Bruce Manning: Tributes for newspaper and community stalwart

A man who navigated The Chronicle through some of the biggest changes in its history has been remembered as a man of great judgement and high integrity.

Bruce Manning navigated some of the biggest technological changes in The Chronicle's history as the managing director.

A man who was instrumental in Toowoomba’s newspaper publishing industry for decades has died aged 89.

Newspapers were always in Bruce Manning’s blood.

Raised on a sugar cane farm in Mackay, his grandfather William Joseph Manning owned, managed, and edited the Observer in Gladstone and the Daily Mercury in Mackay.

Bruce received his primary school education at Calen State School, before boarding for three years at SCOTS PGC in Warwick.

He worked for a year in sugar industry administration, and then joined the Mercury team in 1954 after starting his studies in accounting.

He also took a two-year sabbatical in 1962 to develop his accounting and business experience with an accountancy firm in Townsville.

He subsequently became an Associate of the Australian Society of Accountants, now known as CPA.

It is in Townsville he met Jean Nimmo, a secondary school teacher on transfer from Brisbane.

They married in May 1964 and settled in Mackay, where Bruce had returned earlier to work at the Mercury.

Bruce took the role of general manager for Toowoomba Newspapers in 1973.

He would play a pivotal role in navigating the complex merger between The Chronicle and the Downs Star.

Bruce Manning served as Toowoomba Newspapers general manager from 1973-1975, and its managing director from 1975-1995.

In 1975, after filling a vacancy on the board between shareholders Provincial Newspapers and Downs Star, Bruce became managing director – a role he held for the next 20 years.

He would also navigate the newspaper through a decade of unrest in the Australian newspaper industry.

This was particularly in relation to technology, as hot metal and letterpress production was replaced with computerised photocomposition and offset printing.

This was also the time journalists moved from typewriters to visual display terminals.

In 1988, Provincial Newspapers was sold to Australian Provincial News.

Following Australian Provincial News’ takeover, Bruce was appointed Regional Manager – Western of APN.

The western region incorporated newspapers in Toowoomba, Warwick, Stanthorpe and various non-daily newspapers at Gatton and west of Toowoomba.

He held this position as well as managing director of Toowoomba Newspapers and its subsidiary companies until retirement in 1995.

Bruce was also actively involved in the community.

He was a member of Rotary and Toastmasters, served on the Building Appeal Committee for Lifeline Darling Downs in 1993 and 1994, participated in the fun-raising committee for Blue Nurses Toowoomba for several years and acted as a member of the selection panel for the Darling Downs final of the Miss Australia Quest in 1991.

He also served as deputy chairman of the Fairholme College Council from 1980 to 1999, and had active participation in Christian church activities, including with the Presbyterian and Uniting churches and later independent fellowship.

This led to Christian teaching assignments in India and Southeast Asia with his wife Jean.

Bruce died peacefully June 3, aged 89.

Former Chronicle editor Bruce Hinchcliffe said Bruce was a “man of great wisdom and fine judgment, integrity and loyalty”.

He is survived by his wife Jean and four children – Leanne, Greg, Margot and Phillip.

A private graveside service at the Garden of Remembrance will be held immediately before a memorial service at HumeRidge Church of Christ on Monday, June 23 at 2pm.