Tony Barbuto
I was born on the 14th May 1941 in the Aeolian island of Lipari. I was the eldest of three children,
my sister Giovanna, four years my junior and my brother Dominic fourteen years my junior.
My parents owned a vineyard making wine and dried sultanas; they also used to produce olive oil.
After the war (WW2 – Ed.), things were very tough in Italy. I completed primary school but there was
no high school during this time.
In 1955 my father, alone, decided to migrate to Australia in search for a better life; my mother, my siblings
and I followed 12 months later.
Once in Australia, I enrolled in a correspondence course, as well as night school, to learn how to read,
write and to gain new skills.
I married in 1966 and soon after bought a fruit shop, where I worked for 6 years, then sold the business and
started at Coles Supermarkets as a shop assistant, successively promoted to Fresh Produce Manager and,
over time, held positions like Staff Trainer, Merchandise Manager and Fresh Produce Specialist.
Nevertheless, in my life, I have always found time for my hobbies. I love fishing, hunting for rabbits, dancing
and going to watch my beloved Collingwood Football Club.