Frank Condoluci’s long and strong career in the ag industry

At 90 years of age Frank Condoluci has been through plenty of change and challenges in the agriculture industry — and doesn’t plan on retiring any time soon. Nominate a farmer like Frank here.

Frank Condoluci has been farming in Korumburra since moving to Australia in 1948 and is still very involved in farm operation. Picture: Zoe Phillips

KORUMBURRA farmer Frank Condoluci knows he’s on to something good.

In September he’ll be 91 and has given no indication of slowing down.

“He won’t retire — he’s got no plans for that at all,” Frank’s son Frank Jnr said.

Since coming to Australia from Italy in 1949, Mr Condoluci started working on farms in the Gippsland area at night and over the weekend while also working at the local council.

He eventually purchased his own farm and started growing peas and potatoes. He still works on the farm with his two sons while also running a transport company.

His decision to get into farming was a no-brainer when he came to Australia to send money over to his family in Italy.

“I was always into farming,” he said.

Mr Condoluci said he has seen a lot of change in the agriculture industry in the decades since he first started.

“There’s more money and more work,” he said.

One of the biggest challenges he has overcome during his time on the land was being an immigrant and not knowing any English.

There were also challenges with manual labour in his early days farming.

“When he first started a lot of the work was manual labour — there were no excavators it was all pick and shovel,” Frank Jnr said.

“When he started farming it was with horses until he purchased his first tractor in 1953.”

• Do you know someone who continues to work in the ag industry after decades of service? Let us know. Email [e-mail]