Bernie Michael Payne was born at Taree on 30 November 1920 to Bernard Howell Payne and Isabella Ann Doyle.
He was 21 years and 10 months when he enlisted in the Australian Army at Lansdowne on 8 July 1942. He named his mother Isobel Payne as his next of kin and his occupation as farmer.
Bernie was raised on the family dairy farm at Upper Lansdowne and attended Upper Lansdowne School.
Bernie served in the Citizen Military Forces from 30 December 1941 to 7 July 1942 and in the Australian Imperial Force from 8 July 1942 to 23 April 1946. During his enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force, Bernie served in Lae, New Guinea from 18 April 1945 to 3 April 1946.
Bernie was awarded the 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal 1939/45 and Australia Service Medal 1939/45.
At the time of his discharge on 14 April 1946 he was posted to 14 Australian Line Section.
Bernie joined the Police Force after returning from the war and was stationed at Hay when he married Violet Joan Flood on 25 March 1947. They had 8 children.
Bernie’s father Bernard Howell Payne also served in WW2.
Bernie died on 15 August 1992 at Euston aged 73.
