Butcher wraps up his career

Gordon Virgo, a trained butcher from Kalgoorlie, retired after more than five decades in the meat industry.

‘I started at the age of 14,’ he said. ‘I was not enjoying school but my dad said I could not finish unless I had an apprenticeship.’

‘So I got a five-year apprenticeship in Kalgoorlie and when that finished, I moved to Perth.’

Fifty-six years on, and Mr Virgo said he was now ready for the next chapter of his life.

‘I missed out on watching my daughters play sport because I always worked on Saturdays, but now I am looking forward to watching my granddaughters play netball,’ he said.

The father of two daughters and grandfather of four girls said he would miss the interaction with his customers.

‘I have done it for 56 years, 40 years in the area and the past 27 years at Marco’s so I have really got to know the customers and built some great friendships from it.’

‘I was always meeting people all the time, which is something I am going to miss.

Mr Virgo, who worked five and a half days a week, wanted to thank Marco for a wonderful career and said he was very fortunate that he stayed all his life in the one industry he loved.

Post retirement, Mr Virgo plans to watch his granddaughters play sport; take up lawn bowls again and spend more time with the family.

Mr Virgo will first celebrate his 70th birthday next week.