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GENERATIONS OF SERVICE: THE BERGMAN FAMILY
BY CAROLYN ARGENT
Across two generations, four members of the Bergman family have devoted 116 years to our defence forces and emergency services. Their contribution spans across the ocean battlefields of the Second World War and the jungles of Vietnam to Ground Zero of the September 11 attacks and the highways of Victoria.
Don Bergman was a guide at the Shrine of Remembrance for over 18 years, welcoming visitors, showing them around the Galleries and engaging all with stories of the service and sacrifice of Victorian service personnel. Don also delivered talks to community groups and repaired or made replica items used in the Shrine’s education programs.
However, Don’s connection with the Shrine reaches back over half a century, as an Anzac Day marshal. Escorting and directing people laying wreaths, helping members of the public and connecting with people young and old alike, Don only gave up this commitment in 2014. Don also worked tirelessly for the RSL, as he felt a deep level of camaraderie with the wider veteran community and their families. He has sold badges on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, raising funds for the organisation.
Don’s story of service began at a young age. in late 1943, aged 15, he joined the Air Training Corp, as he was too young to join the Royal Australian Air Force, however, the war ended before his services were required. Don also worked at the Government Aircraft Factory at Fisherman’s Bend in Melbourne, making hydraulics for Boomerang fighters. Don’s service to his nation continued after the Second World War, but this story wouldn’t be complete without acknowledging the contribution of other members of his family. Ron Bergman was only a year older than his brother Don. in 1942 he went to the docks in Port Melbourne to see the United States (US) Navy vessels and joined the Merchant Navy, even though he was told he was too young. At 14, against his mother’s wishes, he became a deck boy on the Merchant Ship Reynella. He sailed across the Great Australian Bight, the indian Ocean to Mumbai (Bombay) and the Middle East. He had to clean the crews’ quarters and his action station was operating one of the deck guns.
Don and Ron on Anzac Day at the Shrine c mid-2000s
Image courtesy of the Bergman Family
Ron served on several merchant ships, including the US merchant ship the Contessa, sailing across the Pacific to San Francisco and down to Panama. He also sailed to Townsville and Port Moresby, New Guinea. He trained at Cerberus and enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) 3 October 1944. After joining the RAN, he was posted to Darwin and served on HMAS Stuart, operating the stern four inch gun. He sailed between Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville and up to Port Moresby and was in Darwin when the war ended. His final posting was on HMAS Warramunga when he was discharged on 18 October 1946. Even though he was a sailor he later recalled,
Ron Bergman in the navy 1944
Image courtesy of the Bergman Family
Ron recalled the hardest part of his service was that you were always on duty, whether you were on or off watch. After he left the navy, he became a carpenter and brick layer.
In 1948, after being discharged from their respective service, both Don and Ron joined the Citizen Military Force (CMF)—later renamed the Army Reserve—in the Royal Victoria Scottish Regiment. Both brothers wanted to be in the services and saw it as an effective way to be part of army life.
Don was an original member of 2 Commando Company, transferring across in 1955 when volunteers from existing CMF units in Victoria were invited to apply to join the new company. Don remained in the company for over 20 years, serving terms as 2IC (Second in Command) and Acting OC (Officer Commanding) and on his retirement in 1976 was the longest serving member of 2 Commando Company, obtaining the rank of Captain.
Don training with 2 Commando Company two days prior to the rip incident 15 Feb 1960
Image courtesy of the Bergman Family
On 17 February 1960, Don was one of 74 Commandos to be involved in what is now known as ‘The Rip incident’. As Commandos left Point Lonsdale in a range of kayaks and other small vessels, heading to Point Nepean on a training mission, the weather suddenly changed, tossing some into the water. Tragically three men were killed: Privates Roger Wood and Edward Meyer and Warrant Officer George ‘Taffy’ Drakopoulos. Don and others were rescued by the Akuna, a Port Philip pilot boat and former navy minesweeper. An annual commemoration service is held to honour this loss of life.
Don at a Shrine Last Post service commemorating the Rip incident March 2021
Whilst in the Commandos, Don’s Commanding Officer, General Sir Phillip Bennett, requested Don teach navigation to the Commandos. Don designed and built a navigational training aid which has been used by numerous Commando and cadet groups, both here and in New Zealand. in 1992 Don had the aids computerised and is still presenting them locally and interstate, a volunteer service for which he was awarded an Army Commendation in 2002. ‘it gives me something to do’ Don replied to my enquiry as to what drove him to continue this commitment.
