Bruce wasn't just happy at public speaking he also put out a newsletter called the Koorier. In Bruce's capacity as a Liaison officer, he also had to appear in court for Kooris and attend the public speaking circuit, which consisted of universities, high schools, and various clubs. Bruce believes it was a real learning time for him.

In the late 1960s, Bruce got involved with the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, FCAATI, where Bruce formed a break away group in 1969, which was called the National Tribal Council. Dr Bruce McGuinness, Gary Foley, Dennis Walker, Naomi Mayers and others wanted a black take over of FCAATI. According to Bruce, FCAATI didn't want to let go because they were trade unionists and labour politicians who had various controls over FCAATI.

That was when Bruce and the others had a problem in the AAL, it was looked upon as another crusade of Black Power, which was sensationalised by the media and others within Aboriginal Affairs. Bruce then decided to go to America.

He took a group of people with him who included Bob Maza, Sol Bellear, Patsy Krueger and Jack Davis. Bruce was gone for a month and when he got back to Australia, the news again was blown out of proportion. Bruce said, "People really got uptight about Aboriginal Black Power, we met with the Black Panthers briefly in Atlanta, that was back in 1970-71."

Having met the Black Panthers, Bruce was now a bit dismayed by it all, because of the treatment, he received from some of the members. Bruce says, "I'm not the typical black looking black, and certainly not African American looking, where as the others were."

On one occasion at a conference, a guy standing on the side of the walkway he was standing on called Bruce a name. Bruce said, "he was taken back half an hour later and he profusely apologised to me, he was forced to apologise, so that hurt and being left out of things and not being encouraged to take part in workshops because I was a bit fair skinned and straight haired."

"So I didn't get that much out of it, I enjoyed it rather than participated."

It was in New York where Bruce met a schoolteacher called Ken Jenkins who opened up a whole new world on black and white relations to Bruce. Bruce was able to see and experience the real trouble schools in Long Island. Bruce says, "If you've ever seen films like Black boy jungle, iron grills everywhere and they would come clanging down when you're going to a classroom and after being there. Lock down they call it, like the prisons it was an experience, I don't mind telling you."

"I met a lot of other blacks in the area and it was really great, I crammed into just over 3 weeks 6 months work and I enjoyed every minute of it. I went to an Native American Reservation, in Long Island called Shinnicock Reservation and it was like being on Cummeragunja Mission."

"Once they knew who we were, Kooris, and where we come from they welcomed us with open arms and they were just like us there was no difference, I reckon anyway, there was very little difference, and I spent all this time with black Americans and here were our brothers who welcomed us with open arms it was great stuff." Bruce said.

When Bruce got back from America, it was much of the same scenario in regards to the media. Yet, Bruce believes it all started when Roosevelt Brown came out, Bruce invited him out a year earlier, and the press sensationalised the whole event.

After that, Bruce decided to head back to university where he was accepted as an early leaver and as a mature age student at Monash University. During his four years of study, Bruce received honours in both first and second year. He put third year of twice and in the end Bruce walked out, to go back and work for the community.

Once Bruce was back in the community, together with Alma Thorpe, they co-founded the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, 30 years ago in Gertrude Street, Fitzroy. Bruce says, "Without Alma Thorpe there wouldn't have been a Health service, Alma Thorpe and Janet Bacon, they were the main thrust of the health service."

"We were both very committed to making the Health service work and I don't think there are any closer friends around other than Alma and I, and we are still here working together on the board."

Bruce has also conducted educational classes over at Swinburne and headed up a community organisation course with Gary Foley. Bruce believes the students who were taught there are still involved in different aspects of Koorie work. "That was the forerunner, that was the vanguard of getting blacks involved in Black Affairs, starting to control community, and community based community control over Koorie Affairs." Bruce said.

Bruce co-founded with Alan Brown, the Koori College Health worker Educational Program. Gary Foley, Dennis Walker, Sheryl Buchanan and Colin Johnson all worked in the program. Bruce said" Colin has had his Aboriginality questioned in recent times, never by me, never at any time have I questioned Colin, Colin to me is a Koori, and always will be. Over here his credibility is intact, he's a good man and a great teacher."

Then there was the Koori College, which has seen over 130 students, and all of them are still involved in Aboriginal Affairs.

Bruce and Gary Foley then headed overseas to set up Aboriginal Information Offices in London, Germany and Amsterdam. There are still people involved today, Chris Mullard from the London School of Economics is a Professor now. He came out here and did a study for Charles Perkins. Bruce says, "Gary and I featured in every page, and Charley wasn't too wrapped about that, because we weren't his best boys or in his best books. So those things are still happening."

