At the age of 90, Williamstown fruiterer Tony Napoli has earned some rest.
These days, he sleeps in a bit – until about 3.30am – before going to work at the Ferguson Street fruit and vegetable shop that bears his name.
He still works seven days a week at the business he started in 1968, 17 years after arriving from Calabria in Italy.
“I came in ’51 and for one year I worked here in a factory, Thompsons Foundry,” Mr Napoli said.
“Because I was born in the country, I opened here.”
There are now four generations of the well-known Napoli family in Williamstown – Mr Napoli welcomed his seventh great grandchild into the world this month.
Three of his four sons work in the shop and Mr Napoli comes in each morning to help.
“You gotta be occupied in something,” he said.
“I help the kids, I have few coffees, a little bit of talking.
“It’s a very friendly people up here.”
His son Frank, who gets up at 2am to buy fresh produce from the market, said his father enjoyed coming in to help set up.
“He got a bit upset when we got the forklift because he thought he wouldn’t be needed,” Frank said.
