Dear Lenore and Family, I wanted to take the time to write to you today, to express my sympathy for the loss of your husband Bert. Like you, my life has been touched by the untimely death of a loved one. My friends and family were a great comfort, but what helped me to cope was reflecting on the Bible's hope of seeing my loved one again, in what the Bible calls the Resurrection Hope". When all our dear friends and family that have passed away, will be brought back to life. Here are just a couple of scriptures in the Bible which describe this hope. Isaiah 25:8 "He (God) will actually swallow up death forever, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will certainly wipe the tears from all faces"... John 5:28 "Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice (the voice of Jesus) and come out". I sincerely wish all the best for you and your family at this time. Sincerely, One of Jehovah's Witnesses"

Vale Bert Budge I said goodbye to a dear friend on Friday; Albert (Bert) Budge. Like my father, Bert's character was shaped by the depression years. He courted Lenore for seven years 's after seeing her reflection in a mirror. His favourite TV show was the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice". He not only admired its sentiments but lived out its moral content. He was a tough boss but many a former apprentice's visited him years later and thanked him for it. I would cringe when Bert would reprimand a shop assistant for poor service or tell a speaker at a meeting to use the microphone properly. He treated them like apprentices and he helped so many of them see that it was not hard to go the extra mile and give the customer a smile. He was always asking "why is it so?". He talked a lot about Julius Sumner Miller and his scientific explanations. He always had an enquiring mind. Over recent years a number of us asked Bert to record many of the stories that he told. He could remember the names and places of events that happened seventy years ago in fine detail, never losing the point of the lesson for others. We are blessed that he was well enough to record many stories on Sharyn's ipod - all properly cross- referenced in a book. He could make a dollar go further than anyone else I know. He was not mean or miserly but investigated thoroughly any purchases he made. Many people would ask Bert for advice on what to buy and where to buy it. I bought several appliances for my house following Bert's recommendation. Bert was blessed with a wonderful singing voice and sang in Church Choirs in his younger years. I first met him in the late 1980s outside our old Church building. He suggested we car pool to computer meetings at Burwood. We did this for over fifteen years with Bert making a cut lunch and a thermos. Many a person would stop and talk to us while we ate lunch or afternoon tea. Bert was never intimidated by technology, unlike many people of his age. ATM machines, mobile phones, movie cameras, digital cameras and his treasured Macintosh computers were all part of his life. He had no trouble using Richard's wide screen television with surround sound system, a VCR and a DVD player even though it had four remote controls! Bert was very vocal about our politicians, local councillors and city engineers. Roundhay Court folk took two cases to Vcat with Bert doing much of the groundwork. He was out there fighting to stop more units being built on normal house blocks with little thought given to car parking. The lives of everyone in Roundhay Court was enriched by Bert's helping hand. Bert has been Lenore's main carer for the past eight years after she had several bad falls. Bert and Lenore were blessed with three great grandchildren and sixty three years of married life. Annette and Clive's three daughters Merryn, Gaelle and Laura would always be in constant contact even though they lived far away. You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give. Goodbye dear friend. Ray Chatterton"

Bert, thank you VERY much for sharing a small part of your life with AUSOM Members - I think you may have been an AUSOM Member nearly as long as me. I know I will miss your warm smile which always made the recipient feel they were the most important person in your life at that instance. Bert, you will be missed by many AUSOM Members.

Bert ...how will I remember you ? your pork chops, hand knitted jumpers, how proud you were of your family but abovce all your unconditional love and devotion for Lenore. Alison

