Bruce was born on the 11th September 1935, at the family farm “Carrawatha” at Walbundrie, the youngest of seven children. Bruce went to school at the now named Scots School for three years.
Bruce was also a Nasho and trained for three years. They wanted to make him a Corporal, but when they asked Bruce if he wanted to become a Corporal, he told them he was only there for a holiday. So, they made him run up a massive hill with his gun over his head. He never did get that promotion. Bruce was proud to see the Queen in 1954 when she came to Ballarat.
Bruce and his mates once snuck out of a military base to go to the Rand ball by taxi, which ended up costing them over £100. Bruce played football for Walbundrie until 1967, playing in one grand final with a broken thumb. He also played tennis and was a water skier.
Bruce loved working on the farm and was still driving the header up until a few years ago and helping out in the shearing shed. Bruce was a keen fisherman, a life member of the Walbundrie Show Committee, and the Urangeline Fire Captain for many years.
Bruce met Margaret Hall at the Rand ball and they married in Albury in 1959. Bruce, with the help of his brothers and brother-in-law, took a year to build the house at “White Tank”, which was completed in 1960. Bruce and Margaret had 6 children, 14 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.