Bruce Wilson has dedicated more than 40 years of his life to the city of Cessnock through his roles in the media and local community organisations.
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Last Tuesday the former Advertiser managing editor was paid back with the highest honour a city can bestow on a citizen – Freeman of the City.
Mr. Wilson worked at The Advertiser for 42-and-a-half years until his retirement in November last year and continues to be involved with numerous community organisations.
Mr. Wilson joins Coogan Frame, Cec Anstey, Fred Yeatman, Mick Frame, Neville Bothwell, Elsie Doyle, John Munro, Marie Davies, Harold Sternbeck and Myra Hill as Cessnock’s Freemen of the City and was overwhelmed to receive the honour.
“To be recognised by your city and its people is an honour you just can’t describe,” he said.
“To be included among the list of such respected people to go before me is also something very special.”
Mr. Wilson has received many awards including Rural Press Employee 2001, Paul Harris Fellow the highest award from Rotary, an Order of Australia Medal for his services in journalism and for the Cessnock community on Australia Day 2013 (which he officially received at Government House last Wednesday).
He is a director of Cessnock Rugby League Supporters Club, Northern Coalfields Community Care Association and Cessnock District Health Benefits Fund; is also a dedicated volunteer with the Rotary Club of Cessnock Wine Country and has particularly excelled at raising funds for the Children’s Medical Research Institute.
He said becoming involved in the community was a “natural progression” through his involvement with city affairs through his job at the newspaper.
“It was through meeting scores of people and all the community groups that one found out what their needs were and this prompted me to join in and be part of their involvement,” Mr. Wilson said.
“Having a front seat on the city, so to speak, opened up these opportunities to help make things happen.”
Fellow Freemen of the City Mr. Bothwell (who taught Mr. Wilson at Cessnock High School), Mrs. Davies and Mrs. Hill attended the ceremony, along with many special guests including four former Cessnock mayors (John Clarence, Maree Callaghan, Merv Pyne and Alison Davey).
Current mayor Bob Pynsent said Mr. Wilson was “much more than an editor – he’s part of the architecture of this city”.
“The title Freeman of the City of Cessnock is not given lightly or freely, there is a very rigid criteria to be met,” he said.
“However those citizens that are nominated to receive this recognition by their actions set the very highest standards for themselves.
“Bruce’s lifetime of giving and sharing has been gracious and unstinting; his contribution to the community is exceptional.”
Guest speakers included Rotary District Governor, Peter Raynor; Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon and Fairfax Regional Media general manager Northern NSW Bob Mackie, who all echoed Cr. Pynsent’s sentiments – that Mr. Wilson’s dedication to the community extended far beyond his work at The Advertiser.
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