He was raised in the family home at 63 Thistle Street, Golden Square - the site is now occupied by a supermarket.

Brothers Brian, Kevin, and John were his older siblings, while Peter and Ann were born later. There were many happy times at the Gallagher home. The five boys all slept in a sleepout, detached from the main house, and there was plenty of room for fun and games, and regular visits from school friends.

On schooldays Gerald and his brothers caught the bus to St.Monica’s primary school in Kangaroo Flat where lifelong friendships were made. He later attended Marist Brothers College in Bendigo, where in 1953, the five Gallagher brothers were all students at Marist Brothers, the first time five members of the one family had done so in the one year.

Fr. Gerald was widely known by his fellow priests, parishioners and friends as Gerry.

To his family he was simply Ged and was the much loved Uncle Ged to 14 nephews and nieces and 35 great nephews and nieces. 

He had a great love of family and officiated at numerous family baptisms and weddings. He was a very learned yet humble man. He loved music, mainly classical and music from the shows.

He was an avid reader, enjoying both fiction and non-fiction, and loved the theatre and the cinema. He enjoyed football and was a keen Hawthorn supporter.

He also enjoyed travel and was fortunate to attend study courses in both Jerusalem and Chicago.

In 2007 he traveled with his cousins to Ireland to attend a reunion of “The Gallagher Clan” in Letterkenny. There were thousands of Gallaghers present from all over the world. More recently he did a cruise of the South Pacific with his brother Peter.

He was very grateful to spend the last 25 years of his ministry in Bendigo and surrounds where he was close to his family. He especially enjoyed the companionship of his fellow priests in Bendigo and met up with them on a regular basis.

At the completion of his schooling, Gerald commenced his studies for the priesthood at Corpus Christie College, Werribee, and later at Glen Waverly.

He completed his studies at Propaganda College, Rome where he again made new friends both from Australia and other parts of the world. He was ordained a priest in Bendigo on August 10, 1968.

His brother Brian meanwhile had been studying to become a Missionary of the Sacred Heart. They were ordained together in the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo by Bishop Bernard Stewart and celebrated the 40th Jubilee of their ordination together in August 2008.

Gerald served in the parishes of St. Kilian’s, Bendigo, Tatura, Beechworth, Wangaratta and Myrtleford, where his Italian language skills endeared him to the local Italian community.

He became National Chaplain of the Young Christians Students (YCS) from 1981 to 1984 and in 1986 he was asked by Bishop Noel Daly to be the first Director of the Catholic Community and Family Service, later to become Centacare Sandhurst, and now Catholic Care, Sandhurst.

He had studied in Melbourne for this role, which he held for 13 years. During this time, Fr. Gerry was Chairman of the Bethlehem Board of Management before it became part of Mercy Health. After that time he was made Parish Priest of Golden Square/ Kangaroo Flat where he remained until his retirement due to ill health in 2009.

Fr. Gerry was predeceased by his parents, Eileen in 1996 and Gerald in 2005. He is survived by his family, Fr. Brian, Shoreham; Kevin and Barb, Bendigo; John and Anne, Queensland; Peter and Judy, Bendigo; and Ann and John Clancey, Kangaroo Flat.

His funeral Mass was celebrated in the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo on Thursday July 10  and was attended by about 500 mourners.

The principal celebrant was Fr. Gerry’s brother Fr. Brian Gallagher MSC, con-celebrants were Mons. Frank Marriott, Fr. Rom Hayes and about 30 priests from the Sandhurst Diocese and beyond.

Simon Mulqueen of Bendigo Funerals was in charge of funeral arrangements and burial was at the Bendigo Monumental Cemetery.