I said goodbye to a dear friend on Friday; Albert (Bert) Budge. Like my father, Bert's character was shaped by the depression years. He courted Lenore for seven years 's after seeing her reflection in a mirror. His favourite TV show was the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice". He not only admired its sentiments but lived out its moral content. He was a tough boss but many a former apprentice's visited him years later and thanked him for it. I would cringe when Bert would reprimand a shop assistant for poor service or tell a speaker at a meeting to use the microphone properly. He treated them like apprentices and he helped so many of them see that it was not hard to go the extra mile and give the customer a smile. He was always asking "why is it so?". He talked a lot about Julius Sumner Miller and his scientific explanations. He always had an enquiring mind. Over recent years a number of us asked Bert to record many of the stories that he told. He could remember the names and places of events that happened seventy years ago in fine detail, never losing the point of the lesson for others. We are blessed that he was well enough to record many stories on Sharon's ipod - all properly cross- referenced in a book. He could make a dollar go further than anyone else I know. He was not mean or miserly but investigated thoroughly any purchases he made. Many people would ask Bert for advice on what to buy and where to buy it. I bought several appliances for my house following Bert's recommendation. Bert was blessed with a wonderful singing voice and sang in Church Choirs in his younger years. I first met him in the late 1980s outside our old Church building. He suggested we car pool to computer meetings at Burwood. We did this for over fifteen years with Bert making a cut lunch and a thermos. Many a person would stop and talk to us while we ate lunch or afternoon tea. Bert was never intimidated by technology, unlike many people of his age. ATM machines, mobile phones, movie cameras, digital cameras and his treasured Macintosh computers were all part of his life. He had no trouble using Richard's wide screen television with surround sound system, a VCR and a DVD player even though it had four remote controls! Bert has been Lenore's main carer for the past eight years after she had several bad falls. Mary who came three times a week to help with Lenore became part of the family. The lives of everyone in Roundhay Court were enriched by Bert's helping hand. Bert was very vocal about our politicians, local councillors and city engineers. Roundhay Court folk took two cases to Vcat with Bert doing much of the groundwork. He was out there fighting to stop more units being built on normal house blocks with little thought given to car parking etc. Bert and Lenore were blessed with three great grandchildren and sixty three years of married life. Annette and Clive's three daughters Merryn, Gaelle and Laura would always be in constant contact even though they lived far away. You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give. Goodbye dear friend. Ray Chatterton"

I said goodbye to a dear friend on Friday. Like my father, Bert's character was shaped by the depression years. He courted Lenore for seven years 's after seeing her reflection in a mirror. His favourite TV show was the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice". He not only admired its sentiments but lived out its moral content. He was a tough boss but many a former apprentice's visited him years later and thanked him for it. I would cringe when Bert would reprimand a shop assistant for poor service or tell a speaker at a meeting to use the microphone properly. He treated them like apprentices and he helped so many of them see that it was not hard to go the extra mile and give the customer a smile. He was always asking "why is it so?". He talked a lot about Julius Sumner Miller and his scientific explanations. He always had an enquiring mind. Over recent years a number of us asked Bert to record many of the stories that he told. He could remember the names and places of events that happened seventy years ago in fine detail, never losing the point of the lesson for others. We are blessed that he was well enough to record many stories on Sharon's ipod - all properly cross- referenced in a book. He could make a dollar go further than anyone else I know. He was not mean or miserly but investigated thoroughly any purchases he made. Many people would ask Bert for advice on what to buy and where to buy it. I bought several appliances for my house following Bert's recommendation. Bert was blessed with a wonderful singing voice and sang in Church Choirs in his younger years. I first met him in the late 1980s outside our old Church building. He suggested we car pool to computer meetings at Burwood. We did this for over fifteen years with Bert making a cut lunch and a thermos. Many a person would stop and talk to us while we ate lunch or afternoon tea. Bert was never intimidated by technology, unlike many people of his age. ATM machines, mobile phones, movie cameras, digital cameras and his treasured Macintosh computers were all part of his life. He had no trouble using Richard's wide screen television with surround sound system, a VCR and a DVD player even though it had four remote controls! Bert has been Lenore's main carer for the past eight years after she had several bad falls. Mary who came three times a week to help with Lenore became part of the family. The lives of everyone in Roundhay Court were enriched by Bert's helping hand. Bert was very vocal about our politicians, local councillors and city engineers. Roundhay Court folk took two cases to Vcat with Bert doing much of the groundwork. He was out there fighting to stop more units being built on normal house blocks with little thought given to car parking etc. Bert and Lenore were blessed with three great grandchildren and sixty three years of married life. Annette and Clive's three daughters Merryn, Gaelle and Laura would always be in constant contact even though they lived far away. You make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give. Goodbye dear friend. Ray Chatterton"

Bert, you will be sorely missed at the computer club. RIP. Thanks for your inspiration and research in all matters Macintosh.

You will be sadly missed - you fought bravely. Thankyou for the knowledge you handed down - Our prayers are now with your loved one Lenore