Bernie was one of the characters of VFL/AFL football who always had a smile on his face and greeted everyone with a warm welcome.
Bernie commenced his connection with football as a player with the Albion Football Club in the Footscray District FL. Bernie turned to umpiring in 1959 with the VFL Reserve Grade until his promotion to the VFL Senior Panel in 1963. Bernie umpired until his retirement from the list in 1975.
Bernie umpired 193 VCFL games including 2 finals. He umpired 3 Metropolitan games.
Bernie was installed as a life member of the AFLUA in 1973. Bernie embarked on a tour of duty as one of the first AFL interchange stewards working in that role from 1978 until his retirement in 2006.
Bernie passed away on November 18 2018, aged 86.