Friendly farmer sorely missed
RUSTY’S Markets stallholders have set up a memorial to their mate Alfonso Muoio after he was swept to his death in floodwaters at Tolga on Wednesday.
The mood yesterday was sombre as long-time sellers remembered a hardworking farmer who had been a fixture at the markets for almost 30 years.
The 66-year-old Tablelands grower stopped selling at Rusty’s in recent months, easing his way towards retirement.
But Maria’s Fresh Food and Vegetables worker Liz Pulverenti said he was still at the forefront of everybody’s minds, even before his death.
“He hadn’t been in the markets for months but when he wasn’t here, everyone missed him,” she said.
“When somebody leaves after being here for so long, it’s not the same.”
Ms Pulverenti said Mr Muoio was a “friendly, happy guy” and she passed on her condolences to his family.
“We are all going to miss him dearly,” she said.
Market manager Justin Welch said a table with a photo of Mr Muoio and flowers had been set up at 5am yesterday.
“I only knew him for about six months before he left the market, but in that time I knew him as a friendly old Italian marketeer,” Mr Welch said.
“He had been here for about 30 years and built up quite a clientele.
“There have obviously been a lot of upset people here today, and some people coming in with bunches of flowers.”