OBITUARY: Closing the book on a valued life

A highly-regarded former librarian and local councillor, Pat Gallaher OAM, died in hospital in Geraldton last week, aged 77.

Mrs Gallaher was named a Fellow of the Library Board of Western Australia in 2011, in recognition of her commitment to libraries and the arts in regional Paraburdoo, Karratha and Geraldton.

She was city librarian for 20 years, from 1981 to 2001, making her the longest-serving librarian in Geraldton.

The State Library website says Mrs Gallaher was behind many initiatives during her time in the Geraldton Library, including services to house-bound residents, the first counter book sale, CD-ROMS and the internet and an automated library management system.

She also oversaw extensions to the library, established its local studies collection and initiated the Randolph Stow Young Writers Award.

Mrs Gallaher served on many committees promoting regional arts, including the Geraldton Arts Council and as a board member of Country Arts WA, and in 1987 formed the Mid West chapter of the Australian Library and Information Association. After retiring from the library, she was elected to Geraldton City Council, serving from 2001 to 2003.

She joined the Library Board between 2002 and 2006 as the representative for the WA Local Government Association.

Mrs Gallaher’s husband, Ken, who passed away a few years ago, was also a councillor.

An accountant, he served on Greenough Shire before the amalgamation of the City of Geraldton and the Shire of Greenough.

The couple had no children.

Mrs Gallaher’s funeral was in Perth yesterday. A memorial service will be held in Geraldton’s Holy Cross Anglican Cathedral on Monday starting at 3pm.