If you’ve ever driven down Koroneos Drive and wondered where the name came from, here’s your answer. Mary Koroneos sat down with Adem Saban to discuss five decades in Werribee South.
When did you move to Werribee South?
When my family migrated from Macedonia, we settled in Shepparton and later moved to Geelong. I met my husband in 1962 and when we got married we moved to Werribee South and started our family.
What was life like in Werribee South back then?
I loved it. Our family owned the milkbar at the end of O’Connors Road so I spent a lot of time working there. When I wasn’t in the milkbar I was farming. We grew peas, cauliflowers, potatoes and onions. Sometimes I’d work at the caravan park in Werribee South, too, cleaning the toilets. It was a very simple life.
What did you love most about raising a family in Werribee South?
My four daughters, Kathy, Sofi, Christine and Fay, all went to primary school in Werribee and then to Werribee High School. Life was so simple, it was safe. We could trust everybody; we didn’t have to lock our doors when we left the house. It was a beautiful place to live. People would ask why I like living here – and I would tell them, I have my daughters here, my husband, my work, everything. I want to be here.
What do you miss most from the old days?
The fresh vegetables. We used to go outside and pick them fresh whenever we wanted them. We no longer have the farm, so we have to get them from the supermarket where they are cold and soggy – I’m not used to this life!
So Koroneos Drive is named after your family. How did that happen?
We sold some of our land and it was subdivided. Because a street was created to go straight through land that was once ours, it was named Koroneos Drive after our family.
My late husband was very happy when this happened. We never had sons, only daughters, so having the street named after us means our surname will go on forever. When you die, people forget who you are. This is our way of leaving something behind, our way of letting people know we achieved something in life.
What are your hobbies?
I walk a lot. My daughters spoilt me and bought me an iPad recently, so I play games.
