Gerrard Beeson

Thomas Victor Gerrard Beeson was the twenty-second Mayor of Onehunga, Auckland (1968–1974).

Background
Beeson is a descendent of the Fencibles who were amongst the earliest of Onehunga's European settlers. He was educated at Royal Oak Primary School, Monte Cecilia College, Hillsborough, St Peter's College, Auckland and (and for his last three years' secondary education) St. Patrick's College, Silverstream..

Professional and community
He gained his B Com degree from Auckland University. His early work experience included serving as a clerk in a family firm, secretary of Oruru Fairburn Co-op Dairy and NZ Accountant for Columbia Pictures of America and Speedway Products. Beeson was a Chartered Accountant in public practice in Onehunga for 45 years. He was created a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants for his work with that body as well as similar honours from the Association of International Accountants and International Institute of Accountants. He was also an Associate of The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and a registered member of the NZ Trustee Association. He has been a Justice of the Peace since 1968. Beeson has been Auditor and Patron of many Onehunga organisations including St Mary’s Convent, PTA Onehunga, St Mary’s Gym, Onehunga and St Patricks College Old Boys Association. He was President of the Rotary Club of Onehunga in 1984 and has been a member for more than 40 years.

Political career
Beeson was a member of the Onehunga Borough Council for nine years and Chairman of its Legal and Finance Committee in 1963. Beeson was the Deputy Mayor before he was elected Mayor in the 1968 local body elections. He was re-elected Mayor in 1971. The main preoccupations of his two mayoral terms were the continued implementation of the District Town Planning Scheme originally presented in 1967 under the Town and Country Planning Act 1953. One result of this was the closing of streets to form the Onehunga Mall which was opened in 1972. Beeson was instrumental in the production of a Comprehensive Urban Renewal Plan in 1974. Beeson's tenure as Mayor ended at the 1974 local body elections when he was succeeded by Leo Manning who he had succeeded in 1968 He was an Auckland Regional Authority councillor for 12 years, serving as Works Chairman, Deputy Chairman of the Policy and Finance Committee as well as sitting on such special committees as Budget, Dissolution of Trolley Buses, Rescue Mangere Building Contract, Harbour Ferry Loan, NZ Steel Levy, and others. He was also Chairman of the Auckland Regional Authority Sinking Fund Commission.