Bruce William Wallace GIBBS
Bruce William Wallace GIBBS
NSW Police Force
Illness
29 September 2013
41 years Service
With regret I advise the death of Bruce William Wallace GIBBS, 86 old, a Veteran member of the Northern Metropolitan Branch of the RPA, NSW.
Bruce passed away on 29/09/2013 and his funeral is proposed to be held at 1.30pm on Wednesday 9th October 2013 at Pittwater Uniting Church, 10 Jubilee Avenue, WARRIEWOOD, NSW.
Message from Bruces’ son, Robert:
…..and then there were three.
Just as another stunning day was dawning in Manly town today, my beautiful father Bruce passed away peacefully in his sleep at Manly Waters Private Hospital. The last 12 months has been savage on the old fella’s body, taking three episodes of renal failure, a heart attack, pneumonia and finally a stroke to finish him off. It has been a long road since he thumbed his nose at the priest giving him the last rites and Doctors who said he would have severe brain damage (if he was to survive) after having his illness in 1991. Bruce was much loved by his four children and their partners, nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He will be sorely missed by his old work colleagues, friends and neighbours. He was a champion bloke and I couldn’t have had a better father to love and model my life upon. He will be having a quiet beer with Margie and Wendy somewhere!
Robert Gibbs
Bruce joined the NSWPF in 1945 as a 17 year old Cadet. He worked at the Old Depot (Redfern Academy) filling cars and cleaning the stalls for the mounted police unit and later working in the darkroom at the Photographic Unit, old CIB building, Surry Hills.
He then did mainly traffic duties working mainly from North Sydney at the the ‘Traffic Bureau’, which later became the ‘Special Traffic Patrol’ and the ‘Highway Patrol’.
He progressed through the ranks, and when Senior Sergeant became the OIC of the Police Driver Training School at St Ives ( now closed ).
On becoming an Inspector, he was the OIC at Mona Vale Police Station (the old 29 Division) and then OIC of the Sydney Water Police where his office looked straight across Sydney Cove to the Opera House! (Now the site of the Park Hyatt Hotel).
Bruce then became a Superintendent relieving in several locations, before retiring in 1986 at the rank of Chief Super as the OIC of ‘E District’ of which encompassed the North Shore area of Sydney.
R.I.P. Bruce, you were known to me before my brother began courting Wendy. I respected you as the OIC of the Driver Training School, who signed one of my first certificates for my service – just over 40 years ago:-) I later came to know you, and the Gibbs clan, as part of my immediate extended family and also as a respected work collegue. In the day you were one who could be trusted and relied upon. Enjoy your beer with Margie and Wendy! Condolences to all the family.
Greg and Leann