Name and date of death from list of deceased priests, NZ Catholic Directory 1990. Death notice, Sydney Morning Herald, 6 December 1988.

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See also List of Marriage Celebrants, NZ Gazette, 10 March 1988, https://www.nzlii.org/nz/other/nz_gazette/1988/43.pdf.

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Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Drumm, Gerard

Teacher, mission director; born Dunedin, New Zealand, 4 November 1919; died Daltonganj, India, 3 December 1988, aged 69.

Gerard Drumm was the youngest of a family of three girls and two boys. He was educated by the Christian Brothers, and entered the Jesuit noviceship at Loyola College, Watsonia, 5 March 1939, as a slightly built young man, rather shy and diffident about himself. However, he was really full of life and fun. His studies of the humanities, philosophy and theology were all completed in Australia.

His contemporaries remembered him as a conscientious student, a valuable member of the community, a good sportsman in cricket, football and basketball, and ready to participate in community plays and operas. He was a competent pianist.

As a scholastic he taught at St Aloysius' College, 1946-48, coached rugby and cricket, as well being 2IC of the college cadets.

He was ordained on 3 January 1952 by Cardinal Gilroy. In 1953 he was at Sevenhill, South Australia, for his tertianship. Then he went to Riverview as a sharp and alert second division prefect, with responsibility for the chapel music, and also teaching English and Latin 1954-56. He was a good raconteur and jovial in community, rejoicing in stories narrated.

After three years he was transferred to the parish staff at St Mary's, North Sydney, as minister. He was recognised by many as a good preacher. He was also appointed Sydney promoter of the Jesuit mission in India, assisting James Dynon, the national director.

In 1962, because of his previous experience in schools, he was transferred to St Aloysius' College as prefect of discipline and sportsmaster. During the seven years of this appointment he was also asked to continue looking after the interests of the Indian mission in Sydney. In 1968 he was permitted to work for the mission full time, continuing to live at St Aloysius' College for sometime, and then moving to St Mary's, North Sydney, in 1974. In total, he spent 21 years working for the mission.

This work meant continual movement around the country and in New Zealand. He had a gift of encouraging others to work hard for him. They considered it a privilege to work for Drumm, and appreciated his gratitude and even abuse! It was all part of his persona. He was loved for what he was, human and humble. To work for someone for nothing so hard for many years, hidden and isolated, indicated the dedication and devotion to the cause. Drumm was able to foster and continue that dedication among many co-missionaries. The Mission Office was poor and simple, all generous donations being allocated to the many needs of the Mission. This impressed potential benefactors.

Soon after the presentation of the mission cheque in November 1988, Drumm left for India with two co-missionaries. He was a large man and had been suffering from health problems for sometime. He died suddenly in Hazaribag and was buried there, fitting for one who had served the mission so well for so long.

He was remembered him for his charm and wit, a dedicated priest, with special devotion to Our Lady and St Francis Xavier. Many came to pray for him at a memorial Mass at St Mary's Church, North Sydney.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)