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This is a collection of the memories that have shaped Bertha's identity.
They are among her most vivid stories and she has recounted them many times over the years.
TOP STORIES
An Aborigine at the table
The big journey
Bertha had grown up in a deeply racist community so she was in shock the first time she had to socialise with an Aboriginal person. But over time the pair struck up a friendship.
WARNING: this recollection contains offensive language.
As a child, Bertha loved to hear the story of how her grandparents travelled from Armidale to Warwick in a covered wagon.
The bank runs out of money
First job
At 15 years old, Bertha had to leave school and find a job. So she became a governess for the McMillan family in Woodenbong.
Meeting Elmer
During The Great Depression, Bertha's parent's bank went into administration.
Bertha recalls what happened when her mother discovered the bank was closed.
Abraham and Sarah
Elmer took Bertha by surprise the first time they met.
It was night when he arrived, looking like he'd just been rained on.
Mum's sulky
Legend and mystery surrounds Bertha's grandparents Abraham and Sarah.
Was she a lady who married 'beneath her station?' Or was that a romantic myth?
Catching rabbits
Bertha's mother rode in a horse and sulky for most of her life.
Some of Bertha's earliest memories are about riding in the sulky.
The family Bertha worked for in Woodenbong was so poor she had to help them catch rabbits to eat for dinner.
How do you catch a rabbit? Bertha explains.
Visiting granny
CHILDHOOD STORIES
Leura the farm
Bertha's parents owned a farm at Swan Creek called 'Leura'.
They ran dairy cows, pigs and chickens as well as small crops. Bertha says there was always work to be done on the farm.
Mum's scarf
Bertha and her siblings loved to visit Granny Sarah.
They would listen to stories of the family history and 'swim' in the shallow dams.
The Great Depression
When Bertha took knitting lessons at school her mother bought the wrong colour wool on purpose.
The outcome was a scarf her mother treasured for life.
Mouse plague
The Great Depression spanned most of Bertha's childhood.
She recalls how the district children wore sugar sacks for underwear and rarely had shoes.
Hair dipped in ink
In the early 1930s a mouse plague hit Southern Queensland.
The cats couldn't keep up with all the mice and Bertha had some interesting encounters trying to hunt them too.
Fisticuffs with Jumbo
As a child, Bertha had very long hair.
One day, one of her classmates to it with the ink pot.
Grandad's drinking
Bertha and her older brother, Lawrie would often wrestle and fight.
She remembers one particular day when their mother caught them off guard.
Jumbo kills dad's show chooks
On Saturday nights, Bertha's grandfather used to drink at the pub until he passed out and his horse would bring him home in the wagon.
Bertha remembers her mum telling the story.
Elmer's old truck
Bertha's father had been rearing some chequered hens for the local agricultural show.
But one day, for no apparent reason, Bertha's brother, Lawrie (Jumbo) chased and killed most of them.
WORKING YEARS
Money for dresses
During her teenage working years, Bertha saved most of what she earned.
One of her few luxuries was buying fabric for her sister, Linda to make dresses.
MARRIED YEARS
Living on the Skjonnemand farm
Bertha's beau (and soon to be husband), Elmer worked as a timbergetter in the Swanfels area.
He drove the logging truck, which Bertha says was very rickety.
Elmer tries to get into the army
After they got married, Elmer built Bertha and himself a house on his parents farm at Emu Vale.
They lived and worked there with Elmer's widowed mother, Marie, for one year before buying a home not far away.
Running a trucking business
During World War II, Bertha's husband Elmer tried to enlist in the armed forces, but poor eyesight and a bad leg prevented him from being accepted.
As a consolation he joined the Volunteer Defence Corps.
Opening a shop
In the 1950s Bertha and Elmer bought a block of land on the highway at Coomera and built a
shop there.
Living at Labrador
After moving to their own home in Emu Vale, Elmer started a transport business, mainly carting produce.
He built the business up and employed five drivers.
It was Bertha's job to feed them all.
WIDOWED YEARS
Elmer's health deteriorates
In the 1970s Bertha's husband, Elmer suffered prolonged illness with cancer and recurrent heart attacks.
Bertha sold the shop to care for him full time. Elmer died in his sleep of a heart attack in 1980.
After the death of her husband Elmer, Bertha moved to Labrador.
The house had a pool and vegetable patch and on weekends Bertha's children and grandchildren came to visit.
The Great Depression
The Great Depression
During The Great Depression, Bertha's parent's bank went into administration.
Bertha recalls what happened when her mother discovered the bank was closed.
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