ARMIDALE is mourning the loss of former TAS boy and outstanding retailer Bruce Treloar.
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Mr Treloar passed away last Saturday after losing a battle with cancer and pneumonia. He was 88 years old.
The well-know businessman and former proprietor of Treloar's department store had strong links with the Armidale community and was educated at The Armidale School.
Bruce Morison Treloar was born on July 9, 1926. The son of TJ Treloar, he attended TAS from 1940 until 1944.
At school he was a prefect and was an all round sportsman. He was a member of the First XV from 1942-44, played cricket with the First XI for two years, was a member of the GPS Athletics team, and also a representative swimmer.
Mr Treloar was president of the TAS Old Boys Union from 1971-73, and a member of the School Council (equivalent of Board Director) from 1969-80.
In the Queen's Birthday Honours in 1993, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to business and commerce, particularly in the retail industry. Armidale councillor and former retailer Rob Richardson said Mr Treloar was a force to be reckoned with in retailing.
“Bruce was a great friend of my father and uncles,” Mr Richardson said. “He was larger than life - a positive, successful, capable man.”
Treloar's celebrated 120 years of continuous trading in 2009, but sadly only two years later the department store closed its doors. The family business was founded in 1889 by Tommy Treloar.
After war service, and the death of Bruce’s older brother, he went into the family trade and ran it until well after his sons joined him in the 1970s. A memorial service for Bruce Treloar will be held at St John’s church, Tamworth, at 2.30pm Friday.
Mr Treloar’s wife of more than 60 years, Janice, died in 2010. He is survived by his children Jane, John James and Bruce, and their partners, his grandchildren and by his sister Gai.