Many of our volunteers may not have known Bernie, but his support and dedication to our Organisation is in many ways unheralded.

“Bernie” as we always knew him, was a Member of our Order and a Member of our NT St John Council and his support to all of us in our early years in the NT was nothing but significant. Just recently, Bernie was promoted within our Order to Knight of Grace here in Alice Springs and a more worthy recipient of one of our highest accolades could not be found. 

He leaves us a Legacy as a Gentleman and Scholar, a ready wit and a true supporter of the Aims of our Order and also leaves us with his daughter Fran Kilgariff as a Member of our NT St John Council. Fran was until recently the Mayor of Alice Springs.

It was late at night when I received a call from the Alice Springs Old Timers Home, asking if I might “come in” as a nurse to “special” a new patient. As soon as I realized it was Bernie I called our Commissioner Steve Peers OAM KStJ (a great friend and colleague over many years of Bernie) and asked a special favour.

Bernie was a tad disorientated in his new surroundings and Steve granted permission to wear our uniform. It worked and our Bernie soon settled over several shifts upon recognizing the familiar black and white uniform that for so many years he had unselfishly supported. This was a real privilege to me as a nurse.

Rest in Peace Bernie – I pass on my sincere condolences to Steve who has lost a friend and to the Kilgariff family who are such staunch supporters of St John Ambulance here in the NT.

Related links

Bernie Kilgariff to be honoured as a Knight of St John
St John Ambulance NT – Farewells Bernie Kilgariff
Bernie Kilgariff (Wikipedia)