A Story Built on Family,
Business & Community
Honouring the past, celebrating the present, and building a legacy for future generations.
From Calabria to Griffith
Early Family Roots
Roy Spagnolo was born in 1962 and raised in Griffith. His father Giuseppe arrived from Reggio Calabria in southern Italy and settled in Griffith in 1959 after meeting and marrying Rita Calabria in Sydney.
Rita’s family had already established deep roots in the Riverina region. Giuseppe was a skilled tailor from the village of Plati, while Roy’s grandfather Rocco, a World War I veteran, was honoured with the prestigious Cavaliere title.
The Spagnolo family’s journey to Australia was one of sacrifice, determination and resilience, with all eleven children of Rocco and Domenica eventually making the move across the world in search of a better future.
A Pioneer Spirit
Building a Life in the Riverina
On Roy’s mother’s side, the Calabria family were among the region’s early pioneers. Domenic Calabria arrived in Griffith in 1921, becoming one of the first southern Italian settlers in the area.
Through years of hard work and perseverance, the family saved enough to purchase Farm 1283 in 1938.
"They slept in a hessian-walled house with a dirt floor and slowly, through extraordinary effort, saved enough to buy Farm 1283. It is the land on which Westend Wines still stands today."
Family, Culture and Community
Growing Up Between Two Worlds
Roy grew up balancing the traditions of his Italian heritage with life in regional New South Wales. Like many children of migrant families, he experienced moments of wanting to fit in.
"Salami, you know, people would make fun of it. When you went to school, I'd swap it with someone who had a Vegemite sandwich."
Looking back, Roy reflects that the things he was once embarrassed by became some of the things he is most proud of today.
Lessons That Last
Learning Business from the Ground Up
From the age of eight, Roy worked at the family winery, helping crush grapes, sell wine and interact with customers. Without realising it at the time, these early experiences shaped his future philosophy on business.
"Business is built on relationships, not transactions."
The values of hard work, trust and personal connection would later become the foundation of his professional success.
Roy Spagnolo & Associates
Building a Business and Giving Back
In 1997, Roy established Roy Spagnolo & Associates from a converted house beside the old Jondaryan Club in Griffith.
Today, the firm employs more than 40 staff and serves clients across agriculture, wine, hospitality, retail, healthcare and many other industries.
One of Roy’s proudest achievements has been helping establish the Casella Spagnolo Private Hospital, now St Vincent’s Private Community Hospital Griffith, which opened in 2016.
"People needed medical services close to home. I could afford to fly to Sydney, but not everyone could - and why should they miss out?"
A Legacy Continues
Family and the Next Chapter
At the centre of Roy’s life are his wife Lisa and daughter Olivia.
Lisa has played a strategic role throughout the growth of the family business, while Olivia’s arrival was nothing short of miraculous. Born two months premature and weighing less than a kilogram, she spent months in hospital before eventually coming home.
Today, Olivia has joined the family business, continuing a story that began in Calabria more than seventy years ago.
The Spagnolo family came to Australia searching for a better life. Through hard work, generosity and a commitment to community, they helped build opportunities not only for themselves, but for countless others around them.
That is the Spagnolo story - and it is far from finished.