Orchid Man

To label Graham Larkham an orchid man is certainly accurate, but it only touches on one aspect of his multi-faceted personality.

He has been growing orchids "on and off" since the early 1970s and is a member of several orchid societies. Graham is currently the president of both the Hawkesbury District Orchid Society and the Orchid Society of New South Wales (Head Body). He is also a past president of the Blue Mountains and Penrith District Orchid Society and has been on the committee of the Blacktown City Orchid Society.

Graham, a probationary associate orchid judge, said he grows a mixture of orchids from many parts of the world. It's a hobby he enjoys and he admits, perhaps a bit ruefully, to having "too many" in his collection.

A graduand of James Ruse Agricultural High School, Graham has obviously had a life-long affinity for the soil, but he has many other accomplishments including a degree in Adult Education and a graduate diploma in Employment Relations Law. In his working life he was a police officer for more than thirty years.

And in between all that he found time to marry and raise three children who, in their turn, have given Graham and his wife (also retired) eight grandchildren.

Graham's U3A orchid course started this term with fifteen people. At this stage, the course will be held at his home and new students, or even observers, are welcome to attend. At times the venue may be changed by visiting another grower's home or an orchid show.

The course time is flexible and has already been changed from 9am to 9.30am because of the cooler winter weather and the age of the members.