Celebrating the lives of Vera and Bernie means we honour not just their years together, but the world they’ve built through music, family, and unwavering love.
They were born into the simplicity of the 1920s, with Vera, amidst the bustling warmth of a large family in Carey Gully, and Bernie’s, amidst the challenges of a transient childhood.
Vera’s upbringing on a family farm taught her resilience and the joys of simple pleasures, like the warmth of home-baked treats. Bernie, meanwhile, found his solace in music, a passion sparked in his youth that would shape his life’s purpose.
Fate intervened at the Adelaide College of Music, where Vera’s banjo lessons brought her into Bernie’s world. It was at a nearby milk bar that their love story began; one that would intertwine Vera’s nurturing nature with Bernie’s jazz-infused spirit. Together, they created a life filled with melody, laughter, delicious food, and a home where family and friends were always welcome.
Their secret? A shared commitment to family, mutual respect, and finding joy in life’s simple pleasures.
Their journey spans decades of profound change, from a time before electricity and television to today’s digital era. Yet through it all, Vera and Bernie embraced each new challenge with openness, creating a legacy of love with their four children, seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
In celebrating their 75th wedding anniversary, along with the King, the Prime Minister, the Governor General, and South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas, let us honour their enduring love that continues to inspire all. Vera and Bernie remind us of what truly matters: family, connection, and the music of a life well-lived.
