Eric Gerard Perkins

Eric Gerard Perkins (10 July 1916 – 27 May 1998) was an Australian bishop of the Catholic Church. He served as Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne for more than 18 years.

Early life Perkins was born in Prahran, Victoria to Phillip and Margaret Perkins. He was raised in St Kilda and attended Christian Brothers College, St Kilda and then moved to St Kevin's College, Toorak, before joining the seminary at Corpus Christi College, Melbourne. His brother John also became a priest but died before Perkins was elevated to the episcopate.

Priesthood Perkins was ordained on 28 July 1940 at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne by Archbishop Daniel Mannix along with 13 other priests.

Episcopate On 16 November 1972, Perkins was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne by Pope Paul VI along with John Anthony Kelly and Thomas Francis Little. The trio were consecrated as bishops on 21 February 1973 at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne by Archbishop James Robert Knox during the International Eucharistic Congress in Melbourne.

Death Perkins retired at Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne on 20 August 1991, having reached the canonical retirement age of 75. He died on 27 May 1998.