Luke Dennehy

OBITUARY: Today's service at St. Carthage's Catholic Church in Parkville was fitting for an amazing man, Associate Professor Dominic Vellar. Dominic was a legend of St Vincent's Hospital, where he worked for nearly 50 years, many of those years as one of Australia's best and most well regarded general surgeons. Conceived in Italy and born in Australia, he is, for me, an example of just how important Italian immigrant families - and their legacy - are to our City. The family grew up in Carlton's Lygon St, before Dominic and his family settled in North Balwyn and eventually Albert Park. He was incredibly hardworking, giving back so much to the community over the years. Most importantly he was a wonderful family man. Loving husband to beautiful Maureen, father to Damien, Justine, Steph and Edwina, (I call the girls my City sisters) and grandfather to nine. Edwina has been a great friend of mine for 30 years, Since 1997 Dominic and the whole family welcomed this country boy into their home and was forever supportive, and I'm forever grateful. A man of great intellect and pragmatism, he had a worldly view we need more of right now. He loved his Carlton Football Club his whole life, and I know it gave him great joy this year as he wasn't well and the Blues came back and kept winning. He will be dearly missed. A brilliant Australian ❤️❤️