By KATH GANNAWAY
BRUCE Oliver was the epitome of the quiet achiever.
Described by his Gruyere CFA colleagues as a man from that special generation “humble, with a heart of gold” and “a true gentleman”, his contribution to Gruyere, Wandin and Mount Evelyn communities through community service and his work was immense.
A CFA guard of honour, with the Gruyere tanker leading the procession, was a fitting tribute to see him on his way after 60 years of service in the Wandin and Gruyere brigades.
Bruce, with his wife Greta (Sebire) was involved with the setting up of Mont De Lancey Historical Museum in Wandin.
He was a member of the Lilydale Historical Society, the Gruyere Progress Association, Wandin Yallock State School Committee, the Yarra Valley Machinery Preservation Society, the Lilydale Masonic Lodge and the Lilydale Branch of the Liberal Party.
He was born on 17 December, 1931 and grew up in Lilydale with his parents Clarence and Ada Oliver, and younger sisters Val and Glenys.
He moved further up the valley when he courted his lifetime sweetheart, Greta Sebire, going to the pictures and to the local Wandin dances, as most of the community did in those days.
They married at the Methodist Church in Wandin on 24 July, 1954, and had two sons, Garry and Richard.
He learnt his trade as a butcher in Lilydale and after a stint carting fruit for the Silvan Fruit Co-op, in the early ‘60s he set up his own butcher’s shop in Mount Evelyn.
After retiring from the butcher trade he and Greta bought a farm in Gruyere and he went into fencing which brought him into contact with people right throughout the valley, and beyond.
Bruce’s generous nature, strength of character, unflappable leadership and genuine willingness to help, were key themes in the tributes paid at the funeral service attended by hundreds of people at Heritage Pioneer Chapel in Woori Yallock on 30 March.
One of his oldest friends, and brother-in-law, Gordon Chapman, said they met at the Wandin dance when he was 17 and they were courting the Sebire sisters.
Bruce and Greta were awarded the Wandin Rotary Club’s Australia Day Citizenship Award in 2007 for the work they did at Mont De Lancey Historic Museum.
Gordon said Bruce was a quiet man who did an enormous lot of work in various organisations.
“He was quiet, but genuine and with great practical skills,” he said.
Gruyere CFA colleague Don Bigham had Bruce as a neighbor for more than 40 years.
“If you needed a hand, Bruce was the first to be there. If he needed a hand, he was not too proud to ask,” he said.
“No matter what Bruce did, he did it willingly. You never heard him complain about anything.”
Current Gruyere CFA captain, Matt Sartori, also paid tribute to Bruce as a captain, mentor and life member of the Gruyere Fire Brigade.
Bruce started with Wandin Fire Brigade in 1954 and helped out with the Mount Evelyn brigade from time to time.
He transferred to Gruyere in 1974 and was captain from 1979 to 1985, leading the brigade through the Ash Wednesday campaign.
He then continued to serve as a fire-fighter for the next six years and took on the job of Fourth Lieutenant from 1991 to 1993, when he stepped back to encourage a new generation of leaders.
Matt was part of that new wave who benefited from Bruce’s example and mentoring.
“As a volunteer and captain Bruce always kept a level head,” he said.
“He never raised his voice, never swore, always picked out the positive and didn’t dwell on the negatives.”
He said he was encouraging, approachable and a good mentor.
Bruce had a good life. He would say that. But tragedy struck the family in April 1997 when Garry was killed in a tractor accident.
I was a painful and enduring loss for the family.
Bruce was ill for the last few years of his life, but Gordon said he was fortunate two years ago to welcome another little one to the family – great grandson, Logan.
“He was very, very pleased to be able to hold little Logan just a few months ago,” he said.
Bruce died on 23 March, 2015, and is survived by his much-loved and loving family, Greta, son Rick, Garry’s wife Sue and their children Morgan and Bentley.
