Vale Victor Lago

It is with sadness that the RWTA acknowledges the passing of one of the ardent supporters of our Association and the Australian Cold Chain, Victor Lago.

Thanks to Murray Charters for this excerpt from the Eulogy and for the permission to share from Walter Lago.

Virginio Lago was born in Italy in 1931, making him 92 years of age.

Victor, as he chose to be known in Australia, was the eldest of six boys.

He only attended school until the 4th grade to help his mother on the farm as his father was away getting work wherever he could find it. Victor was 8 years old when World War II broke out in Europe, and 14 by the time the allies conquered the axis powers, leaving Italy broken and defeated.

There was very little opportunity in Italy post war, and Victor would have been old enough to witness the pain and suffering of the Italian people. He stayed working on the farm, to provide sustenance for his family, until he was 19 years old. He then decided to emigrate to Australia, where his Australian based Uncle had financed his journey, giving Vic an opportunity for a better life.

Victor arrived in Australia in 1950 after three months at sea. He had a push bike and ten pounds in his pocket, five pounds of that he had earned by peeling potatoes every day on the ship.

What made his future success in business even more remarkable, was the fact that when he arrived in Australia, he could not read, write or speak English and had a Grade 4 Primary School level of education.

Vic worked on his uncle’s farm living in a tin shed for two years. After paying back his uncle the fare to Australia, he moved on.

He undertook all manner of work for many years and married his young Italian wife Emma, with whom he fathered three sons, Robert, Walter and Roger.

In 1979 Victor was building his first cold store at Hemmant in Brisbane. Vic, aided by his sons Robert and Walter, built up what was considered to be the most successful, cleanest and well run coldstore operation in Australia.

Vic loved his three sons, and supported them financially, no matter what circumstances they found themselves embroiled in.

Vic was of a generation that favoured tough love, and he expected his sons to put up, shut up and work as hard as he did. He was hard on everybody, and the standards he set for Robert and Walter were particularly high; Roger being the youngest was afforded more leniency.

Vic was never in a rush, but he never stopped. No matter what the task, he would work tirelessly, not until the job was done, but until the job was done properly. He would arrive very early in the mornings, dressed in his old work clothes and boots, and the ever-present terry towelling hat, driving his old ford ute. Victor worked seven days a week, sometimes fourteen hours a day and longer for many years at Lago Coldstores.

There came a time, due to circumstances beyond his control, that with a heavy heart, he handed over the running of Lago Coldstores to his three sons, content in the knowledge that it would be good hands for the future.

Victor had no intention of retiring. All his working life, as he made money, he reinvested it in other real estate projects growing and accumulating a legacy for his three sons, his eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

He continued to work well into his late eighties, and he readily acknowledged that he could not have done it without the enormous amount of assistance from his loving partner Jean Neilson.

Victor became very ill over the last few years and was cared for lovingly by Jean in their home. Eventually the only option was a full-time care facility.                             

The continuous love and care he was afforded by Jean, Robert and Walter on rotation over the years made sure he was comfortable, safe, fed, cared for and loved right up to the point they were forced to say goodbye is something we can all admire.

We can only hope we are all lucky enough to have loved ones like that, to look after and comfort us, at the end of our own life’s journey.

Rest in peace Victor, secure in the knowledge that you passed on from this life, with nothing left in your tank, having ably and faithfully fulfilled your destiny as Patriarch of your family.