Vincent Gercovich married Winifred Rebecca Bennett (English emigrant) on 13 February 1867 in St. Alipius church in Ballarat. They had a total of 12 children. Little is known about his life, but what is known that he was well disposed to several languages and due to his ability to communicate with immigrants worked at the entry gate to the city of Ballarat. He died at the age of 61. Vincent was one of these early Croatian immigrants who came to Victoria around 1850s. His surname Gercovich (probably Gerković or Jerković) came from the island of Hvar on Dalmatian coast. On his Australian citizenship documents, the place of birth was stated as Dalmatia, Austria. From research of collected documents it can be concluded that the first Croats arrived to this country some 150 years ago mainly because of gold discovery. Victoria had a few rich deposits of gold and for obvious reasons many came to join the great ‘Gold Rush’.A black and white family photograph features Gercovich family with 12 children photographed in a studio around 1889. Children ages on the photograph range from unborn to young adults.vincent and winifred gercovich, gercovich, early croatian immigrants, immigration, croatia, dalmatia, ballarat, gold rush

6975-33 Stawell High School Social Services Representatives, 1973 Back Row, Steven Cameron, Pamela Guy Middle Row, Kerry Longmoor, Kerry Dadswell, Kay Scott, Tina Redman, Gayle McCann, Debbie Giles, Front Row, Susan Killeen. Gay Cross, Mandy Stanford, Debbie Coppin, Maxine Ross, Angeles, Gercovich, Leonie Redford, John Driscoll, Andrew Tangey. Students in Uniform with trees in backgroundeducation

6975-36 Stawell High School Form 5A, 1975 Form Teacher Mrs Mather Back Row, Jilleen Jenkins, Paulett ?, Kaylene Clarke, Gaylene Slorach, Nancy Allan, Judy Kindred, Middle Row, Suzanne Gercovich, Pam Guy, Mary-anne Disher, Neville Moller, Ruth West, Gayle Redford, Elizabeth Klauss, Front Row, Jenny O'Neill, Karen Vendy, Pam Giles, Lynne Barney, Wendy Blake, Poppy Mangana, Angela Hayes, Absent, Bradley Mair, New, Bruce Johnston. Students Class Photo InteriorStawell High School 1975 Form 5Aeducation

6975-12 Stawell High School Form 4A 1969 Teacher Mr Bullock Top Row, Brian Pawsey, Denis Bell, James Ritchie Second Row, Lance Ferguson, Hartley Budd, Ian Davies, Dallas Bibby, Maurice Stewart, Andrew Jackson, Rodney Guy Third Row, Elwyn Erwin, Sherayl Bennett, Kerry Cordor, Pam Joy, Rhonda Christian, Janis Graham, Bev Cameron, Rosalie Clarke Front Row, Janet Allen, Kathy Jenkins, Ann Holloway, Michelle Cox, Mr Bullock, Julie Cox, Jill Ball, Pam Gercovich, Jenny Jolly Students in uniform with Teacher in front of Main BuildingStawell High School Form 4A 1969education

6975-29 Stawell High School Form 1A, 1971 Teacher Mrs Bartholomew Back Row, Robert Crisp, David Krelle, Andrew Allam, Michael Glissan, Reg Bach. Third Row. Jenny O'Neill, Robyn Fisher, Angela Hayes, Peter Bartholomew, Russell Giles, Peter Anderson, Debbie Bell, Debbie Giles, second Row. Nancy Allan, Susan Gercovich, Debbie Iseppi, Kaylene Clarke, Helen McAllister, Elizabeth Klauss, Kerry Dadswell, Mary-anne Disher, Judy Jeffrey, Kaye Combe, Sheryl Gilbert Front Row. Judy Kindred, Dianne Heinrich, Wendy Blake, Jayne Gready, Allen BRowne, Marlene Franklin, Kathy Herdman, Debbie Hall, Pamela Guy, Lynne Bonney, Jillean Jenkins. Students and Teacher Class Photo beside high School wingsStawell High School Form 1Beducation