"FOGM" is an acronoym that stands for "Friends of Grahame Maher"

While I was personally aware of the phemonenon of Dad having all kinds of people he had in the past worked with, follow him and again appear in other parts of the globe doing one thing or another. But it was not until recently, that I was aware, there was in fact a term for this occurence... After his death, when reading an email Mum received from Andrew Barton, whom had worked and partied with Dad for many years, was it when I came across what he had read at a service for Dad in Auckland held at Vodafone.

Being held very shortly after the Adeliade funeral service, this event shared many stories and memories of Dad (which I still have a wee sting about not being able to attend- but we can't all be everywhere <3). Andrew aka (as Dad would refer to him anyway) Bart, told a lovely story about being proud to be called a FOGM. 

Later that night at dinner in Doha with another sect of the extended Maher whanau, I mention this term "FOGM" and noted in conversation that I'd never heard of it. At this point, the mention of it sparked a rather animated and vocal conversation about the true and authentic members of the individual's first part of this FOGM group, the debate about whether the "FOGM thing" started in Australia or New Zealand, inevitably the conversation quickly found itself side tracked by mention of "that bledisloe match" (which I too have very clear and personal memories of)...

I think it was probably the first time I really experienced being a concept or remote person that I hear about, when someone (what I now recognise to be media) referred on radio the event and saying about me  - "Grahame Maher did this to his "loved employees" and to hurt all Kiwis, and he even has a Kiwi daughter, Jess. I mean could you believe one man could do that!" hahahahahaha

I would love to share other FOGM stories if you have some you would like to share, please email jess@assistnz.com