Wilson admitted feeling nervous while listening to Rhea as she warmed up the lunch time audience. Many had come because they knew Wilson was performing again and couldn’t wait to hear one of Wollongong’s favourite sons. As a member of the Four Kinsmen who has also has written two songs about his beloved Wollongong, Wilson toured Australia and the USA. But what he loves most is the connection he has with his hometown Wollongong and its people.

Wilson said his departure from live music when he was diagnosed with brain cancer was sudden. “It definitely was not something I was expecting. I was in hospital for 18 months. I feel a little nervous but it is nice to be back. Your technique (strength in fingers for playing the guitar and voice) goes a bit.”

But in practicing at home it didn’t take long for everything to start to come back. “This is all I have done for more than 50 years. I started out at 15 playing in a rock band.” Soon after Wilson unexpectedly found himself playing backing for the Gibb brothers at Collegians Wollongong just before they went to England and became internationally famous as the Bee Gees.

“I was lucky my teacher was a top guitar player. I learned to read music and play and constantly fine tuned my technique.”

In Wilson’s first song back he delivered some of his well known humour and a message about the importance of kindness.

The second was his Wollongong song where he again revealed how much he loves his home town and the people in it and never wants to leave.

Graham Wilson, of the Four Kinsmen, is back performing this Sunday after a long battle with brain cancer