Foster’s Brewing was going through a tough patch when David Bortolussi left the brewing giant in 2009, so the former Carlton & United Breweries executive decided to pay for his own send off at Matteo’s in Melbourne’s chic inner suburb of Fitzroy North.

A handful of colleagues came along to the understated fine diner, including ex-CUB chief executive Trevor O’Hoy, who says he has never come across another individual who worked harder or longer than Bortolussi.