"On Monday night Mrs. Ellen Ann Gerlach, wife of Mr. Charles Gerlach, of Wawunna Road, Horsham, passed away suddenly at the residence of her daughter (Mrs. Dalrymple) at Ararat, with whom she was spending a holiday. She was 66 years of age & was a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Thomas McGinn. She was born at Ararat but lived in Horsham most of her life. The late Mrs. Gerlach was an active & life long member of the Horsham W.C.T.U., a prominent worker for the Horsham Town & Pipe Bands, the Base Hospital & the A.W.A. Her sudden passing will be regretted by many citizens here, for she was a sterling friend to those who needed sympathetic help. Besides her widower, she leaves to mourn their sad loss three sons - Charles & Ronald (Melbourne) & Edward (Mount Evelyn) & four daughters - Evelyn (Mrs. Dalrymple of Ararat), Emma (Mrs. Hudson, Rupanyup), Thelma (Mrs. Phelan, Murtoa) and Olive (Mrs. Winfield, Wonwondah). The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon at the Horsham cemetery. There was a fairly large attendance of relatives & friends. The coffin bearers were Messrs. W. Loader, M. Phelan, J.C. Gross, H.W Gerlach, E. Gerlach, O. Gerlach, G. Gerlach, J. Gerlach, M. Gerlach. The Rev. W. Clinch officiated at the graveside. Mr J. Dunn, of Ararat, had charge of the arrangements."

Extra information about her husband.

Charles's full name was Johann Carl Ludwig GERLACH, he was born at Lobethal S.A. on the 21st of April 1864. He was a son of Johannes Emmanuel GERLACH a labourer, and Johanne Beate GERLACH nee LESKE. He came to Victoria at the age of 15 years. For a short period he followed farming pursuits in the Mallee district and at Dooen.

On the 3rd of February 1892, aged 27 years, he married Ellen Ann McGINN at Horsham Lutheran Church. Ellen was born on the 8th of May 1871 to Thomas McGINN, a stoker and Ellen McGINN nee WATHEN. They had 9 children - John Charles on 29th April 1892, Evelyn Matilda Priscilla on 23rd June 1894, Gertrude in 1896 but died when aged 7, Emma Louisa on 8th October 1897, Albert in 1901 but he died when aged 9, Edward Clarence on 2nd January 1905, Reynold Keith on 7th November 1906, Thelma Ellena on 27th December 1909 and Olive Beatrice Olga on 7th November 1912.

Around 1904 the family came to Horsham where he was well in demand as a gardener. In 1915 Charles was renting 17 Wawunna Road Horsham, by 1939 he owned it and was paying the following rates - Sanitation $3:50, Sewerage $1:25 & Waterworks $2:00.