Bernard was born in Warracknabeal Victoria. His father was teaching at country schools and Bernard commenced school at age 3. He later attended University High School Melbourne, and then Wesley College where he matriculated twice, as he was too young to attend university!
He trained in medicine at Melbourne University on full Queen's College and Commonwealth Scholarships and graduated with the Grieve Prize in Paediatrics and honours in medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecolgy in 1957. He completed his basic training in 1958 at the Alfred Hospital.

He married Gwynne in December 1957 and a son, Keiran, was born in 1959. During this year he was in Perth at Princess Margaret Hospital in paediatrics. Perhaps fatherhood turned him away from this choice as he returned to Melbourne in 1960 and trained in neurology under John Game. He obtained the MRACP in 1961. Rowan was born in 1962.

Bernard and family travelled to London for postgraduate training at The National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, or "Queen Square" as it is commonly called. Bernard often recalled his times there and maintained many friendships and links with London, which were to the benefit of so many neurologists to come who followed him there.

John Game resigned in 1963, and there was a hiatus in the unit. In March 1965 Bernard returned from the UK to take up the Head of Unit position and redevelop the Unit. He was 30 at the time and the youngest ever appointed Head of Unit. The next years saw Bernard open an outpatient clinic, recruit neurology trainees and teach medical students. In 1965, he also was appointed neurologist to Fairfield Hospital, expanding the diversity of training, but also the time commitments. From 1965 until his death, he also was in private practice in Collins Street.

Despite these responsibilities, Bernard maintained an active family life, attending the footy with his sons and travelling as much as possible. He found and restored his beloved Mark IV Jaguar.

In 1979 he sought to set up a Chair of Neurology at the Alfred with a grant from the Van Cleef Foundation, which was set up by the late Louis Roet, a philanthropist who left a significant gift for this purpose. After 30 years of negotiation, these funds were transferred from the Van Cleef Foundation to Monash University and a personal chair in neuroscience was established at Alfred Hospital. On 23 September 1996, Professor Elsdon Storey commenced as the inaugural professor. This allowed Bernard to retire from public hospital duties. After a short break he was back every Wednesday at the Neurology Grand Round, offering sage advice which was always welcome.

On Australia Day 2005 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to neurology.

He was as remarkable in his dying as he was in his life. He approached his illness with a determination that he would maintain a normal existence with as little interruption as possible. He continued to see patients and attend meetings until the day before he was admitted to Cabrini for the last time.