Hansard debates

Ms D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Solar Homes) (09:40): I rise to congratulate Mr Silvio Pitruzzello on being awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service and dedication to the dairy and primary industries. Mr Pitruzzello is the general manager of Pantalica Cheese in Thomastown and vice-president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Melbourne. As a member of Parliament and proud member of the Italian community, I have known Mr Pitruzzello and his family for more than 20 years.

Silvio showed his passion for the cheesemaking business very early in his life. He started helping his father, Sebastiano, making cheese at the age of nine. Together with his father, he has achieved recognition for the cheese production industry not just in Victoria but across Australia. Mr Pitruzzello is a successful businessman, which he achieved by hard work and dedication from humble beginnings. Like his family, Silvio is a humble man, and he has helped many causes throughout his journey. Along with his family, he has always been very generous in the Italian community. They have been great supporters of a range of community organisations and charitable causes. These include fundraising for the Cabrini Foundation, the Cabrini Italians of Melbourne and Guide Dogs Victoria, just to name a few. Mr Pitruzzello is another fine example of the immense contribution our migrant communities have made to Victoria, and continue to do so, through the generations. I want to congratulate Silvio for his achievement. It is a well-deserved award, one that I know his family are very proud of and all of us are very proud of. I wish him great strength for the future.