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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-03-30 Daily Xml
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Condolence

Milisits, Mr Vilmos

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (11:02): On indulgence, sir, I rise to pay my respects to a South Australian legend. South Australia has sadly lost one of its most iconic businessmen, Vili Milisits OAM. My heartfelt condolences go to his wife, Rosemary, and their children, Alison and Simon, and grandchildren, Luke and Josh.

Vili came to Australia from war-torn Hungary in 1956, taking his first job in a chip shop at the age of just 12. From humble beginnings, his family built a successful business that has gained national and global recognition, producing at its peak more than 40 million products per year and exporting to 24 countries. Almost every South Australian has visited the Vili's bakery in Mile End or enjoyed a Vili's pie, pastie or sausage roll.

Vili and Rosemary have employed hundreds of South Australians and generously given back to the community as proud supporters of charities, community sports and the arts. Fittingly, both have received the Order of Australia medal, which was presented to them back in 2005, for their very generous charity work.

Vili was a passionate businessman with a tremendous work ethic. Last year, with the coronavirus, he was confined to his home but continued to work from his kitchen table. He could inspire, invent and intrigue. Most notably, he delighted the tastebuds of so many South Australians. He will certainly be missed by many.

I have had the opportunity, since the sad passing of Vili Milisits, to speak to his widow on two separate occasions. She told me that Vili was Hungarian by birth but Australian by choice. She said he particularly loved South Australia and, although presented with many opportunities to move his business interstate, he chose to keep his business here in South Australia, the state that he loved.

He was an inspiration to all his workers and they were very proud that during the coronavirus they did not have to reduce the size of their workforce. They worked with their workforce to provide them with other opportunities within their business—for Vili and Rosemary, their company was also their family. Vili was a great inspiration to so many people in the multicultural sector in South Australia and I know that so many people from across the state also mourn this loss.

Today, I have been asked by the crossbenchers in this parliament to make sure that this condolence motion reflects their great sadness at this time. As I said, I have spoken to Rosemary Milisits OAM twice in recent days. Cabinet resolved yesterday to offer a state funeral or memorial service to the family. We do this in recognition of his outstanding contribution to South Australia since coming to Australia in 1956. I think I speak on behalf of all South Australians when I say this passing is a very sad passing for our entire state. Vale, Vili Milisits.

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (11:06): I also rise on indulgence in support of the Premier's appropriate and well-said remarks regarding Vili. The Vili story of success from humble beginnings to an iconic South Australian business is truly impressive. As the Premier mentioned, Vili arrived in Adelaide in 1956, escaping the Hungarian Revolution, with all his belongings in one old suitcase tied together with a belt—a story that is familiar to many South Australian families.

Both Vili's parents had been chefs in Hungary, so creating food was something that was a logical step for Vili to take when he decided at the age of 14 to leave school and work at a local bakery to help support his family. With hard work, commitment and passion, Vili, together with his wife, Rosemary, established a business that was to eventually become a South Australian icon.

Deeply grateful for the opportunities given to them in Australia, they recognised the importance of giving back to the community that supported them on their journey. Vili and Rosemary have generously supported their local community for many years and have sponsored sporting clubs, programs such as Foodbank, the Hutt St Centre, Salvation Army and more than 50 charities. In 2008, Vili was awarded an OAM for his service to the food industry and to the community through his support for a range of charitable organisations.

I, too, would like to offer my sincere condolences to Vili's family, particularly his wife, Rosemary, his two children, Simon and Alison, and extend to his family and friends and to all the employees at Vili's our best wishes. Vili's life was certainly a colourful one, to say the least, a committed one and a complete one—he will be sadly missed. I would like to wholeheartedly endorse the Premier and his cabinet's decision to offer the family a state funeral.

I think every South Australian would have a story regarding Vili's. It is fair to say, I must confess, as a university student I spent a disproportionately large amount of time at Cafe de Vili's in Mile End. It is a good place to get a feed quite late at night if you have been in the UniBar and always a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

The story of Vili, with a Hungarian background, is one that is close to my heart. My grandmother came out from Hungary as a displaced person in 1949, and the story of people from overseas coming to this state with literally nothing at their disposal, coming to a state with an open and compassionate heart to their set of circumstances, and those individuals working incredibly hard to become such an amazing success story is something that does us all proud.

I think it is right for us as a state to look on the life of Vili as a source of inspiration for that amazing migrant story that is shared by so many South Australian families. He will certainly be missed. Vale, Vili.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

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