Santo Varapodio
Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (15:22): On Saturday 22 June I was one of hundreds of mourners who gathered to pay their respects to a giant of the Greater Shepparton community, Santo Varapodio OAM, who sadly passed away on 16 June. Santo was born on 10 October 1935 at the Mooroopna Base Hospital, the son of a migrant family who had come to Australia for a better life. He embraced every opportunity his parents provided for him. As a child, Santo would often travel to Melbourne with his father to welcome other families from their homeland. On one visit to the wharf a customs officer observed a child who was fluent in both Italian and English and said to him, ‘What is your name?’ The next thing the young Santo knew, he was wearing a badge that said ‘Santo, interpreter’. This may have been a sign of things to come. Santo would go on to build a highly successful business in the fruit industry and to be one of the leading citizens of Greater Shepparton, well known for his loving personality, his generosity, his willingness to always help others and his leadership and vision for our area. Santo was particularly remembered for his contribution to Rotary, for which he was awarded Rotary’s highest honour, a Paul Harris Fellow, in 1996. In 2000 he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the community of Shepparton and district and to the fruit industry. Santo married Teresa Conti, the love of his life, in 1959 and had two children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Unfortunately, Teresa passed away a few years ago. Santo is now reunited with her. In his later years Santo enjoyed the companionship of Anna Oliveri. I extend my heartfelt condolences to Maria and Mick, Rocky and Carolyn, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and Anna and Santo’s extended family and friends. I am honoured to have known and loved such an amazing man. Vale, Santo Varapodio.