A recent comment on a Newsport article by a man from Buenos Aires sparked our interest, so we decided to find out a bit more about Vicente Ferrarella, who, along with his partner, will soon be calling Port Douglas home.

Below is the story of Vicente in his own words. It's an interesting read...oh, and keep an eye out for his Argentinean Tango lessons when he comes to town in May.

Dear Newsport Readers

I was told by many people that my background is anything but boring.

In 1950 after the Second World War my parents migrates from Italy to Argentina. Since my early days at school it was clear to me that sport attracted me. I’ve been involved in soccer, boxing and gymnastics. 

By the age of 16 I began power lifting and bodybuilding and it was clear to me it would be my career and since then winning all tournaments in the country.

I got married in 1967 and have two daughters. In 1977 we attended an interview to migrates to Australia whit some assistance from the Government, and we were accepted as a migrants with the condition to stay in the country for two years if we were interested to obtain the permanent residence.

We went back to Argentina after two years but we lasted only 8 months there, we went back to Melbourne to settle and became Australian citizens.  

While with my family in Australia we were visiting our parents in Argentina every couple of years. My parents passed away almost 20 years ago.

At the beginning in Australia I study English, and to practice the language I worked as a bus conductor first. Later I was in Transit Patrol office till I decide to come back in bodybuilding competition by 1993 this time in Australia. 

In 1995 I got a job as a personal trainer at Re Creation Health Club, the biggest health club in Melbourne and I was very busy working up to 10 hours a day with clients.

In 1999 come my divorce with all the stress related to it, but at the same time I discovered the Tango. Strange choice to me, for years in Argentina I have had no interest on it.  

That event changed my life again. It was going to become my second passion in which I invested a lot of time learning and practicing with the best teachers in Buenos Aires.