9 Feb 1903 Born Bulimba, Brisbane Queensland to Irish parents Michael Ryan & Maria Bennett
He has 2 sisters and 2 brothers and is the 2nd youngest in the family.
On his birth certificate name the given as Michael Ryan but it seems that his grandfather's name Gerald, is used by all of his family for him.
Gerald ( on the left ) with his brother Jack ( John Francis Ryan)
1915 He first appears in the paper due to an accident
Gerald and Dulcie
Gerald ( on the left ) with his brother Jack ( John Francis Ryan)
1924 He marries Dulcie Irene Lindsay at Saint's Peter & Paul's Catholic Church Bulimba Queensland - his occupation is given as Commercial Artist ,
and that he is living and working at Princess Street, Bulimba
He has given his name as Michael Gerald Ryan on the marriage certificate
Gerald & Dulcie
1925 Living & working as Commercial Artist at Bulimba Street, Bulimba, Queensland (Electoral roll) Note: Wife Dulcie is there
He has given his name as Gerald Joseph Ryan he would continue to work under this name for the rest of his life.
1925 Dulcie & Gerald have a son Trevor Gerald Ryan
Dulice and their son Trevor
7 Dec 1926 Gerald is appointed a teaching position at the Ipswich Technical College - teaching Comerical Art ( letter owned by Daughter Bev Bycroft)
1st Feb 1927 Gerald started teaching at Ipswich Technical College.
1928 - 1930 He is noted in the newspapers as attending a number of Art Exhibitions
1937
10 Oct 1938 He takes part in the Royal Queensland Art Society's 50 years of Art Exhibition
11 Oct 1939 He wins 1st Place in the Royal Queensland Art Society Exhibition
1942 Gerald's son Trevor enlists into the Air force at Woolloomooloo, NSW to go and serve in WW2 in New Guinea - he gives his residence at the time of enlistment as Redfern NSW.
1943 Living & working as Commercial Artist at 290 Milton Road, Milton, Queensland (Electoral roll ) Note: Wife Dulcie is not there
1943 Dulcie & Gerald are living at 655 Dowling Street, East Sydney, NSW (Electoral roll ) Gerald has given his occupation as ganger
- Ganger = foreman of a gang of labourers - he was working at the Pyrex factory ( daughter Bev's recollections )
It was most likely during this time that Norman Lindsay wrote two letters on Gerald's art work
These letters had been for many years in the hands of Gerald's children Trevor & Beverley
but they were lost by a family member and have only recently turned up in a 2011 auction
Dulice with their son Trevor
on his return from WW2
3 May 1944 He takes part in an Art Exhibition at the Macquarie Galleries, Sydney, New South Wales
He participated with Ralph Balson, Grace Crowley and Frank Hinder in the seminal 1944 exhibition 'Constructive Paintings' at the Macquarie Galleries,
an exhibition that placed him at the forefront of art in Australia at this time.
1945 The Family has returned to Queensland
In the 1950's Gerald seems to retire from Public exhibitions and working as Commerical Artist, this may be some what in part due to health problems of his wife Dulcie, who at this time is suffering with stomach cancer, she under goes a 11 hour operation which causes her hair to turn jet white.
Gerald continues to paint at home and has a art studio on the verandah of his Windsor Ave Home
His art studio is on the right hand side verandah of the house hidden behind the tree in the photo
Gerald and Dulice home
31 Windsor Ave, Wooloowin, Queensland
His art studio is on the right hand side verander of the house hidden behind the tree in the photo
1954 Living at Windsor Ave, Wooloowin, Queensland – occupation given - Process Worker (Electoral roll ) Note: Wife Dulcie is there
1958 Living at 31 Windsor Ave, Wooloowin, Queensland – occupation given - Process Worker (Electoral roll ) Note: Wife Dulcie is there
Gerald , Dulice and their daughter Beverley
Gerald & Dulcie at their daughter's Bev's wedding circa 1960
1960's - 1970's It is during this period of time that Gerald's son Trevor takes a lot of Gerald's art work to his home in Melbourne, Victoria.
1963 Living at 31 Windsor Ave, Wooloowin, Queensland – occupation given - Process Worker (Electoral roll ) Note: Wife Dulcie is there
1968 Living at 31 Windsor Ave, Wooloowin, Queensland – occupation given - Process Worker (Electoral roll ) Note: Wife Dulcie is there
1970's Gerald comes to Melbourne for a holiday he brings the Rock Paintings & Geometric painting as gifts for his son Trevor
1972 Living at 31 Windsor Ave, Wooloowin, Queensland – occupation given - Process Worker (Electoral roll ) Note: Wife Dulcie is there
Late 1970's Dulcie and Gerald sell their house in Windsor Ave and move to Tugan to be closer to their daughter Beverley
Gerald has developed cateracts and can no long see well enough to paint.
1977 Dulcie & Gerald are Living at Unit 2 / 482 Coolangatta Road , Tugan, Queensland (Electoral roll ) Gerald has given his name as Michael Gerald Ryan
1980 Dulcie & Gerald are Living at Unit 2 / 482 Coolangatta Road , Tugan, Queensland (Electoral roll ) Gerald has given his name as Michael Gerald Ryan
1982 Dulcie passes away at Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia
Gerald passes away at Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia on 23rd July 1994 aged 91
according to death certificate from congestive heart failure at AMAROO nursing home at Tweed Heads
Gerald and Dulice
shortly before their deaths