A message from Rob Velletri regarding John Rubino

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart I share with you that our much-loved friend and highly respected former Chairman, John Rubino, passed away in Perth on Monday 16 January surrounded by his loved ones. 

John touched so many lives. Many of us have been lucky enough not only to work with him, but to also call him a friend. The impact John had on so many is unlike anything else I’ve come across in my lifetime. He will be deeply missed. 

As you can imagine, this is a very sad time for John’s family, and for many of our team who have worked with him over the last 30 years at Monadelphous. 

We said goodbye to John and celebrated his extraordinary life with a guard of honour at our Perth headquarters, where we welcomed John home to the Monadelphous Perth head office for the final time in full funeral cortege, where he travelled to our offices with his family – his wife Gail, three daughters and their partners, and John’s three sisters. Honouring the two countries closest to John’s heart, the flags of Italy and Australia were flown high as a 700-strong Monadelphous crowd observed a minute’s silence and waved goodbye. 

A Requiem Mass was held at Saint Patrick’s Basilica in Fremantle, Western Australia. Attended by many Monadelphous employees, past and present, The Mass was followed by a moving wake at Fraser’s in Kings Park, where guests were invited to share memories and stories that captured John’s essence, his legendary negotiation skills, his adventurous spirit and how he made the very most out of life. 

John touched so many lives at Monadelphous and beyond, and his legacy will continue through those who knew him. Farewell dear friend. Our memories will live forever. 

Celebrating the life and the legend

Calogero Giovanni (John) Battista Rubino was born in Delia, a small agricultural town in Sicily, Italy, on 26 June 1945. 

The only son, with three younger sisters, John made the tough decision to leave his tight knit family in Italy at the age of 21 in search of adventure, arriving in Australia on 6 September 1966 with two mates and just $300 in his pocket.  

From 1966 to 1970 John worked throughout the country, gaining experience in a range of roles across the structural and civil sectors, from rigging and surveying, right through to project management. Eventually basing himself in Western Australia, John found himself even further from home, in Kununurra, appointed as the site manager on the Ord River Dam project.  

Here John began building his empire. In partnership with three great friends, John formed Rubino and Company, which later became the successful United Construction Group (today, United Group Limited). So reflective of the way John did business, the United partnership was built on a trusting handshake with no signed agreement between them. All four were equal partners from the outset with John Trettel, Sam Castelli, Charlie Bontempo and John ending up working successfully together for more than 26 years.  

In 1987, John and his partners bought into Monadelphous, only to discover the Company was insolvent. He went on to describe this as the ‘best mistake he ever made’. With an initial six-month commitment to stand in as Monadelphous’ Chairman and Managing Director, John ended up leading the Company for more than 30 years.  

Under John’s exceptional leadership, Monadelphous’ fortunes turned around. The Company become a place where people were proud to come and work, that suppliers had confidence in, and that customers knew and respected.  

During John’s time at the helm, Monadelphous was trusted with the construction and maintenance of some of the largest and most complex projects and facilities across Australia, as well as internationally. This includes projects with BHP, Rio Tinto, Woodside, Chevron, Shell, Origin, INPEX, Newcrest, South32 and Codelco, amongst others.  

The Company John helped build has grown to employ more than 8,000 people across its operations in Australia, Chile, China, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines, and it has reached a market capitalisation of more than $2.5 billion, even entering the ASX100 in 2013.  

John’s business acumen was breathtaking, and his ability to form long-term trusting and mutually rewarding relationships is the stuff of legend. With his thick Sicilian accent and his cracking sense of humour, John was a born leader, with enormous charisma, and an ability to inspire people like no other. A mentor to many, he was incredibly generous and a winner fair and square. He was the best kind of winner, because when John won, everyone around him won.  

It goes without saying though that John’s proudest achievement of all is much closer to home, his family – his beloved wife, three daughters and grandchildren.  

John’s memory will always be present in our corridors and in the stories of our people.  

We will continue to do you proud, John. 

Sharing your condolences

John’s family has asked we capture our many fond memories of John to share with future Rubino generations. A memories book is now available at Perth Reception. Anecdotes, stories, photos and reflections can also be sent to the Communications inbox, to be collated and shared with the family. 

Moments such as these can bring to light many different feelings and experiences. A reminder that our Employee Assistance Program, People Sense, is available for free, confidential support. To book, visit their website or call on 1300 307 912 at any time.