VALE DAVID BARRO, AO

A golden age for our industry concluded recently with the peaceful passing of David Barro on the 24th June 2009. All associated with the CMPA pass on their condolences to the Barro family. A brief profile of this influential leader follows.

DAVID Barro was no ordinary man. He was possessed with an insatiable curiosity, natural initiative and a spontaneous joy for life. He was a man of metaphors, creating a plethora of visual pictures as he spoke enthusiastically, throwing his head back and laughing out loud, gesturing with his big strong hands.

Many images made up the tapestry of the life of David Barro. Dearly loved father, husband, brother, uncle, son, grandfather, father-in-law, friend, leader, employer, confidant, founder of Barro Group, founding President of the Veneto Club, community leader, entrepreneur, philanthropist, industry leader, sportsman, Officer of the Order of Australia and Commendatore of the Italian Republic.

David was born Diulio Barro, the son of Luigi and Amalia Barro in 1921 in Arcade, a small town in the Veneto Region of northern Italy. He was the oldest brother to Marc, Luisa and Frank.

In 1929 David’s father left Italy to find work in Australia. As the eldest son, David stepped into his father’s shoes, always looking for an entrepreneurial opportunity such as helping to wash down trucks or run errands to help the family’s finances.

In May 1936 David and his family joined Luigi in Australia, a land of opportunity.

The family moved to Park Orchards in Melbourne’s east where Luigi had found work as a green keeper. In his first few months there, David found a way to make a little extra money to pass on to his mother.

Luigi had collected many stray golf balls which he stored in a box under the stairs and David scrubbed them clean and sold them to customers on the golf course. Compared with a new golf ball priced at two shillings, David offered the golfers three rejuvenated ones for two shillings – until his father was threatened with the sack if the enterprise continued!

David’s education continued at Our Lady’s, Ringwood but at age 16 his father decreed it was time for David to go to work.

It has been said that cement flows in the veins of Mediterranean people and it was no surprise that David signed up for an apprenticeship with the concrete company De Marco Bros.

David says “I thought concrete was a great thing because you put it together in any shape or form, take away the formwork in a few days and it stays exactly the same as it is.”

David was keen to work for himself and at the age of 25 formed his own business, Barro Paving Company, specializing in concrete placing and terrazzo. He was soon joined by his brother Marc.

In post war Victoria there were many challenges in the concrete industry. A shortage of cement led to David taking the innovative step of importing bagged cement from England. He now had work and cement, but he needed labourers as well – friends and relatives came from the Veneto area whom he and his family sponsored, accommodated, employed and taught – to these workers he was an ‘uncle’, a conduit to the new country, providing then with advice and support.

In the early 1950s David married Mary. Over the years they had four children – Rhonda, Elena, Peter and Raymond with each of them involved in David’s business.

With the fifties came further expansion with Pronto Mixed Concrete starting business out of the new premises in Whitehorse Road Ringwood. Under David’s management and as a result of his remarkable vision and innovation, the Barro Group continued to grow. Today the Barro Group is involved in all aspects of concrete production and placing, quarries, builder’s supplies, precast panels, roof tiles, civil engineering, transport, tyres, support services and maintenance in both Victoria and Queensland.

David was also active in community life, fund raising for charities and community groups. David’s vision and perception were also essential ingredients in the establishment of Melbourne’s Veneto Club – a large cultural, sporting and social hub.

In the seventies David met and married Maria and they moved to a house in Doncaster. He and Maria would often share a meal with friends at the Veneto club and strut-their style on the dance floor.

Head office remained at Ringwood until 1989 when the Barro Group relocated to Carlton. The Barro Group future looks assured, with David’s sons and daughter in critical positions in the company and with the promise of another generation to follow.

And all this started when Luigi Barro said “David, you are now 16 and it’s time to get a job.”

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