Yanchep businessman, Tony Villanova, was named as the City of Wanneroo’s Mayor’s Visionary Business Person Award for 2011 at the recent Wanneroo Business Association’ business awards dinner.
Mayor Tracey Roberts said: “Tony Villanova started his working life as a trainee accountant at C.P. Bird and Associates. He left to become the administrator of three nursing homes.
“After the business was sold, he left and started working with his father running his business. They built the Wanneroo Tavern which they opened in 1976.
“Anthony ran the business which, at one point had five hotels and taverns. The Wanneroo Tavern was sold in 1996.
“During this stage in his life he was a player, president and life member of the Wanneroo football club, member of Wanneroo Rotary and a keen supporter and sponsor of many of the other clubs in Wanneroo.
“He opened the Seven Mile Tavern in Balcatta, which he ran until the opportunity of a more diverse business in the Yanchep National Park came up.
“He took over the lease of the Inn on the December 1999, and has developed the Inn into a thriving function, wedding, accommodation and weekend getaway hotel.
“He took up golf after football and has gone on to be the President of the Wanneroo Golf Club, a member of the Governors Golf Team and a Member of the Senior Golfing Society of Australia.
Tony told the Sun City News that he was surprised to see his mother and some other close family friends at the WBA function and thought there was a bit more going on, than the tourism award they had nominated for.
Mr Villanova said he was overwhelmed with the award and missed a few points he should have made in his acceptance speech at the Wanneroo Business Association function.
Tony said he started working with his father in 1973/74. He recalls that it was his parents who took all the risks and building the Wanneroo Shops was the biggest risk of them all - “They worked very hard to get established.”
Tony, who was born and grew up in Wanneroo, can recall attending school in Perth and many fellow students couldn’t believe he travelled from Wanneroo to Perth CBD and home, daily just to go to school.
As a teenager, Tony was a life saver at Mullaloo Surf Life Saving Club, played Aussie Rules football for Wanneroo and spent his time in and around Wanneroo.
Tony said: “I really haven’t thought about what my family has done over the years, but also what we’ve done at the Yanchep Inn with my family, Judy, Jon and Amy.”
“We’ve been very fortunate to have key staff stay with us for a long time.”
Steve ‘Doggy’ Doggit, has worked for Tony for nearly 15 years, through three different businesses.
Several other staff have worked at the Yanchep Inn for five years, or more.
Since taking over the Yanchep Inn, a heritage listed building, they have had to replace the ceilings, carpets, plumbing and electrics, as well as building the Atrium and Lakeside Motel complex.
The Yanchep Inn offers conference facilities, weddings and functions and accommodation. These facilities are built around the meals and snacks provided at the Inn.
Congratulations Tony, you truly are a person of vision.
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