Southern Cross Produce owner and Sydney Markets identity Bill Chalk remembered

William Francis "Bill" Chalk passed away on October 28, aged 72.

The self-made businessman and wholesaler was one of the best-known faces at the Sydney Markets.

His parents operated a fruit barrow at Maroubra Beach but his father was killed by a tram when Mr Chalk was two.

Subsequently, Mr Chalk spent much of his early childhood sitting in a banana box alongside his mother who continued the fruit barrow business.

As part of a single-parent family, he was allowed to leave school early to earn a living.

He started full-time work as a barrow boy at Haymarket moving fresh produce to the fruiterers' trucks when he was 13, working for Russ Walker at RH Walker and Sons, which was sold to Lenny Sargeant soon after.

In an article on Mr Chalk from several years back, he recalled how he would start work at midnight and finish at 4 o'clock on a Monday afternoon.

He became a salesman within the company and moved between various firms as opportunities arose.

He managed a business called Apple Growers and Merchants for Andrew Caltabiano, before buying into Zai Brothers with his good friend, John Discusso.

From here he approached Warren Saggin and Victorian tomato grower Joe Vraca to form Southern Cross Produce.

A dedicated and hard worker, Mr Chalk was considered a pioneer, foresighted leader and innovator by those who did business with him.

Mr Chalk always took a keen interest in industry affairs and freely gave his time for the benefit and advancement of the fruit and vegetable industry and its people.

His industry involvement was extensive and included:

While a businessman through and through, Mr Chalk was widely known for his support of charitable causes be it the markets' annual Sydney Markets Charity Cherry Auction, a Variety Club activity or just giving a hand to someone who deserved a break.

His long tenure as president of Freshmark was immeasurable, with his great respect and loyalty leading him to continuous re-election as president.

He was president of the Australian Chamber of Fruit and Vegetable Industries for some nine years from 2000.

Mr Chalk and his team oversaw a range of changes in the industry including the introduction of Fresh Test which standardised the testing of produce to meet all quality assurance requirements.

Other initiatives included product specifications for all fresh fruit and vegetable produce and a strong campaign to highlight the importance of the wholesale sector to consumers, industry and governments.

He was vocal about the need for the chamber (Freshmark) to become more professional and take on a lobbyist role with the federal government, a vision which has ultimately helped shape the organisation as it stands today.

In 2004 Mr Chalk was awarded the the Market Industries Committee Merit Award at a gala reception in front of 400 people.

In 2015, he was part of the winning bid of $30,000 from a group of Sydney Markets wholesalers at the inaugural Summer Fruit Auction.

Along with Mr Chalk, the other bidders (Joe Antico, Tony Trim, Paul Signorelli, Hugh Molloy and Tony Antico) had the honour of being the first recipients of the Lui Cicco Memorial Cup.

Mr Chalk is survived by his wife Nina, three children and seven grandchildren.

A funeral service for family and friends will be held in the Camellia Chapel at Macquarie Park Crematorium, cnr Delhi/ Plassey Roads, North Ryde, on Monday, November 8, commencing at 12 noon (AEDT).

The service will also be live streamed at this link, with the access pin number 3312.

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