A funeral service was held today at Springvale Cemetery for
trader Michael Presser. Michael passed away this week after being rushed to
hospital last Saturday.
At today’s funeral service the Rabbi talked of Michael
Presser’s passion and commitment to his family and his religion. This came as
no surprise to the traders who attended the service because these were
certainly qualities he displayed as a Trader and a Traders Representative at
QVM. Few people exhibit the sort of passion that Michael had for his beloved
market and even fewer understand the essential ingredient of the market’s
existence.
As far back as the 2002 QVM Master Plan submissions, Michael
was writing that the market was not its buildings and alleyways - it was not
the market management or the City Council - it was the market traders. It was
the traders who provided the core reason for the market’s existence (a place of
business) and who added the intimacy, excitement, and entrepreneurial spirit
that kept customers coming back. He was passionate about empowering traders and
letting them determine a bright future through commercial freedom.
Michael was a powerful character and argued his point of
view quite forcefully. In various aspects of his life he applied the role of
teacher. Michael asked that we reject
the concept of market re-development and embrace “renewal” and “restoration”. Some may
think that this is playing with words but renewal and restoration imply retaining
the ingredients that are at the heart of an organisation and then carefully
considering how to make them better. This view could be one of Michael’s more
important legacies as we move forward.
Have Your Say – click here.
COMMENTS:
08/06/2013 17:20:27 Michael "Michael RIP and thank you for all the years you stood up for us traders at the Queen Victoria Market." Annette Boere
COMMENTS:
08/06/2013 17:20:27 Michael "Michael RIP and thank you for all the years you stood up for us traders at the Queen Victoria Market." Annette Boere