Gerard Leigh Cramer was born in Melbourne, Victoria on 5 February 1927.  His father was William George Cramer, known as Leigh and his mother was Hilda Josephine (nee Tucker).

He attended four preparatory schools, including Korowa Anglican Girls’ School prior to commencing at Grimwade House, Melbourne Grammar School, aged ten.  He was there for first term only, moving to Perth, Western Australia, when his father became the  manager of the Royal Insurance Company (Western Australia).

Christ Church Grammar School, Anglican, was his School where he completed his secondary education.

By the end of his schooldays he was Captain of the First XI and Vice Captain of the First XVIII.  He won a diverse treble in school sports – 100yards, the mile and high jump and under 19 high jump champion of Western Australia.

His father introduced him to music.  He never had a music lesson but a love of listener’s music grew greatly by attending a performance of Sir Malcolm Sargent in Perth.  His love of music never left him, which became so practically evident when he was Headmaster of Carey.

Aged seventeen, he entered the University of Western Australia.  He majored in Economics with a sub major in History, whilst his love of English seriously developed.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hon.)

Gerard took up his position at the Collegiate School of St Peter, Adelaide in 1948, without interview, but merely through an exchange of letters between the Warden of St Georges College at the University of Western Australia and the Headmaster of St Peters, C. E. S. Gordon.

He soon became involved in many activities and societies.  He coached cricket.  He took classes in English, History of Art and Current Affairs; remaining a tutor in Wyatt and Allen House for ten years, and an officer in the Cadet Corp.

Moving to England in the early 1950s, he spent four terms at Portsmouth Grammar School combined with extensive travel in Europe.

Upon his return to St Peters and Wyatt and Allan House form England, he found Sister Mary McFarlane had joined the staff.  In autumn 1957 they were married in the School Chapel.  In 1963 Gerard Cramer became Housemaster of Wyatt and Allan House.  With Mary they lived in a house adjoining the boarding house.

He was the only layman at St Peters to teach Scripture and frequently conducted chapel and morning and evening prayers and preached in the School Chapel.

Gerard extended his interests beyond the School.  He held membership on a number of committees and associations – The Australian College of Education, the Institute of International Affairs, The English Teachers’ Association, The English Syllabus Committee of the Public Examinations Board and became the Chief Supervising Examiner for Intermediate English.

In 1963, Headmaster S. L. Hickman advised Carey’s School Council of his intention to retire at the end of 1964.  (To follow the proceedings which ended in Carey appointing Gerard Leigh Cramer to the position of Headmaster, reference is made in the book, “Yours Sincerely G L Cramer, Headmaster”, D E and I V Hansen, pp. 15–18.

Gerard and Mary Cramer moved into the Headmaster’s residence in Wrixon Street and the new Headmaster into his study in ‘Urangeline’ at the commencement of 1964.  So began twenty five distinguished years during which the School underwent profound changes.  He was a great Headmaster amongst Headmasters and Headmistresses of the Independent Schools of Australia.  In 1992, Gerard was honoured by the Queen with the award of Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

The Carey Chronicle 1989, contained many tributes to Gerard Cramer together with his address at his final Speech Night in the Melbourne Town Hall, 1 November 1989.

The concluding pages 99-111 of D E and I V Hansen’s book 1990, “Yours Sincerely G L Cramer, Headmaster” entitled ‘Sketches for a Portrait’ are of special significance in becoming close to this person.
Form the book itself, with its touchingly effective title; we learn the life story of this Headmaster.