The much-loved Gerringong resident died last week, aged 78, 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 treasured 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 passion for chemistry and, encouraged by his parents, 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. 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  ears 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. Th move led to many, many happy years in the community where they built many great friendships. Their family grew further with the birth of Kirstie, Cliff and Rod and the adoption of Ben and Trang.

Apart from his work in the pharmacy, Mr Wishartbecame an expert on spiders, particularly funnel-web and trap-doors, which led to him being affectionately known as ‘The Spider Man’. The interest became a real passion and led to many trips to places like the United States, Poland, Germany and England.

Mr Wishart found himself becoming more involved in the field of spider research through his own fascination and personal study, and became an Associate of the Australian Museum’s Division of Arachnology, his expertise called upon by some hospitals and universities for his help in identifying the eight-legged creepy crawlies.

His interest in spiders began when his father-in-law was babysitting his kids and captured a spider walking across the floor.

‘‘I wasn’t into spiders in those days so I sent it to the Australian Museum who had always been helpful with my inquiries about natural history,’’ Mr Wishart told the Illawarra Mercury in 2013.

‘‘This spider was so interesting to the arachnologist at the museum that he came racing down to Gerringong the very next day wanting to know where I got it.

‘‘He was doing a PhD thesis on funnel-webs and this spider would help him on his way.’’

Mr Wishart collected 100 specimens at his former Willow Vale home, which were subsequently identified as a new Illawarra species of funnel-web that was eventually named in his honour. 

It is one of about 40 known species of funnel-web.

The people of Gerringong and indeed the whole south coast warmed to Graham’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.