Some may say that my Grandfather has had a rough beginning to life, and that is true. But when I look at him, there is nothing there other than a friendly face with shining eyes and grin so wide. You would never even begin to guess what he went through so early on in his life. Bernie Fraser was born on May the 15th, 1934 in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia. He grew up in a family of nine. He was the fifth child, with three sisters and four brothers. They were all faithful Catholics and Bernie says that has been a massive influence on his life.
Growing up as child, Bernie's family didn't have lots of money. He remembers when he had to share a bed with all nine of his family. What a squeeze! His days used to consist of riding his bike everywhere, delivering the paper and collecting horse manure for extra cash. He also had a passion for shooting and he would go out with his mate and hunt ducks and kangaroos. Bernie was lucky enough to go to school but he left when he was 14.
Bernie's earliest memories was of his father, who was heavily into alcohol. My great-grandfather (Bernie's father) was from Scotland and was part of the navy who went to fight in World War II. He was on the front line of attack. He survived the War, but after watching all his friends die and the horror of a battlefield, he came away with Post-Traumatic Stress. He decided to not return to Scotland so he made a home in Australia. Bernie described him a very harsh and didn't see him very often as he found work on the railroad and that was where he spent most of his days. Bernie never met his grandmother, because she was put into an ayslum by her husband after her eighth child. Bernie says his Mother was a strong woman. She was firm and you always did what she told you to do, but she was kind. Learning about his family really made me appreciate my own family and the opportunity to have my parents around all the time.
Bernie was a part of the Australian National Service Society, joining when he was 18 years old. He volonteered there for 3 years. After this time he came to the decision to move to New Zealand. He flew over in by plane in December 1960. Bernie was orginally here temperarily to see what New Zealand was like, but he met a woman called Gabrielle on Rangitoto and decided to stay for good. Bernie now 87 years old and is living a happy retirement playing golf and sharing is stories.
Kangaroo Picture:
Miriam Taylor (My Mother) is Bernie's daughter. Born on September the 15th, 1975. She was his fourth child after came over to New Zealand in December, 1960, by plane. Miriam was born in Auckland and she says she was facinated in the early stages of her life to hear all her father's stories. Six people lived in her family, Bernie and his wife Gabrielle, and Miriam's siblings Stephan, Gemma and Elizabeth. Miriam was the youngest by 10 years so as she grew up, most of her siblings had left home.
Miriam is a faithful Catholic like the rest of her family and she remembers going to church every single Sunday. She says it has has given her a moral to live by and has reminded her to be compassionate and generous throughout her life.
Miriam descibed her houshold has very traditional. Bernie worked alot while her Mum sayed at home. She said her parents were very kind and generous but Bernie could be very harsh sometimes. Miriam said that one of her earliest memeories was when she was playing with matches as a child and she got a fright. The match fell to the carpet. Luckily it went out but Miriam was terrified of Bernie finding out and punishing her. But she says her parents always supported her in her hobbies, driving her to gymnastics competitions, picking her up from late-night netball games and helping buy her first sailboat for competitive sailing regattas. Miriam says she was incredibly lucky.
She finished school at Carmel College in 1984. She really wanted to go university and she ended up getting a degree in marketing in her early twenties. She made many great friends at university, and that resulted in meeting my father Scott. Who she married in 1999. Soon after that, they moved to England and lived there for 3 years. They travelled all over Europe and Africa during that time and learned about some amazing people and cultures. They finally moved back to New Zealand and had there first child (me) in 2005.