Bernard West

Ancestors

Descendants

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Biography

Bernard was born in 1933. In 1936 Bernards sister Shirley was born in November and now Bernard became a helper something his mother encouraged. During his mother’s pregnancy with Shirley his mother started his reading lessons – reading from books for children. A bit of a struggle for his three year old brain. And after Shirley’s birth his mother had a lot more on her plate. In 1937 even more when in December of that year Malcolm was born.

Prior to his teenage years, due to his mothers work obligations, he became the responsible minder for Malcolm and Shirley and much later when I was 14 for Philip as well. As a young man, he entered the Royal army Pay Corps as a Sergeant running a small pay office.

Upon marriage to Kathleen they operated two small businesses, a Newsagent in Leeds and later a Green Grocer in Berkinshire and Hair Dressing business.

Bernard/Kathleen and their 3 children (Heather/Alison/Timothy) arrived in Australia in 1966, via a Greek ship the SS Ellinis, Kathleen was pregnant with Simon during the voyage, he being born in September later in the same year. They lived initially their first 2 months in Australia at a Hostel in Altona, with communal washing and dining facilities.

They eventually moved to Dickens Street Brighton, Bernard found work with CJ Wilsons as an accountant with a clothing manufacturer in Fitzroy. After Simon was born the family moved to a weatherboard house in Prospect Hill Rd Surrey Hills.

Eventually they purchased their first house at 7 Latimer Street Noble Park and lived there for 17 years. They then moved several times, Upper Beaconsfield on 2.5 acres of a bush type block, Pakenham on 5 acres where they tended to cows and chickens , Goon Nure (near Bairnsdale) on 50 acres where they had cows, goats and chickens , Bairnsdale on 5 acres where they had cows and chickens and finally in Eagle Point on 10 acres where they had cows, goats and chickens.

In 2021 due to Kathleen's health, they sold up and moved into the residential part Bairnsdale. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Personal recollection of events as recounted by Bernard West.

• First-hand information. Entered by Bernard West at registration.

• https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=7355365&isAv=N