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Bill Collins OAM

      “Mr Movies”

Bill Collins OAM (4 December 1934 - 20 June 2019) was a film critic and historian, radio and television presenter, journalist, author and lecturer. 

Born William Roderick Collins, he was the only child of William Michael Joseph Collins (1906-1965) and his wife, Rita May nee Miller (1909-1977) who married at St John’s Church, Sutherland in 1933. Bill’s father was a policeman and his mother a school teacher. The family lived in Wattle Road, Jannali. His father’s sister, Lily Florence Collins, who lived with them after the death of her parents, was an usherette at Sutherland picture theatre and from a very young age, Bill was accompanying her to the movies. At age five he saw his first movie ‘Naughty Marietta’ starring Jeanette MacDonald. From then on he developed an early and passionate enthusiasm for films which never left him.

Bill went to Sutherland Public School, Canterbury Boys’ High School and the University of Sydney, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Latin in 1959, a Diploma of Education in 1960 and a Master of Education in 1965. Beginning his career as an English teacher at East Hills Boys’ High School then Canterbury Boys’ High School, he later became a lecturer at Sydney Teachers’ College.

In the 1960s he began writing reviews which led to work as a film presenter for the ABC. His lengthy introductions and commentary which were made with no script or autocue, lured in many viewers and increased the importance of movies on television. In 1967 he moved from the ABC to Channel 9 until 1974 then, from 1975 to 1979 moved to Channel 7. In 1980 he presented movies nationally working for Channel 10. From 23 October 1995 until his retirement on 20 October 2018 Bill presented films for the Foxtel cable television network FOX Classics. He also had cameo roles in film and television such as Prisoner and Howling III (1987).

In addition to his television work, Bill lectured at the University of Sydney on film and related subjects. In 1987 he published a book of film reviews and essays , ‘Bill Collins Presents The Golden Years of Hollywood’. With his encyclopaedic knowledge and being known affectionately as ‘Mr Movies’, Collins had a career in the industry spanning 55 years. Describing himself as ‘a voracious reader’ his library of movie memorabilia, books and movies, sharing six levels at his home in Kareela, was thought to be the largest private collection in the southern hemisphere.

After the death of his mother Rita in 1977, Bill Collins moved to Vincentia on the NSW south coast. He regarded himself as ‘a total workaholic’ and ‘resigned to being the eternal bachelor’. However after meeting a neighbour, Joan Wilson, nee Thrupp, a friendship developed which led to their marriage in Los Angeles in 1983. From Vincentia they moved to Winmalee and in 2005 moved to a large house in Berry, New South Wales.

In 1987, Bill Collins was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to film and television. In 2009, he was inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame and in 2013,received the inaugural ASTRA (Australian Subscription, Television and Radio Association) Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bill Collins died in his sleep on 20 June 2019. A private funeral service was held. He is survived by his wife, Joan who asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Dymocks Children’s Charities or Monica’s Doggie Rescue that saves dogs on death row.

Parents

Bill Collins father, William Michael Joseph Collins was born in Hurstville in 1906, the son of Michael Joseph Collins and his wife, Annie Elizabeth nee Williams. He married Rita May Miller at St John’s Church at Sutherland on 21 October 1933. At the time of his marriage he was a salesman but later became a special constable. He died on 28 September,1965 and was buried at Woronora Cemetery.

Rita May Miller was born in at Woollahra in 1909 the daughter of Alfred Ernest Miller and his wife, Bertha Martha nee Griffiths. She was a school teacher and died in Jannali on 29 March,1977. She was cremated  at Woronora Cemetery.

Grandparents

Michael Joseph Collins was born c1866 and married Annie Elizabeth Williams on 18 September 1894 at Waverley. They had four children – Gladys May 1894-1977, Lily Florence 1896-1980, Dorothy Marguerite about 1900-1988 and William Michael Joseph 1906-1965. Michael Joseph Collins died on 7 October 1942 and was buried in the RC Monumental Section at Woronora Cemetery. Annie Elizabeth Williams was born in England in 1859 and arrived in Australia in April 1885 on board the ‘Aberdeen’. She died at Sutherland on 11October,1950 and was buried with her husband at Woronora Cemetery.Their daughter Lily Florence Collins was born on 22 September 1896 at Woollahra and died at Leura NSW on 26 April 1980. She was cremated and her ashes buried with her parents at Woronora Cemetery.

Alfred Ernest Miller was born at Picton NSW on 8 March 1882. He married Martha Bertha Griffiths in Sydney in 1907. He died at ‘Lark Ellen’ Sutherland on 22 August 1972 and was cremated at Woronora Cemetery.

Martha Bertha Griffiths was born in 1884 and died on 16 November 1954 at Ryde. She was cremated at Woronora Cemetery. They had two children Rita May 1909-1977 and Alfred Roderick born in Woollahra in 1910. Like his sister, Rita, he was a teacher and died in1990.

Colleen Passfield 2019

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