Graham's close friends and family are invited to his celebration of life
Date: 18th of October 2024
Time: Arrival from 11.30am for a formal start at midday
Venue: Royal Yacht Club of Victoria, Williamstown, Melbourne
Please RSVP to Susanne by COB 12th October and please state any dietary preferences or allergies
susanne.wells@outlook.com
1st October 2024 at 11:30 AM
© 2022 Mount Alexander Funerals. All Rights Reserved | Web by Greengraphics.
Sad to hear of the passing of Graham.
Spent time volunteering many years ago with Sea Shepherd.
Thoughts with his family and friends.
Michelle x
I was very sad to hear of Graham’s passing.
I was fortunate enough to meet Graham at Victoria Legal Aid.
I always enjoyed running into him at the Melbourne office and hearing about an interesting case or a great client outcome he had achieved.
I was continuously impressed by his dedication, passion, fierce advocacy, genuine care for clients, and strong moral compass.
My thoughts are with his family and friends.
Ella Casey
Graham passed away 10.09.2024
He was in a peaceful hospital room, listening to the sounds of birds and waterfalls as well as hearing the beautiful messages sent by his loved family and his close work friends, sailing buddies and Sea Shepherd friends.
Graham was a man of many worlds and adventures, he lived an amazingly varied life and was an avid humanitarian and conservationist.
From his early days exploring south-west Tasmania in the late 70s to earlys-80s, rock climbing, Canteen volunteering, outdoor education, a lover of landscape photography, his work with Mittagundi and Outwardbound, sailing his love ‘the Auranina’, battling cancer for 18 years, transitioning from being a skilled teacher to being renowned in administrative law, discovering and volunteering for Sea Shepherd from 2010 onwards, volunteering his legal services to protect asylum seekers and vulnerable psychiatry patients, he was known for his capacity for leadership, determination and sense of humour.
Graham was first diagnosed with cancer in 2007 with a well advanced and rare type of brain cancer. He had a daughter aged 7 and a baby son. 9 craniotomies and one nasty clostridium perfringens CNS infection later, he pushed back the primary tumour and over the next 17 years, fought with surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to slow and stop the metastatic spread. He was told to ‘go home and die’ several times over during this period, most notably prior to his Whipple operation when CT found widespread metastasis to his pancreas. The first surgeon he saw told him he was utterly inoperable and only had 3 months to life. This was 2014. 2024 he was still fighting with the help of several incredible surgeons, oncologists, internal medicine specialists and an amazing GP!
This single-minded determination and ability to shake life for all its worth was reflected in an incredible self-discipline and attitude towards work and his volunteering commitments. Similarly he was someone who cared about the people behind the cases he fought for, whether it be supporting someone undergoing medical treatment without their consent, Robodebt, or those who had either psychological, mental or physical vulnerabilities preventing equal life opportunities.
Graham grew up sailing and loving the ocean, and initially had planned to transition from teaching towards commercial maritime work. Unfortunately, due to being slightly colourblind, this wasn’t a career option. He instead bought a little hardy sailboat from Tasmania, and that became his lifelong home away from home, with both my half-brother and I spending numerous sailing trips on board and going for weekend cruises around Port Philip Bay. Sailing also brought him to Sea Shepherd, with the Steve Irwin ship docked next to our marina, and a family passion being started with Dad, my half-brother and I all becoming involved. He quickly began from volunteering at stalls to assisting the local Coordinator, before becoming the Melbourne Chapter Coordinator amidst the Antarctic anti-whaling campaigns. He has continued as a steadfast strong supporter and advisor to following Melbourne Coordinators, Sea Shepherd Australia and Sea Shepherd Global.
Dad was amazing, I feel incredibly lucky to have him for nearly 25 years, and I value the time Gabriel and I got as priceless. As a father, he was always incredibly supportive of my sport and university aspirations, motivating me to push myself academically as well as on the sporting field. He was always enthused to train chess with me during my years playing competitive chess, always setting me up to beat his colleagues on his chess account, and debating merits of different attacks and tactics. He always had time for a phone call or for ‘Dad’s taxi’ if my half-brother or I needed a safe ride home after a very late/ very early event!
We, and the rest of the family have really appreciated hearing everyone’s stories about Dad, it’s been wonderful seeing all these different facets of him and some of the beautiful eulogies from his Legal and Sea Shepherd buddies!
There will also be a larger celebration of his life later in mid/late October at the Royal yacht club of Victoria for those further away or unable to attend on short notice!
A last-but-not-least massive thankyou to the family, loved ones, friends, and incredible health care staff who sacrificed their time, physical endurance and emotional energy to supporting Dad over the years and during his palliative care journey….Thank you!!
To read some beautiful messages & tributes by Graham’s colleagues: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7239629270287835138/
I first met Graham at Kindness House in Melbourne at my first Sea Shepherd meeting.
He welcomed me with open arms and a big smile when I told him I could volunteer every Saturday down at the docks.
Graham was a teacher and inspiration to me and also a key holder.
Through his kind and direct leadership, he encouraged me to pursue my own goals within Sea Shepherd and was always keen to hear about my youth work within communities.
I was saddened to hear of his passing, but also smiled knowing his incredible ability to duck death had seen him prove many wrong.
Vale my friend – Rest in Power
I worked with Graham at Springvale Monash Legal Service before he left to join VLA.
He was kind, supportive, always ready to help out.
He will be greatly missed.
My heart goes out to his family and friends.
Stay strong, Graham is now pain free and resting in peace.
Fly light Graham.