The Sum of Us

This is the story of a boy who arrived in Rhodesia with nothing more than his name, unable to speak English, but with a resilience that would one day become the backbone of a family. The Sum of Us follows Johnny's extraordinary journey from Madeira Island, to the bush of Zimbabwe, and a new beginning in Australia.

It is a memoir of unlikely connections: a childhood marked by hardship and survival, a young soldier in the bush war that could so easily have ended his story, a train accident that should have, and a love story that didn't only change his life, it built a whole new one. When Johnny and Elise's paths met on a tennis court, neither could have guessed the adventure that awaited them: eight children, countless detours, heartbreak, miracles, and more laughter than either of them expected.

Told with warmth, honesty, and gentle humour, this book captures the unbreakable spirit of a man who refused to be defined by his beginnings, and the woman who walked beside him through the storms, surprises, and blessings. Together they created a life spread across continents, bonded by a deep faith, a stubborn hope, and plenty of love.

The Sum of Us is a celebration of family, survival, forgiveness, quiet courage and determined resilience.

Elise Berenger was born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe, in a house was filled with noisy chaos that comes with having 7 brothers. Her childhood was spent either on tennis courts, hockey fields or in swimming pools, and when not playing sport, she could be found with a paintbrush in hand or tucked beside the sewing machine. She considers herself a storyteller at heart, whether that's through words on a page, paint on a canvas or clay between her fingers, there's some creation waiting to happen. A devoted Catholic, Elise draws her strength, creativity, and sense of purpose from her deep faith which has carried her through all the seasons of her life. After marrying Johnny at only 19, together they built a life on farms in and around Mvurwi and Horseshoe raising their brood of now 8 children. Their emigration to Perth 2 decades ago, was the heartbreaking but necessary result of losing their farm due to so-called land reform in Zimbabwe. Today Elise is 'Bomma' to an ever-growing number of grandchildren. She navigates the bustle of family life, homeschools the youngest child and steals the few precious moments left to create art pieces in her little tin shed. If not found there, she will be tapping away at the keyboard, often well into the wee hours, capturing memories to be shared, before they slip away.Every person has a story to tell, and Elise firmly believes these stories need to be shared. The Sum of Us is her first book, written so that her children and grandchildren will always know their heritage and the extraordinary journey and survival against all odds of Johnny, their dad and "Papa', - the love of her life.