Describing someone as ‘one-in-a-million’ is a big compliment but when using it to describe Graham Wishart, it seems perfect.
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The much-loved Gerringong resident died last week after a three-year battle with myeloma – a rare cancer.
He has been remembered as a loving husband to Gwen, wonderful father to their six children, a loving and supportive grandfather and a much-loved member of the Gerringong community.
Born in 1937 to bank teller Frank and mother Rita, the family moved around quite a bit in the early years moving around with Frank’s job. The family was living in Maroubra when Graham started school - at Maroubra Junction infants.
He had a wonderful childhood, growing up with his sister Roneen and much later Julie, playing in the streets with the neighbourhood children.
Graham was a strong swimmer and in later years took part in the annual Captain Christie Ocean Swim at Gerringong.
In 1947 the family moved to Lismore and Graham shone at school and his marks led to him being in A classes at Lismore High School.
He showed a love of chemistry and encouraged by his parents and also achieved a Queen’s Scout award at the age of just 14.
After high school he attended Sydney University to study agriculture, but quickly switched to pharmacy, and it was during this time that he met fellow-pharmacy student Gwen. The couple were married in 1961.
After their marriage they boarded the ‘Orontes’ bound for England and spent two years travelling around the continent. While overseas their first child, Derek, was born.
On their return the couple decided they wanted their own business and settled in Gerringong, a move that led to many, many happy years in the community where they built many great friendships, with their family growing after the birth of Kirstie, Cliff and Rod and the adoption of Ben and Trang.
Apart from his work in the pharmacy, Graham became an expert on spiders, particularly funnel-web and trap-doors, which led to him being effectionately know as ‘The Spider Man’. The interestbecame a real passion and led to many trips to places like the United States, Poland, Germany and England.
The people of Gerringong and indeed the whole south coast warmed to Grahame’s wonderful out-going nature and he was often called upon to host events.
In his eulogy, son Cliff said ‘whenever he had the microphone in his hand, you could always expect some quality entertainment.’
Despite his declining health over the past few years, he remained positive and upbeat and he will be sadly missed.