Vale Bruce Wilson, OAM (1945 to 2024)

Fremantle Press extends its deepest sympathy to Marie Wilson and all the family and friends of Bruce Wilson. Bruce passed away on Boxing Day 2024. 

Bruce made an extraordinary, largely unseen and unsung, contribution to Fremantle Press. As co-owner of 25 Quarry Street, Bruce spent much time and energy maintaining our space – particularly the garden, which he cherished. We still have a couple of jars of macadamia nuts left over from his last backyard harvest. Everyone at the Press has at least one fond (albeit slightly alarming) memory of Bruce on his double-height wooden ladder, which would be dragged out for us whenever we needed gutters cleaned or bee swarms removed. 

Bruce was among the first to become a Fremantle Press Champion of Literature – making cash donations to the Press on an annual basis and becoming a stalwart guest who could be relied upon to support authors at their many launches and events. Marie and Bruce’s annual Christmas purchases always saw Fremantle Press books winging their way to cousins, nieces and nephews across the country.

Not restricting himself to helping book publishers, Bruce was also known throughout Fremantle as the person who delivered their weekly edition of the local newspaper, colloquially dubbed the ‘Freo Chook’.

Bruce was an active member of his church, and he lived by the Christian values he believed in – choosing to attend services whenever these clashed with his other hobbies. Bruce remained an engaged volunteer throughout his life, and was a cross-country runner and steeplechaser in athletics. He was honoured with an Order of Australia for his role officiating at athletics events for Masters Athletics Western Australia and for Associated & Catholic Colleges of WA.

Fremantle Press would like to thank Bruce and the Wilson family for their generosity. Bruce exemplified the community spirit that makes Western Australian literature so rewarding.