Coast loses friend, confidante to all
THE Gold Coast lost a longtime matriarch on the weekend with the passing of Virginia Fay.
Virginia was larger than life, blessed with a cheeky laugh and an ability to connect with people from across Australian society.
For close to 40 years she was an integral part of the growth of the Gold Coast.
With her late husband, Dr Fabian Fay, she moved to Nerang in 1980 where he opened a veterinary practice. They met when Fabian was a student at Sydney University, marrying in 1972.
Virginia was the eldest of 10 children. Her father Theo Rossi was a noted industrialist and her mother Mary hosted a talk show on ABC TV.
Virginia’s life growing up in Sydney was one of privilege but it was never something she thought of as anything other than her upbringing.
“Mum would interview these amazing people and then bring them home for dinner, so it was not unusual to arrive home from school and have anyone from rock stars to royalty eating with us,” she once told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
Virginia and Fabian would have three children – Roscoe, Fiamma and Sam – and Fabian would go on to become the general manager for Sea World after first working as the theme park’s veterinarian.
“Fabs”, as Virginia dubbed him, was the love of her life but their world was turned upside down in 1983 when he was accidently hit by a shotgun blast while on holiday in Greece. It was her determination and refusal to let her husband go that in effect saved his life when she managed to find a surgeon who had experience with catastrophic gunshot wounds.
Knowing that Fabian’s life would be altered forever when they returned to Australia, Virginia reasoned that she would need to become a breadwinner for the family.
She enrolled in a securities course in Brisbane which led to her working with Morgans on Chevron Island. This month she was recognised for 30 years service for the company as a senior client adviser.
Fabian and Virginia shared one great love – rugby union. In April this year Virginia was proudly on hand when, thanks to her generosity, the Fabian Fay Clubhouse was unveiled at Bond University’s rugby grounds. It was a fitting tribute to the man she loved and who had never left her thoughts since his death in 2005.
To know Virginia was to love and admire her. Strong, resourceful, dedicated and a lot of fun to be around, she was a woman who lived for her family, loved her adopted city and was a friend and confidante to many she knew both professionally and personally. We have lost a good ’un.
A funeral service for Virginia will be held on Thursday at 10.30am at the Sacred Heart Church, 50 Fairways Dr, Clear Island Waters.
A reception will be held to celebrate her remarkable life after the service at the Fabian Fay Clubhouse at the Bond University Rugby Club, 14 University Dr, Robina.