A real gentleman with a conscientious personality who loved to win.
He was a person of the highest integrity.
A true country legend.
— Gary Brown (long serving
Seymour Football Club secretary)
He was a legend.
I really admired his passion for the game.
He was ahead of his time with his play-on-at-all-costs approach.
He had super strong hands and, because of knee problems, played a lot on one leg but he was still effective.
He had an awe about him through what he had done in football which drew players to him.
And he was a real gentleman and pleasure to know and be around.
— Des Campbell (GVL great
and team mate of Bernie in the 1978 country championship winning team)
I had only the two seasons with him at North and he was a great guy and player.
I remember my first game well because I was on the bench but got his place at centre half forward when he couldn’t play.
He was ahead of his time, always ready to handball after taking a mark.
He still would have been a great player in today’s game.
He was also a very loyal person and always attended the reunions North have had over the years.
— Frank Gumbleton (former
North Melbourne team mate)
Rushworth had not made the finals the previous season when he came and he was dedicated to changing that.
He inspired a new attitude to training and insisted that after every mark or free kick it was essential you played on quickly
He was a gentle giant.
— Alan McLean (who played
under Bernie at Rushworth)