Malcolm John Bryce 1943 -2018
From an early age Malcolm John Bryce was a leader, visionary and determined to achieve the best for the place he loved most – Bunbury.
Malcolm was born in 1943 in Bunbury to Eric John Bryce and Ruth Lucy Bryce and grew up in Clarke Street, along with his sister Coral and brother Keith.
The Second World War divided many families in Bunbury. Like many others Malcolm’s father, Eric Bryce, went to war.
During the second half of World War II Ruth Bryce, Malcolm and his sister Coral lived with Ruth’s sister Dorothy Swain in Columbia Street, South Bunbury.
When Eric returned from the war and re-joined the WA Government Railways the family moved to Clarke Street.
His early childhood was typical of others in the area which included catching gilgies at the five-mile brook near the corner of Clarke Street and Minninup Road, creating mischief on Guy Fawkes Day by placing crackers in letterboxes, participating in – and excelling – at cricket, tennis, athletics and whatever sport was played in the area, and helping in the garden at home.
Malcolm’s father had a magnificent garden on half an acre (2023 square metres) and years of learning and caring for Eric’s garden rubbed off on the young Malcolm Bryce.
Malcolm frequently told the story of how his Dad would ladle effluent from the septic tank to ‘feed’ the plants. In later years Malcolm’s garden was a standout even without the septic tank treatment.
Malcolm attended South Bunbury Primary School and by sixth class he rose up as a leader when his class was required to undertake social study projects in groups.
In seventh class he was in a debating team of six. Perhaps a sign of things to come.
He didn’t always win or get his way - although he mostly did - as by then a large number of students from Carey Park were a tough verbal lot.
He went on to attend Bunbury High School where he had many great experiences, including playing intra-school football.
One thing is certain, he continued to demonstrate leadership on and off the footy field and in 1960 in Fifth Year High School (Year 12) he was elected Head Boy.
This was where a love story formed as his future wife, Elizabeth Lathwell, was elected Head Girl at the same time.
As an enthusiastic sixteen year old who wanted to make a difference in our society Malcolm joined the Australian Labor Party.
Malcolm also played football for South Bunbury. He loved his footy.
Malcolm went on to to study teaching at Claremont Teachers College and University of WA and completed an Arts degree, majoring in economics and history.
His strong sense of justice stood out. He demonstrated enthusiasm, leadership qualities, his capacity as an intelligent strategist and a someone who was clearly a forward thinker.
On 15 May 1965 Malcolm married Elizabeth Lathwell.
From 1970 to 1971 Malcolm taught Economics and History at John Forrest Senior High School.
In 1971 at the age of 28, upon the sudden death of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and Member for Ascot, Merv Toms, Malcolm was endorsed for the by-election.
He easily won successive elections and held the seat until his retirement from Parliament in 1988.
During his early years of Parliament Malcolm continued his involvement as a reformer in the ALP.
Within the ALP Malcolm saw the need for a change in attitudes towards the selection of candidates, the administrative structure, administrative and political leadership of the Party.
He carried his reformist position to the national level of the ALP and sat on the National Executive from 1971 to 1979.
Whilst in Opposition at the State level he took on the role of National Vice President in 1976 and 1977, Western Australian Vice President from 1974 to 1976 and State President of the ALP from 1977 to 1979.
These heavy political years saw the birth of four Bryce children.
Malcolm was always a strong family man and as a father was enormously encouraging and a proud Dad to Sean, Katrina, Fiona and Samantha and their partners.
Malcolm Bryce could have been Premier of Western Australia and would have made an outstanding Premier. An innovative thinker. A visionary.
In 1981 the ALP in Western Australia made a decision that the Labor Party’s best chance of defeating the Liberal Government at the scheduled 1983 election was to appoint Brian Burke as its leader in place of Opposition Leader Ron Davies.
Malcolm was made Deputy Premier when Labor won the state government election in 1983.
He also held arguably the most significant portfolios of Minister for Economic Development and Technology, Industry, Small Business, Defence Liaison and Parliamentary and Electoral Reform.
During this time Malcolm took it upon himself to work with the Mayor of Bunbury, local ALP candidates and other leaders in the Bunbury area to develop the policy known as Bunbury 2000.
What became known as “Malcom’s baby” Bunbury 2000 is his legacy that will be forever remembered and seen throughout town.
Through this policy Bunbury was set to become the urban centre that it is today with a regional health campus, entertainment centre, university, four-lane highway and develop a marina just to name a few.
Malcolm was a mentor and inspiration to many, including MLA Don Punch who said Malcolm was the reason he entered politics.
Malcolm passed away aged 74 on March 3, 2018. Despite his busy life, Malcolm always put his family first.
He is survived by the love of his life, Liz, children Sean, Katrina, Fiona and Samantha and a proud grandfather to Adam, Alex, Zoe, Max, Luka, Abbie and Saxon.
There will be a public memorial service for Malcolm Bryce on April 13 at Curtin University Stadium, Building 111, Kent Street, Bentley at 10.30am.
