00:00Tying his apron for the final time.
00:05I've done the 50's, I don't want to do 51 or 52, 50 is beautiful, nice.
00:10One of Pellegrini's longest serving staff has become an institution in his own right.
00:16Rocky's part of the furniture here.
00:18He's Rocco, down the end of the bar with his moustache and a big smile saying welcome to everyone.
00:22The cafe had one of the first espresso machines in Melbourne when it opened in 1954.
00:2820 years later, Rocco steps behind the counter as a 21 year old, fresh from the shores of southern Italy, and he never left.
00:37This is my second home. I spend more time here than at home.
00:41The job has been filled with the highs of shaking hands with celebrities like Russell Crowe and meeting the love of his life.
00:48I said to Marie, you do the job in the kitchen, I do the job in the bar.
00:52You do the cooking, I serve the customer. And we worked together for 34 years.
00:57But he's also endured tragedy.
00:59His long time boss, Sisto Malaspina, died in a knife attack on Bourke Street in 2018.
01:06Number one. Sisto for me is like a brother.
01:09Now he says it's time to slow down.
01:12Today, my last day, you see me and you'll never see me again.
01:18But not everyone is so sure.
01:21I'll give him two months because I'm still waiting to hear what he plans to do with all of his free time.
01:26Last week, the City of Melbourne presented Rocco with an award for his 50 years of service.
01:31But he says the conversation and smiles from customers will always be his true prize.
01:37Thank you very much.
01:39The end of an era for one of Melbourne's most steadfast servers.
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