FORMER Country Press Australia President and Victorian Country Press Association President, Bruce Ellen, for many years the general manager of the Latrobe Valley Express in Morwell has died.
After more than four decades of dedicated and outstanding service to the newspaper industry, he was awarded life membership of both peak bodies, the CPA in 2022.
Bruce was a trailblazer within the Victorian Country Press Association, having first served as an Executive Councillor in 1988, before becoming a member of the Promotions Committee in the early 1990s and then the inaugural chairman of the marketing committee from 1992.
Bruce served as President of the Victorian Country Press Association from 1998 to 2000. He also served as a director of the Country Press Co-operative Company for 13 years from 2003 to 2016.
More recently Bruce served as President of Country Press Australia from 2019 to 2021 after joining that Board in 2016. Bruce led the CPA during the organisation’s most significant period. He worked day, night and over weekends to help navigate CPA through the pandemic. He heavily advocated on behalf of members to the Federal Government and played a pivotal role in securing the $50 million Public Interest News Gathering (PING) fund and the release of $5 million from the Innovation Fund.
Bruce led the industry’s voice to the ACCC and then the Federal Government regarding the digital platforms enquiry and ultimately legislation.
He was one of the architects of the deals Country Press Australia struck with online platforms Google and Meta as part of the News Media Bargaining Code negotiations, and also pushed for advertising from the Federal Government during the pandemic.
He appeared before a range of Federal Government committees looking into the future of newspapers, with some of those meetings requiring trips to Canberra, and he kept in regular contact with politicians on both sides in a bid to ensure our industry was well understood and supported.
Most recently Bruce joined the discussions and negotiations with the Minister for Communications which ultimately lead to the $15 million Regional and Local Newspaper Publishers Program. Bruce remained an active, valued and respected Board Member of both CPA and the VCPA until his passing.
His leadership, wisdom and willingness to dedicate his own time in the service of both CPA and VCPA are testament to his character and integrity.
Bruce and his family share a proud history as publishers of the Midland Express and Castlemaine Mail newspapers in central Victoria, as well as managing the Latrobe Valley Express and Gippsland Times.
He was a fierce advocate for the Latrobe Valley in particular, championing the cause of improved infrastructure and services, as well as proper recognition of the Valley’s role in the national economy and the need to support its transition.
Bruce had enormous knowledge and passion for newspaper press sites and he had only recently proudly upgraded his press site, Express Print in Morwell which has for many years printed the South Gippsland Sentinel-Times.
His passion and belief in regional papers saw Bruce as a director and shareholder in the Today group that has brought new life to newspapers in communities across regional Queensland and South Australia.
He was immensely proud of his role in bringing regional public interest journalism back to regional communities. He played a pivotal role in acquiring a press site in Rockhampton and growing and building that business.
Bruce was also a generous sponsor and supporter of many industry events and functions. Bruce was much loved by all his industry colleagues. His warmth, generosity, humility, and appreciation for the efforts of those around him were characteristics that endeared him to everyone fortunate to know him.
Beyond his professional endeavours, Bruce was a devoted family man, deeply committed to his children, Ashleigh and Nick and spent most of his weekends when they were growing up following their passions of motorsport and horse show events.
Bruce loved summers water skiing with his family and friends in Echuca, had a massive passion with collecting cars and enjoyed trips overseas with his mates.
Bruce was the instigator of the Latrobe and Sale ‘Biggest Ever Blokes BBQs’ which raise money for prostate cancer. He loved these events for their fellowship and camaraderie.
The members of the Victorian Country Press Association are deeply saddened at Bruce’s passing and offer their deepest sympathies and best wishes to his wife Chris, children Nick and Ashleigh and their families, including Bruce’s mother Dorothy. Our sympathies also go to Bruce’s brothers Tim and Graeme and their respective families.
A service will be held next Friday, April 5 at 1.30pm in Morwell to celebrate Bruce’s life.
Contributed by Andrew Schreyer President of Country Press Australia and Jared Loughnan, Chairman of the Victorian Country Press Association.
