Graeme Larkins, only child of Bill and Chloe, entered medical school at the University of Melbourne in 1939. He married Margaret Rosanove in 1940, and by the time he finished his medical course had two young sons. Despite an inclination to pursue higher studies at that time, financial necessity led to him entering country general practice after one resident year at the Alfred Hospital. After a brief stint at Walwa, he was the general practitioner at Corryong, a picturesque town on the upper reaches of the Murray.

Although he loved country general practice, after eight years he chose to pursue his original interest in internal medicine. He went overseas to undertake medical training in the USA and UK. In a response typical of his devotion to his family he found the separation from his wife and three sons intolerable, and at twenty-four hours notice, arrangements were made for the rest of the family to join him in London. While overseas, in addition to obtaining training in internal medicine, and Membership of the Royal Colleges of London and Edinburgh, he pursued an interest he had developed in problems and diseases of ageing. On return to Melbourne he obtained his Australasian Membership, and in addition to an appointment at the Alfred Hospital and a consultant practice, he initiated the specialist geriatric services at Mount Royal Geriatric Hospital. He was elected a Fellow of the American Geriatric Society.

He loved old patients and they loved him. I remember him saying one morning that it was ridiculous to earn money for doing something he enjoyed so much. He died suddenly from a subarachnoid haemorrhage at the age of thirty-seven, having fitted as much into his life as most who live to an old age. Graeme Larkins had a quiet but warm and strong personality that brought out the best in all with whom he had contact.