In 1969 Don was seconded to 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam on a tour of duty. Of his time in Vietnam, Don recalls being issued with a rifle, even though they were only observers.
Don Bergman receiving the Efficiency Decoration c 1970s
Image courtesy of the Bergman Family
For 34 years Don worked as a telephone technician for the Postmaster-General’s Department, later Telecom. This role saw him in charge of fitting telephones for the new Defence Centre in Melbourne. His expertise with phones saw him seconded to Victoria Police from 1981–1984 as part of Task Force Zebra. His work tracing and assisting with breaking up criminal Starting Price Bookmakers saw him become the first non-Police Officer to be awarded a Chief Commissioner’s Certificate.
Other career highlights include volunteering for three months at the Central Army Records Office (CARO) at the Victoria Barracks Melbourne, compiling a list of all the 701 CMF officers and the few noncommissioned officers who went to Vietnam as observers during the Vietnam War. This list is still used by researchers and CARO.
Don’s son David Bergman had watched his father’s involvement in the Commandos and Vietnam and had accompanied him on various army activities, which led him to enlist in the army aged 17. After three years David left to pursue civilian life but remained in the Australian Army Reserve, rejoining as a full-time Officer where he currently serves as a Major. There are several items belonging to Major David Bergman on display in the Galleries at the Shrine of Remembrance. They are housed in three different cases that shine light on his personal story and add to the Shrine’s broader mission of highlighting the service and sacrifice of Victorian Defence Force personnel.
David was in the US attending training relating to chemical and biological weapons when the September 11 attacks occurred. Photographs from David’s collection, along with a rubber stamp found at the site and a set of identity discs, depict his experiences at this time when he was seconded to the New York Port Authority and New Jersey Police Department to assist with the recovery operation at Ground Zero.
Maj David Bergman and an Afghan deminer near Bagram Air Field 2008
Photographer Capt Joe Nyhan
In the Recent Conflicts Gallery are other items, including banknotes and a cloth patch from David’s time serving as an army engineer with the Australian Army Training Team in Iraq. A torn Afghan flag is mounted on the wall, which was collected by David from his service with the Coalition Mine Action Centre at Bagram air base. Regular flooding at the base was not addressed because the area was littered with landmines. David instigated mine clearing of the affected area, enabling the terrain to be modified to prevent further flooding to the base. For this he was awarded the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) Meritorious Service Medal. These items capture something of the everyday life of an Australian soldier in modern combat war zones, far removed from life in suburban Melbourne.
Acting Sergeant Trevor Bergman is another of Don’s sons who grew up witnessing his father’s commitment to helping others. After commencing his career with four years in Customs, Trevor joined Victoria Police, where he has served for 30 plus years.
David, Don and Trevor Bergman attending Anzac Day commemorations at Noble Park RSL 18 April 2010
Image courtesy of the Bergman Family
When asked what the most rewarding part of his job was, he did not hesitate to say, ‘helping members of the community in their times of need, after car accidents, bushfires, floods and even to reassure people during the COViD-19 pandemic’. Trevor has enjoyed visiting kindergartens, schools and aged care facilities promoting positive relationships between Victoria Police and the community.
During Trevor’s years at the Traffic Alcohol Section, he became aware of the batteries used in breath testing machines ending up in landfill when they still had some charge left. He commenced checking over 100,000 used batteries, bagging and donating them to charities who in turn offer them for free to those in need. Also, the extensive knowledge Trevor gained through years of attending accidents was the basis for creating over 200 short instructional videos, accessible for free as an aid to learner drivers. These are additional activities to Trevor’s formal police duties on top of which he has donated blood and plasma over 450 times, encouraging others to do the same.
Don’s example of service to community has been an inspiration followed by his family. it was apt that Don chose Volunteer week, in May 2021, to hang up his volunteer jacket at the Shrine of Remembrance and share a farewell luncheon with his Friday group of volunteers. Don will be missed, however the stories and knowledge he shared will continue to be passed on.
Don with the Friday volunteers on his last day 17 May 2021
Don has been married to his wife, Audrey, for 70 years. They have six children and nine grandchildren.
Carolyn Argent is an Education Officer at the Shrine of Remembrance.
