Vince Vitale laid to rest after Funeral Mass at St Patrick’s Church, Ingham
A controversial cane-farming conservationist with a love of crocodiles and almost all of God’s creatures has been laid to rest by his grieving family.
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A controversial cane-farming conservationist with a love of crocodiles and almost all of God’s creatures has been laid to rest by his grieving family.
Vincenzo “Vince” Vitale, 82, was interred in the New Ingham Cemetery after a moving Funeral Mass at St Patrick’s Church on Wednesday.
Marina Vitale, the eldest of Vince’s three children, spoke of a life lived “boldly, passionately and loudly”.
Ms Vitale said her father, the grandson of Sicilian immigrants who settled in Ripple Creek in 1923, married his life-long partner Monica in 1967.
“Dad whisked her away her Australian-Irish dairy-farming family who had to adjust to the fact that their daughter was about to learn how to cook with garlic,” she said to a ripple of laughter among the many mourners.
“Thankfully he was Catholic.”
Ms Vitale said she and her siblings had an idyllic upbringing, fishing for barramundi and sooty grunter, spear-fishing, canoeing and water-skiing.
“We were always so impressed how dad could start from the riverbank on a single ski with his hat and sunglasses on, ski and then walk out of his ski onto the bank without getting wet – he was such a show-off.”
She said her father was passionate and driven about what mattered to him: “The creek and river, his dogs, the fish, birds and crocodiles.”
“He knew every rock, bird call, snag and tree on his river, he showed us how to have fun, but also how to connect with our environment.”
Ms Vitale reflected on her father’s “various campaigns and crusades”.
“Dad thought about how to ensure all elements of our environment were represented and cared for; he was an environmentalist before it was popular.”
She said that included campaigning on behalf of crocodiles, an unpopular local cause.
“He loved all creatures great and small, except for cane toads, water rats and mosquitos, which were always fair game.”
Ms Vitale said her parents were founding members of the Ingham Theatre Group and had been involved in performances over the last 60 years.
“Dad loved words, singing, dancing and dressing up to have a laugh and bring joy to his audiences, this was a pursuit that both mum and dad shared together.”
Ms Vitale became emotional as she thanked all who had helped care for her father in his final days and members of the Hinchinbrook community that had rallied around Monica and the wider family.
“Farewell to you dad, may you find peace and calm with your fishing mates and especially with God, the one who created your paradise on earth.”
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Originally published as Vince Vitale laid to rest after Funeral Mass at St Patrick’s Church, Ingham
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