His failing health caused him to move from his unit to a retirement home to be close to his daughter a couple of years ago.
Bruce was born on 24 February 1926.
He joined AWA MOR in April 1942. He graduated as a telegraphist in May 1943. In 1954 he joined the Sydney Cable School before transferring to Cottesloe Cable Station in 1955 for 2 years as a Cable Officer. In 1957 he was back at the Sydney Cable School until he transferred to Suva in 1958 as a Cable Officer. In 1959 he transferred to Fanning Island as a Cable Officer until 1961. In 1962 he went to Norfolk Island as a Cable Officer until his return to Paddington to work in the ISTC later that year. Bruce remained in Paddington ISTC until 1971 when he transferred to the Telegraph & Data Section in Head Office where he remained until he retired in 1986.
Keith McCredden received a phone call from his daughter, Judith Dixon, to let him know of Bruce’s passing and request that his friends and acquaintenances in the Vets be advised.
Funeral Service
Northern Suburbs Crematorium
Wednesday 8th April at 3.30pm.
The below photo of Bruce & Ena Collett was taken at Moree SES in March 1985:
9 Comments
Bruce was a lovely bloke and I got on well with him.
I really didn’t think he was 22 years older than me
Ron Beckett
I knew Bruce well from his time in T&D in HO, Peter. Wonderful bloke and a great mentor and tech.
Bob Emanuel
Sad news indeed Peter –
I remember Bruce Collett well. Initially, from the time when Bruce returned from Norfolk Island & commenced working at OTC’s new Paddington ISTC where I too was working at the time in the adjacent Intlx operating room next door – and in later years when we both returned to Head Office. One of nature’s gentlemen.
Rgds, Jim Simpson
Peter, I was sad to hear of the passing of Bruce Collett, another “old friend” from the early OTC days. Although Bruce was in the cable service, my late husband Gray MacDonald and he were good friends, and in fact he and Ina lived round the corner from us for many years in Allambie Heights. He was also a good friend of my friend Mick Wood, who often spoke fondly about Bruce. Just a couple of years ago his daughter Judith and her husband came down from the Central Coast to visit Mick and I whilst we were visiting Sydney, and we had a very happy afternoon reminiscing.
I don’t have any contact details for Judith, but I would be grateful if you could possibly pass on to her my sincere condolences at the loss of Bruce.
Many thanks and kind regards,
Bev MacDonald.
A good innings but still sad to hear of Bruce’s passing. Please extend my thoughts and sympathy to his family.
John Eades
My condolences to the family, I was at Fanning Island and Norfolk Island with Bruce and Ena. I have fond memories of them they were a nice couple .
Rgds Noel Chapman…
Jim Simpson got it right. Bruce was one of nature’s gentlemen. A pleasure to work with when Bruce worked in the Paddington ISTC.Remembered him with fond memories.
Terry Hulme.
Vale Bruce, I enjoyed working with you over the years, firstly in the Cable School, then Suva, Fanning island and ISTC Paddington.
Bruce, Ena and daughters Judith and Barbara were our next door neighbours on Fanning island. They also had a son Lindsay later in life who was in the RAAF.
Des Kinnersley.
We had a sprinkling of old OTC souls at Bruce Collett’s funeral, including Joe Collier and Keith McCredden, who brought along Lou Brown (now 90). I haven’t seen Lou for 25 years and had assumed the worst. He is almost totally blind and walks with difficulty with a stick, but he delivered a eulogy that was as good as I’ve ever heard, straight off the top of his head. Lou and Keith both served on Fanning Island with Bruce.
Regards,
Tom Barker