Passing of Aunty Bernice Clarke

𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺.

It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that the Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative acknowledges the passing of beloved Gunditjmara-Kirrae Whurrong Elder, Aunty Bernice Clarke.

Aunty Bernice was one of the founding members of the Gunditjmara Co-Op. She helped bring our people together and lay the foundations for the services and support that continue to care for our community to this day. Her years of leadership, advocacy and mentoring have left a lasting impact on Gunditjmara people and the wider community over generations.

Her contribution was recognised many times over the years, most recently as our NAIDOC Elder of the Year in 2026, a proud moment for all of us to celebrate her, and one we will always hold close.

Our love, thoughts and prayers are with Aunty Bernice's family, friends and all the community who knew and loved her. We ask that the family's privacy be respected during this time of Sorry Business.

FUNERAL SERVICE

Uncle Banjo Clarke Memorial Garden

180 Kirrae Avenue, Framingham

Friday, 9 October 2026

2:00pm

If you need support at this time, please reach out to our Social and Emotional Wellbeing team.

Rest peacefully, Aunty Bernice. Your legacy lives on in the community you helped build.