Bill did not attend the St Virgil’s but spent a period at St Peter’s School prior to beginning a lifelong association with the butchery business. His association with the College was very strong as his brothers Bert and Theo attended , as did his three sons – Marcus, Damien and Justin and nephews James, Luke, Chris, Richard Dalton, and Ian and Bruce Vermey.

Bill is pictured with eldest son, Marcus

To quote from the July 12 edition of the Mercury- reporter Sue Bailey

The popular and widely respected Sandy Bay businessman, who died last Friday, is being fondly remembered for his strong work ethic, his sporting prowess and love for people, especially his loyal customers. Wilhelmus Antonius Vermeij was born above the family butcher shop in Amsterdam in February 1942.

His parents and nine brothers and sisters moved to Sydney in 1950 and his name was anglicised to William (Bill) Vermey.

The family lived in a migrant camp before making their home in Tasmania a year later where Mr Vermey’s father William senior worked for Rex Mundy (SVC 1943-44) at Mundy’s Meats in Cygnet.

Young Bill started his apprenticeship at New Norfolk at the age of 14 and then came to Sandy Bay to work for his father where they established Vermey’s Quality Meats in 1962 which decades later is still a mainstay of the Sandy Bay Rd shopping precinct.

He took over the business from his father in 1966.

His family say Bill always said: “1966 was the best year of my life marring Beth (Dowd), taking over the Sandy Bay shop and rowing for Tasmania.”

“Bill built a reliable and trusted brand built on quality and personalised service,” his sons said.

“He was involved with sponsorships for schools, the Catholic Church, Sandy Football Club, Rotary and an active member of the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania.

Bill was State chairman of the Retail Council for Meat and Allied Traders and when the supermarkets had open trading on weekends he was the first butcher to open on Saturday mornings.

While he gave up full-time work in 1997 son Marcus who took over the business he often relied on his father to lend a hand. “Bill was called in for ‘guest’ appearances at Christmas, Easter and other busy times,” Marcus said.

He sailed and circumnavigated Australia and also sailed to New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea. His sons said their father loved fishing and golf and represented Tasmania in rowing in the lightweight eight in 1966.

He enjoyed watching sport, especially Hawthorn and Bill and Beth travelled extensively including trips back to the Netherlands.”

The family said Bill was diagnosed with dementia in 2016 and moved to Guilford Young Grove in Sandy Bay in 2020.

“Bill had a very strong work ethic which he instilled in his sons,” the family said.

“He worked very hard, helping others and was very social with family and friends and loved his nine grandchildren.

OVAtions

The monthly e-newsletter of the Old Virgilians Association

August Edition · 08 Aug 2022

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