The biggest fish Graeme Gregory ever caught was a six-foot mackerel at the top end of Australia, which he says took less than a minute to reel in.  

But the Benalla 67-year-old reckons his greatest angling achievement will be to continue regaining his strength so he can teach his three locally-based grandchildren how to fish. 

“The cod fishing season is coming up,” Graeme explains.  “Years ago I taught my four kids how to fish, so it’s going to be pretty special for Poppie to teach the next generation too.” 

He’s also wants to cook trout for the family the way he says it’s best eaten.  Freshly caught and cooked there and then next to the river in a heavy pan with butter and seasoned with salt and pepper.   

“Best meal in the world,” Graeme says. “Those fancy restaurants can do what they like with fish, but nothing beats it done this way.” 

What makes these goals even more special is that for a long while, Graeme didn’t think they would be possible.  About 15 years ago he had a stroke and underwent a quadruple bypass. More recently he successfully fought bladder cancer. 

Since moving to Benalla to be close to his daughter a year ago, his life has changed for the better.  He moved into his unit near Lake Benalla and receives a government-funded home care package through Uniting AgeWell. He is also being supported by the team to transition to the government’s new Support at Home program that replaces Home Care Packages on 1 November 2025. 

Part of his package includes receiving nutritious meals that he heats up in the microwave, and over the past ten months he’s gained 10kg. 

“I’m tall and at one stage I got down to 65kg,” says Graeme. “I was just skin and bone. I feel so much stronger and better now.” 

He also goes to the hospital to sort out his macular degeneration and cataract issues with the eye specialist.  He enjoys living in his little unit, close to the Benalla lake, which is kept spick and span. 

“I feel a lot safer,” says Graeme.  “I worked with the Care Advisor, Tina Manousaki and I used my home care package to buy a medic-alert watch.  I still drive, but now Tina is looking at arranging an electric mobility scooter, so I can just nip down to the lake without having to use the car.” 

Graeme will also be able to use his scooter to head off to the library. He recently joined and loves listening to audio books.   

“The Uniting AgeWell team is very good, they always worry about me and check on me that I am doing ok.”  Graeme says. 

It’s a nice feeling to be supported – especially after a life of hard yakka and having to fend for himself at a young age. 

Graeme was raised in children’s homes including the then Burwood Boys Home.  With  his usual optimism, describes his childhood as “fantastic.”   He studied at Melbourne Technical College and over the years worked across Australia as a glazier, a chippie, a stacker at the mill and for the Country Roads Board in Harrietville.  

 “I remember working on sealing the Mt Hotham Road and looking down on all the rivers and seeing the bush and the trees and thinking ‘Who wants an office job?  This is great!”  

Uniting AgeWell provides services and care to customers scattered the length and breadth of the vast Hume area which includes Yarrawonga, Shepparton, Wangaratta, Cobram, Mansfield, Seymour and Wodonga.  Many customers live on farms, others in smaller towns around the region.  

“Our team at Uniting AgeWell value the importance of living safely and well in your home in the area that you love,” says Hume Home Care Program Manager Liz Grogan.  

“The values of the organisation including respect, kindness and inclusion are reflected in how we treat all our customers. We are proud to walk alongside those who invite us to do so at this stage of their life.  People have already experienced so much and we hope that with our support their lives can continue to be rich and meaningful.” 

Liz says servicing such a vast region also provides ongoing career opportunities for people to be able to work where they live. 

To find out more about our home care services phone 1300 783 435 and speak to our friendly team or see Hume Home Care.