Virginio Michelon was born and bred in Wyndham, and spent his career as a market farmer in Werribee South.
Now, the retired 74-year-old spends his days tending to his extensive garden in his Werribee backyard.
He talks to Charlene Macaulay.
What’s your connection to Wyndham?
I was born here, at the hospital on Synnot Street where McDonalds is now.
When I was a kid, you knew everyone down the main street, now you don’t.
What are one of your favourite childhood memories?
My friends and I used to ride our bikes everywhere, and we’d come home from school in the winter and dad would make salami for everybody.
It was just the way we grew up.
Werribee South was a tight-knit community – still is, I think.
It’s been good to watch it grow.
What’s kept you in Wyndham?
My family are all here, and my friends.
I have three boys and two girls, five grandchildren, and they’re all close by.
You ran the family business as a market gardener. Tell me more.
Dad started share farming with some dairy farmers called Fowlers, and from there he bought his own land on O’Connors Road.
We were born and bred there.
My brother Dino and I then ran the farm.
I was about 14 when I left school.
My dad used to tell me not to stay on the farm, to stay in school and learn something else, but I liked the land.
In the early days we used to grow cabbage, cauliflower, potatoes.
I’ve also been involved with wine making ever since I was a kid.
What happened to the business?
About 16 years ago I’d done my back and had two prolapsed discs.
The neurosurgeon said to me: “You’re not going back on the farm, you’ll end up in a wheelchair”.
My brother did it on his own for a little while but didn’t want to do it without me.
We leased the farm for a couple of years and then we decided to sell it.
It was very hard to give up the business.
You’ve also been a keen bike rider from a young age – did you ever race?
No, that’s one thing I regret.
The farm was too intensive, and you’ve got to train if you want to race.
I have about 10 bikes at home, I fix them up and give them away to kids, or anyone who wants them.
Now that you’re retired, how do you fill your days?
I’m always doing something.
I do a lot of gardening, I grow broad beans, peas, asian greens, garlic, pepinos, radicchio, plums, peaches … it keeps me busy.
