Graham (Sam) had never missed a Christmas or New Year at Lorne until last year. There was however a very good reason – he was in Lima, Peru at his son’s wedding celebrations.
The Johnson family of Sam, his wife Adrienne and their three sons, wives and six grandchildren use the house at Lorne most of the year. What started as a two bedroom fibro purchased by his father in 1972, has become a work in progress to accommodate his ever extending family.
Sam grew up in Melbourne and attended Scotch College. He spent two years at RMIT after which he took a marketing course. His career began in the manufacture and sales of paper before running his own company, ‘Paper Agencies’- that grew to be one of the largest paper importing companies in Australia. His connection to Finnish Paper Mills Association necessitated regular travel to Finland, eventually leading to his appointment as the Honorary Consul-General of Finland for Victoria. For 15 years he served in this position and as a result was awarded the Commander First Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland. He estimates that he travelled to Finland over a hundred times, either for business or matters related to the Consular Corps.
Sam still loves to travel and spends at least two months travelling abroad each year. He is a passionate golfer and plays nine holes every day he is in Lorne. He is a member of the Lorne Country Club, the Football Club, the Men’s Shed and the Aquatic Club – which he particularly loves . “It’s a remnant of Lorne’s past we all treasure. “
In reflecting upon his relationship with Lorne, Sam is pleased to see the completion of the circle in watching his grandchildren learning to surf and falling under Lorne’s spell.
