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THE OLD VIRGILIAN - 35• Michael Francis McGee(1949-2015) (SVC 1961-66)Michael was born on March 24 1949 atWestbury. A second son for Walter andPhoebe, and a little brother for Peter. Hespent his childhood on the farm atQuamby Bend at his parent’s property‘Fair View’ and attended the WestburyConvent School. His secondaryeducation was at St Virgil’s College inHobart as a boarder from Grade 7-12.Michael was always proud of beingeducated at St Virgil’s and was a memberand keen supporter of the Old VirgiliansAssociation, often enjoying manyfunctions in Hobart and afar. He servedas a Vice-President of the Associationfrom 1982 through to 2015 – some34 years.Following College, Michael gainedemployment at Comalco George Townand through evening TAFE classes gainedhis accreditation as a MetallurgicalResearch Scientist.Weekends were spent back at Westburyworking on the farm. In due courseolder brother Peter, who had gone ontothe family farm after leaving Saints,persuaded Mike to go into partnershipwith him and purchase a nearby property‘The Pines’ – from there the iconic brandPM & MF McGee Brothers, Westburywas formed.Working hard on the farm the McGeebrothers were supplying a lot of freshproduce to Hobart and Launceston – thebrothers worked out that they couldprobably make a dollar or three if theystarted their own retail business and putthe heat on the bigger supermarkets.So in the early 1980s the old dilapidatedservice station (which had been vacantfor ten years and is now John Templegallery) was purchased. With a lot ofhandy work carried out by his maternalgrandfather and his brothers theWestbury Fruit and Vegetable Market wasin business. Peter claims, “they gavethemselves four years to pay it off andwithin 56 days it was paid off” – a goodbusiness decision after all!Between the farm and the market Mikeand Peter employed up to 22 fulltimeand up to 30 casual staff. For eighteenand a half years up until 2000 a successfulwholesale and retail business wasconducted, Peter looking after the farmand Mike the market’s finances andbook work.Mention was made in the eulogy that,“Mike was a hard working, calmbusinessman who would often have tostep in to be the ‘fireman’ and put out allthe ‘fires’ that Peter started withemployees. He would diffuse the situationand business would continue as normal”.Mike married Helen Berringer in 1976and from the union three children -Matthew, Alison and Simon – were born.Regrettably, in 2000 Helen passed awaywith cancer. There is no doubt this brokeMike’s heart and to be honest heprobably never recovered.Mike loved his family. He loved sport andwas a great servant of the Westburycommunity. He loved sport despite nothaving stepped onto a sports field as aserious participant due to congenitalproblems with his ankles and feet. Hethoroughly loved watching live and TVsport. Of particular interest was hisaffiliation with the Westbury Shamrock’sCricket Club. Michael was the inauguralPresident of the club and its archivist- shortly before his death handing over sixlarge scrap books to the club. Despite hisfailing health Mike was front and centrewhen the club won the NTCA ‘A Grade’premiership earlier this year. Michaelhad also spent four years on the Board ofthe NTCA.Shortly before Helen’s death, the familymoved to Riverside. Michael joined theRiverside Lions Club in April 2003. Thisgave him a new lease of life through itsprojects and through the fellowship of itsmembership. He served as the Club’sPresident 2008/09 and Secretary 2011/12.Rest in peace, Michael Francis McGee.July 2015 Vol. 23 No. 33