Wild Bill Ellis remembered by family following tragic passing aged 62

A stockman who found himself on the silver screen, ‘Wild’ Bill Ellis was a man of many talents and has been fondly remembered after his death last week. Read the moving tribute by his family.

"Wild" Bill Ellis is a farmer from Mt Colliery (Southern Downs) feeding his limousin cattle hay during a drought with cloudy skies above holding promise of rain.

Tributes have flowed from far and wide following the death of Warwick larrikin “Wild” Bill Ellis at the age of 62.

The Killarney cattleman and actor passed away on Tuesday and is remembered by his family, friends and community as a hard-worker, larrikin and lover of a good chat.

Bill’s wife Jan has remembered how he was a great friend to many and “would give his shirt off his back for anyone who needed it”.

“He didn’t lose friendships, in the hospital it was non-stop visitors, we had to stagger them because they wouldn’t stop coming through,” Mrs Ellis said.

"Wild" Bill Ellis is a farmer from Mt Colliery feeding his cattle hay during a drought with cloudy skies above holding promise of rain.

“He always people laugh and if you needed anything done he’d happily do it, if you needed a hand he’d help you.

“He’d always tell stories and make sure people were okay.”

Jan recalled one of her favourite memories in which Bill phoned her after not seeing her for two weeks, saying he was too busy working.

“He said ‘I’m working this weekend, but I’ll come see you next weekend,’ then I said ‘don’t bother’ and hung up on him,” Mrs Ellis said.

Bill was there at the front door exactly 10 minutes later.

‘Wild' Bill Ellis of Tannymorel who brings lead steers to the Ekka every year has a few drinks at the Cattleman's Bar. (Photo: Mark Calleja)

A stockman of more than two decades, Wild Bill found fame later in life as an extra in the ABC crime drama Harrow, as well as another series Wanted, on top of a short film shot at the Ekka.

News of Wild Bill’s tragic passing racked up almost 200 comments on Facebook.

“So sorry to hear this. He was one of a kind,” one commenter wrote.

“So sorry for your loss a top bloke that’s for sure”