On the Couch with ………… Gerard Fernando (an interview with Denis Anthonisz)
Source : Silverscene Official Newsletter
Bio
Gerard Fernando went to school at St. Sebastian’s, Moratuwa and migrated to Melbourne as a young man where he worked as a Cashier with Brambles. In 1975 he met Thomazine Harris and they married in 1976 after a whirlwind romance. Gerard and Thomazine have a son, Enrard, who is married to Amy. Their daughter Evelyn (two), is the apple of grandad’s eye. In 1987 Gerard came to Brisbane in the role of Cash Manager of World Expo 88. Gerard and Thomazine decided to settle in Brisbane and began their Brisbane sojourn in Albany Creek. Following Expo he worked in the Finance Department of Suncorp. In 2000 Gerard began a successful career in Real Estate, joining L J Hooker. Two years later he became principal of his own franchise. A move to acreage on the river in Whiteside occurred in 1997 where Gerard retired in 2020 to become a “gentleman farmer”
Silver Fawn History
Gerard became a member of Silver Fawn in 1987, invited to join the Club by foundation member, Ivor Ephraims. He has given long and passionate service to the Club, holding many positions on the Management Committee in the roles of Committee Member, President, Vice-President and Treasurer. His dedicated service was recognised in 2019 when he became a life member. Gerard values the Club’s role s providing an opportunity for getting people together and as an avenue of friendship.
Sport and Recreation
Gerard loves cricket, playing school cricket in Sri Lanka and local Club cricket in Melbourne. Today he is a couch devotee to all forms of cricket and also enjoys watching Rugby League and Rugby Union. Gerard loves fishing and is an enthusiastic angler whether it be in a boat, from a pier or from the shore. When asked what his favourite catch is, he replied, “Anything that bites!” Gerard has feasted on the plentiful seas off Norfolk Island on three occasions, filling the boat on all three occasions and also landing a shark on each visit.
Books
Gerard is not a book worm but enjoys reading newspapers and magazines that feature cricket and fishing. His love of dabbling as a handyman sees him as a reader of D.I.Y. publications
Movies
Gerard enjoys western and action genres in movies. ‘The Magnificent Seven’ is his favourite. Gerard is also a fan of James Bond movies and nominated Sean Connery as his favourite actor in that role.
Television
Gerard enjoys watching sport on TV, especially cricket. His other favourite is ‘Who Wants to Be A Millionaire’ where he has a fifty per cent success rate as an armchair quiz champion.
Gastronomic Delights
Gerard nominated Pepper Pork as his favourite food. He enjoys dabbling in the kitchen, with hoppers and stringhoppers as his favourites. He is Silver Fawn’s cooking maestro at our Camps and food fares. Whiskey is his preferred beverage, and he loves sipping a glass or two of Chivas Regal when the opportunity presents itself.
What sustains you?
“I like to reflect at the end of each day on what I have done during the day and get the most satisfaction when some of my time has included gardening.”
Gerard does voluntary work three days a week with ADRA, the non-sectarian Adventist Development and Relief Agency which specializes in crises relief and assistance to the poor and marginalised. His work for the agency is centred around packing food parcels and packing of meals. “Every Tuesday, we have about 170 cars coming to pick up food parcels.”
What saddens you/irks you?
Gerard’s initial response was, “Getting old!” He finds the world today a sadder place, “a world without trust and certainty.” He gave an example of the complexity of plane travel today to the simplicity of getting on a plane in the seventies.
Do you have a hero?
Gerard admires the Queen who devoted her life to service. “No-one has a bad word to say about her.”
If you had a magic wand how would you change the world?
Gerard said he’d like to go back to the good life of the seventies when “the world was a younger and more innocent place.”
We congratulate Gerard on his commitment to Silver Fawn and his long history of illustrious contribution to the Club.
