Bernie spent his childhood on the family farm west of Lah, 9 miles north of Warracknabeal.

Bernie loved farm life and spent many hours assisting his father on farm duties. He always wanted to be a farmer and own a property.

Bernie was educated at Lah Primary and Warracknabeal High School.

In Bernie’s last year of secondary school, at the age of 15, he first saw a pretty Mallee girl called Dot Hayes.  

That started an exclusive relationship that would lead to a wonderful marriage and 50 years together.

Bernie went home on the farm at the end of the 1960 year. Along with brother Don and their father, the boys worked hard.  

Bernie and Dot were married young, and had very little to start with.

Opportunity knocked when the couple took on the share farming of a local property. Their first children, Kerry – now Kerry Moore – and Shaun (deceased) spent their early years at the farm.

They were keen on sport and played tennis for Lah, always playing the mixed doubles together.

In the drought of 1967, all crops failed.

And so, Bernie worked with a railway line laying team.

Bernie had a belief that drove him all his life.

It was clear; he had to do more than simply work for himself.

He believed it was the responsibility of all people to try to make a difference – no matter how small – to the well-being of humanity and the world around them.   

Bernie’s interest in politics had grown to the extent that he believed that he could contribute most in the political arena and the best way of achieving that was through a seat in Parliament.

And so, on the retirement of Sir Percy Byrnes in 1969, he nominated for Country Party pre-selection.

At that by-election he was elected with an absolute majority to become the youngest member ever elected in the history of the Legislative Council.

Tragedy struck part way through 1972 when their only son Shaun was diagnosed with leukaemia. On April 5, 1973 their little son died at the age of 7 ½ at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Dot and Bernie were distraught, their lives shattered.

Dot gave birth to a further three wonderful children, Tori, Luke, and Chelsea.

Soon after Shaun’s death they founded the Leukaemia Auxiliary of the Royal Children’s Hospital L.A.R.C.H. which is still functioning today. Bernie was made a life member of the hospital for their effort and contribution.                               

Bernie was re-elected to state parliament again in 1970, 1976, and 1982.

He was leader of the National Party in the Legislative Council from 1979 to 1988.

He had completed almost 19 years in parliament when he stepped down in August 1988.

In 1990, Bernie was elected president of the National Party of Victoria, a position he held until 1995.

He was a board member of the Australian Barley Board from 1993 to 1999

During Bernie’s political life he and Dot built up their farming interests for both eventually wanted to return to a life on the land. 

In 1992, they moved from Warracknabeal following the purchase a grazing property at Brimpaen.

In 1997, Bernie was elected to the Horsham Rural City Council.

He was elected mayor in 1998 and in 1999. He was re-elected to council in 2000 and 2003 and again served as mayor in 2003 and 2004, completing four terms as mayor.

Bernie was the founding chairman of the Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange relocation where he remained as chairman for 15 years.

On June 11, 2007 Bernie was awarded the Order of Australia Medal.

Bernie and Dot, with son Luke and his wife Rachel worked together in a happy farming partnership at Brimpaen.

Dot passed away from cancer on February 3, 2011 with Bernie by her side.

For 50 years they had been together, they were soul mates and each other’s best friend, always together.

In August 2017, Bernie was diagnosed with inoperable terminal pancreatic cancer.

Bernie passed away on June 15, 2018 surrounded by his family.