Zerna Aubrey (Aub) Carl
| Type of person | Individual |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1931 |
| Place of birth | Stockwell |
| Principal occupation | Bank Manager |
| Date of death | 1996 |
Aubrey Carl Zerna was born at Stockwell in 1931 and married Fay Mortimer.
They had four children, Kerryn, Julie, Peter and Geoff.
Aub passed away on 14.1.1996 at the age of 65, Fay passed away on 15.12.1995 at the age of 61.
They are both buried at Willaston.
Bank Manager Calls it a Day
Aub into swing of retirement
Gawler Bunyip December 12, 1990
Aub Zerna – Gawler’s longest-serving bank manager and one of its most dedicated golfers – will have more time to practice his swing from next month.
After 43 years’ service with the Commonwealth Bank, the last 15 in Gawler, Aub will retire on January 11. Retirement, however, will not mean idle time, as it will afford him more family time with wife Fay, his four children and four grandchildren.
It will also enable the Gawler Golf Club vice president the opportunity to commit more of his energies to major extensions proposed for the course.
Aub Zerna is highly respected in Gawler, due in no small part to his extensive and diverse banking experience and community involvement.
Born and raised in the small Barossa Valley town of Stockwell, Aub attended the local 30 student primary school before graduating to Nuriootpa High and transferring to Immanuel College in Adelaide.
He then started his banking career, first at Adelaide’s head office and Port Adelaide before being posted in Gawler from 1952 to 1954. It was during that time, Aub first became involved in the local community. As an Apex member, he helped develop the Pioneer Park lawns while had had great success playing full back for South Gawler for two years, including a premiership season.
Postings as varied as Woomera and Brighton followed his first Gawler stint, after which Aub managed the bank’s migrant information service in the city for three years. He was then made a branch manager for the first time at St Peter’s for 5 years, before spending more than four years in a similar capacity at Renmark.
Settled
Aub needed only a very short time in his next position – as manager at Gawler – to realise he didn’t want to move again.
“I told head office they could leave me here” Aub said. “I realized almost straight away that this is where I wanted to settle down with my family”.
Since moving to Gawler, Aub has become very actively involved in the community. He has been treasurer of the Gawler Rotary Club for the past 13 years, and two years ago was awarded Rotary’s highest honour, the Paul Harris Fellowship, for his contribution to the club. He has also acted as auditor for Gawler Meals on Wheels for 12 years and, of course, has been an active member of the golf club.
Also during that time he has seen his branch expand from a staff of 12 to 26, including 10 personnel on the lending staff. It specialises in after service care and loan restructuring to meet the difficulties of the individual in tough economic times.
Gawler’s Commonwealth Bank, which has expanded twice under Aub Zerna’s management, is now a major lending and investment branch. More significantly, perhaps it is the largest country branch in South Australia.
We pride ourselves on our attention to the needs of the individual,” Aub said. “times have been tough for the average householders, business people and the rural community, and tailoring and restructuring loans to meet their needs is an important part of our job. We have to be more than just bank workers in this climate, we have to take our jobs personally”.
Aub accepts that the “personal” approach, and the immense pressures which go with the job, had a real bearing on a heart attack he suffered five years ago, forcing him to undergo a bypass operation. He was off work for six months.
“It is a stressful job at times, and you can’t always leave your work at the office when you see people in desperate financial trouble” he said.
Scones
On a lighter note, Aub said he wanted to know when he would get the chance to sample the tea and scones promised by Alderman Betty Jacob… apparently, they made a deal that if he could convince the Commonwealth Bank to provide funds for a bench seat on Murray street, she would supply a thermos of tea and scones for an “open air” morning tea.
“We came good with the money Council need for the seat, but I haven’t seen it or the tea and scones yet,” he said. “It looks like I might have to come out of retirement for the grand opening.”
IN just over a month, Aub will have to learn to pass on his banking responsibilities – large and small – to a new manager, and start relaxing. He is convinced he has enough to keep him busy in retirement. He is already booked to go fishing and play cricket with his grandchildren, and looks forward to spending more time around the house with wife Fay.
No doubt, Gawler Golf Course will also receive more frequent visits starting next January, as he concentrates on further reducing his tight 10 handicap. A recent good round of 74 off the stick suggest he is well on the way to doing just that.
Meanwhile, Gawler’s business community will lose a highly regarding professional who, it must be said, has always put his heart into his work.
Please <click here> to view a photo of Aub Zerna.
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