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JOHN LOUIS  ''JACK'' GERRARD was born at Beeac on the 22nd July 1917. He was the second child of Lou & Mary Gerrard, growing up on the family farm at Ondit along with his sister Alice and brother Alex (Pete).
Jack's schooling was carried out at Beeac State School where he went through to Grade 8 before leaving.School was not his favourite place and he often told stories of some of the antics he used to get up to in an effort to break the boredom of learning.
Upon leaving school he worked on local farms ploughing,dairing, growing onions etc.) and always had a passion and a natural flair for horses.
He started to court Jean Binns and had to ride his bike some distance to visit her.
Jean was the youngest daughter of George & Bessie Binns of Balintore, where she lived her childhood with sisters Marj and Elsie.
After leaving Colac High School, Jean helped out on her parents dairy farm until she married Jack on the 5th December 1942 at Colac.
Following their marriage they moved to Beaufort where Jack went to work for Jeans uncle George Topper on his farm ''Long Gully''. They lived at Long Gully with no power, running water or amenities. Whilst here their four children were born. In 1954 they bought a house in Bourke St. Beaufort and in 1957 they built their home ''Brooklyn'', something they were quite proud of because Jack cut all the timber for it himself. They lived in this home for the rest of their lives and both led active community lives in Beaufort. Working togerther on their farm they had a good and happy life always finding time for family interests.
Jack had a healing talent with animals often being called upon by local farmers to help with their sick or injured animals. This talent later spread to humans as Jack became a football trainer with the Beaufort Football Club when they joined the Ballarat League in 1966, continuing until 1986, 20 years for which the club rewarded him with a Life Membership. He was also awarded a Life Membership of the Beaufort Junior Football Club, being the first person to be awarded both honours. In his younger days Jack also played football for Beeac and Beaufort. Jack spent countless hours treating injuries of footballers and people of Beaufort and District in his own home, at all hours of the day or night and never asking any reward.
The Church was another of Jack's interests, giving many years service to St. Andrews Presbyterian and later Uniting Church, holding many positions on the Board of Management, Brotherhood and was an Elder of the Church. He enjoyed the fellowship of the Brotherhood with activities like the Black and White Minstrel Shows, woodcutting for the aged and Orphanage Picnics.
Ring Master at the local Agricultural Show for many years was another position that Jack held, a job to which he contributed many days every year both before and after the Show. Showing horses and at one stage training and racing trotters were other things that Jack enjoyed doing.
Although never actually competing Jack was President of the Beaufort Axemans Club for years enjoying the comradeship of the local axemen at competitions and working bees to get logs ready .
Jack gave a great amount of time to the Beaufort Rural Fire Brigade, attending fires, burn offs etc. in the Beaufort area. He held the rank of Lieutenant in the Brigade for many years.
 When the youth club was being established Jack was there to, helping to raise funds to build the hall and then working with the youth, teaching boxing amongst other things.
Jean was always there to support her husband and family in all the activities they undertook. She was a tireless and silent worker in the Church, Parents and Friends, Football Clubs, Axemens, Girl Guides Local Association and any organisation that she felt deserved her attention. The Church gave her a great deal of enjoyment being a member of the Ladies Guild and P.W.M.U.
She enjoyed her garden, spending many hours in it, caring for her ferns and orchids.
Jack and Jean liked to get away and 'rough' it, fishing on the Murray River and once taking a trip into outback Australia.
Jean passed away on  18th September 1984 and Jack on  5th of June 1987.