In honour of Bernie

Friendships borne of UNE’s residential colleges can be formative and enduring. Such is the case with one particular group of sociable, sport-loving blokes who met at Earle Page College in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Drawn from all over country NSW, this mob played cricket and rugby union together, partied together and developed bonds sufficient to last a lifetime. And indeed they have. Long after graduation, when most had gravitated to Sydney to work, marry and have families, they steadfastly kept in touch and regularly met – usually around major sporting events. Even today some continue to play tennis, enjoy dinners and (COVID permitting) the occasional overseas rugby tour.

Through the decades, until his death in 2004, Bachelor of Economics graduate of UNE Bernard Coffey was the glue that bound the group together.

“Bernie was a great organiser and socialiser, and he was the guy who put in the effort and thought that has maintained our friendships for almost 50 years,” says John Stuckey. “If there was a major rugby match or he knew some of us were in town, he would arrange a barbecue at his house.”

Bernie’s death, at the age of just 56, hit the men hard. John and Colin Gellatly were on the board of the UNE Foundation at the time and suggested creating a country scholarship in his honour. Since 2007, the group, Bernard’s family and other friends have pitched in each year to top up the Bernard Coffey Country Scholarship, which supports a high achieving regional student living in Earle Page College with $6,000 per annum.

“We all have very fond memories of UNE and the effect it’s had on our lives, in terms of getting a good degree,” says John, “but perhaps more important have been the lifelong friendships that we formed. We had a fantastic time and would now like to give others who may be more disadvantaged the opportunity to enjoy that.

“The idea is to support someone to attend UNE and enjoy regional life, who is prepared to make a real contribution in rural and regional communities. Someone who would make Bernie proud. We miss him a lot.”

His daughter Elisabeth later grew up among “the UNE mob”, most of whom (apart from a few ring-ins from other colleges), lived on the top floor of A Block at Earle Page.

“Dad formed incredibly strong friendships at UNE, and these friendships endured through thick and thin,” she said. “I have always felt fortunate to be part of this strong friendship circle myself.” 

Bruce Jacob remembers Bernie as “an unbelievably loyal, compassionate and thoughtful friend, who would take a bullet for you”. Kim Craig says gregarious Bernie was affectionately known as Pies Coffey, after running the college shop for a time.

“He was an institution at Earle Page and would talk to anybody,” Kim says. “We are all thankful for our time at UNE and what it helped us to achieve, and it’s wonderful to now be honouring Bernie this way.”

The blokes and their families still catch up often, and Bernie invariably becomes a topic of conversation.

“I have an annual Christmas party, and the guys come from all over and we always raise a glass in Bernie’s honour,” Bruce says. “We may not even be sharing these occasions if not for his enthusiasm and determination to keep our group together.”