Bruce and a delegation of NAHO heath workers went to China for a month, to visit various institutions, hospitals, and doctors. To Bruce the visit to China was a real eye opener. "It was absolutely one of the highlights of my life." Bruce said.

Another highlight for Bruce is his children, Kelli and Miki, and his grandchildren, Ronny, Kelly Jnr and Rikkara.

Bruce was then awarded a doctorate in respect to his contribution to Aboriginal Affairs and the community. Bruce is also adamant that he would not have accepted it if it came from another institution. "I wouldn't have accepted it from a white institution, because they don't know me and they don't know anything about me, Tranby does just like other Koori organisations, and I regard it as a great honor."

"I thank Kevin Cook for that, a very near and dear friend, I spent a lot of time with him." Bruce said.

Bruce believes many people need to hit the streets to tackle issues like land rights and justice. "There's no substitute for people seeing large groups of Kooris, cause people hardly ever see us and the only way they're going to listen to us is in bulk. Not self appointed leaders or government appointed leaders, but Kooris out in the street."

"I see the main thrust of our struggle is sovereignty, with sovereignty people get to know what land is theirs and by so doing they can then make their demands on what their rights are."

"Everybody is able to articulate what their rights are, as it stands at the moment, we are depending on a few leaders and lawyers. Lots and lots of over paid lawyers and judges who probable wear woman's underwear under their clothes. I'm serious, and who are sitting in judgment on what's ours and what isn't, and that's just unacceptable." Bruce said.

Bruce is proud of his culture he is associated to the Yorta Yorta through his mothers lineage, but he is a Wiradjuri man, which comes from his father. "It's a patrilineal line, so I follow that via my dad and I fully support Yorta Yorta." Bruce said.

Bruce believes there is the need for more demonstrations, according to Bruce there needs to be lots and lots of black and white people showing their faces and screaming out what they want. "Bring the pressure back to bare on them. Strengthen the embassy, don't tear it down, strengthen it, make the embassy stronger than it's ever been and scream out for sovereignty, people should learn what it is." He said.

As the VAHS celebrates their 30th anniversary, Bruce can recall all the times when people would tell him that it wouldn't last and it wasn't worth doing. People like newspaper reporters, politicians, and other people in the public would tell Bruce that they wouldn't even last five years. Bruce thanks all those people, for giving him the drive to succeed against all odds.

Bruce says, "I think people should remember when they hear the name or see the name Bruce McGuinness, that it is synonymous with Gary Foley and vice-versa, we have sort of matured and come together, over the last 33 years and to a lesser degree Dennis Walker of course, we don't know where he is or what he's doing, but in the earlier years Dennis Walker was very much a forerunner of the Aboriginal struggle, a theoretician, whose theories were quite amazing, and of course Alma Thorpe whose yet to be honoured, but has to be."

Bruce believes its important for youth to learn about their culture and their family roots and to maintain a healthy respect for others and themselves." Learn about their Kooridum, where they come from, know the pain and the struggle that their parents and grandparents endured and make it worthwhile by continuing their struggle until we achieve what we set out to achieve."

"Don't think that elders have done their thing and are over and done with, I'm 63 years old and I'm in a wheelchair, and I need oxygen to function, but I'm doing as much now as I ever did and my mind is as clear now as it ever was in all of my life. I'll die with my boots on, or slippers because I don't wear boots anymore and not only am I doing it, but I'm enjoying it, I'm really enjoying being involved." Bruce said.

Bruce feels that people like Bobby Maza and Chika Dixon haven't received the credos that they deserve. Bruce and Bob were very close friends and as Bruce says, "I sadly miss the passing of Bobby Mazza who was a very near and dear friend of mine and I never ever got to tell him that and I'm sorry for that, I miss his talent I miss his laughter and his not so funny jokes."

"Chicka Dixon the Fox, is what we used to call him, he's a wonderful man. People should be at his doorstep you know taking flowers and cakes and what ever to him, the Fox, he's done a lot, he's done much, and there are so many others." Bruce said.

Bruce is still working at the health service today; he says he feels a bit funny when he gets called uncle by a lot of people in the community. "I don't feel that old, until I look in the mirror, I look in the mirror and I start freaking out at who is this old bastard is looking back at me. I like that, I never liked that a while ago but now I don't mind it. I don't like white people calling me uncle, but I love Kooris calling me uncle, it's a great honour." Bruce said.