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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-09-24 Daily Xml
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Grievance Debate

ZERELLA, MR V.G. AND GALVIN, MR S.J.

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (15:08): Today, I wish to recognise two great South Australians who were laid to rest this week. One had a memorial service this week, which hundreds of South Australians attended. The other had only one attendee.

I will first recognise Vito Guido Zerella, known as Vic Zerella, who died at the age of 71 years. As many members of the house would know, Vic had a very high public profile. It was an honour for me and my son William to attend his memorial service at St Ignatius Church this week. He was adored by his wife, Silvana, and sons, Paul, Jim and Joe. He was a respected businessman and a revered member of the community, in particular by fellow community leaders. He was larger than life and he was a man who made a substantial public contribution to South Australia.

Vic was a founding member of the board of Adelaide Produce Markets and he supervised the relocation of the markets from the East End of the city of Adelaide to Pooraka—as many members would recall—substantially expanding it into the major enterprise that it is today. Vic was a pioneer in the wine industry, graduating from growing grapes and other produce to the acquisition of Tatachilla Wines. Vic was also a significant contributor, via his membership, as one of the champions of fundraising for the new aged care facility, via the Society of Saint Hilarion. This is just a small measure of the outstanding contribution that he made, of which he was publicly recognised on many occasions.

At a personal level, I knew him as a fellow parent attending sport functions when he would be cheering loudly at the sporting contribution of his sons Jim and Joe, while I was there to support members of my family. He made an outstanding contribution in sport areas, and there are many clubs around South Australia that recognise him, not just as a fellow spectator, in his case, but a significant benefactor. His contributions, of course, are many.

The second South Australian whose passing I recognise today is Steven James Galvin, aged 86 years, known as Steve. He was not famous at all, but he represented so many senior South Australians who may not have had public accolades but were much loved by those in their lives whom they touched. My brother was the sole attendee at his cremation this week, and he will take his ashes to Kangaroo Island, where he spent the last 40 plus years of his life.

He was raised by his grandparents in Peterborough in South Australia's north when his mother died when he was 1½. At 14 years of age he went to the West Coast and worked at his uncle's farm, and he also worked in the Tumby Bay area and Sir Joseph Banks Islands. This is in the days when there were horse-drawn ploughs and sheep were transported by barges from the islands to the mainland.

At 19, like many of his contemporaries, he joined the national service and served Australia in New Guinea, across to building barbed wire fences along West Beach to protect what was seen at that stage as an anticipated invasion by the Japanese. At 43, he and his wife Gert went to Kangaroo Island, and were amongst the pioneering workers on that island in respect of the rural communities, supporting everything from mechanical repairs to fencing, and the like.

On a single day he delivered, as transport operator, five loads of cattle, in an old Bedford truck, between Snug Cove and Kingscote, and that is a mighty effort, for those who are familiar with the geographical circumstances. In latter years, he contributed, at a local level, to the Parndana Bowling Club and the Kangaroo Island Community Club, and was a favoured partner in the dance club and a loyal employee and mentor to members of our family.

He passed away this week little noticed but much loved by those in the community whom he had touched. I think he represents the great silent majority of people who do not receive public recognition in their life but who have made a sterling and lasting contribution to the protection of South Australians, to the development our state, and the support in our community. Vale Steve and Vic!

Time expired.

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