CALABRIA CENTRO CULTURALE (CCC)

CCC (Calabria Centro Culturale) are a social group that commenced on September 25th, 2001. Around June of that year two friends from the group, Turo Chiodo and Luigi Villella, had a conversation about finding a way to promote the Calabrian Culture. They wanted to form a group that represented the Calabrian Region of Italy. At that particular time there were other groups that were established and many of them for years, though  they were mostly religious. The idea of a cultural group to promote a region, traditions and culture was different.

They reached out to other Italian groups to see if anyone was interested in joining them whilst still staying with their own respective groups and they had a reasonable response. Their understanding helped a lot with the constitutional rules and regulations ect and their experience helped immensely with the running of events. They had ideas of sharing cultural activities such as dinner dances, plays, traditional food picnic days and the like. Many gave input and the committee was formed. They elected a president, vice president and other members to take on certain roles. More than half the members were from other groups along with new people and fresh ideas.

Through brainstorming they came up with their first project, the holding of an expo. A project that took six months to coordinate. The expo was held in 2002 over a weekend at The Fraternity Club in Fairy Meadow, in conjunction with Italian week. At the expo they showcased traditional clothing, photos, artefacts, homewares and the many items that migrants brought with them to Australia such as bedspreads, linen and of course the `BAULE`. The baule was the trunk that held everything they had along with their precious memories. Foods were also prepared such as salami, hard bread, olives, crostoli and other fried goods such as Zeppoli, grispelli and vrascioli (a type of fried meatball).

They displayed embroidery items that were synonymous with the traditions and skills that many women were taught in Calabrian villages all over. Delicate works of doilies and even bed dolls. The exhibition was held in the Monte Carlo room at the club and they had a great turnout. There was a lot of positive feedback and many people marvelled at the wonderful old items that so many still used and that were in great condition. A few people spoke at the expo of their experience/journey coming to Australia.  One of those speakers was Domenica Risorto, whose family story was featured previously.

The inaugural president was Tullio Chiodo in 2001. The following presidents are so dated: Pina McPherson 2002, Nina Russo 2003 - 2004, Domenico Chieffe 2005 - 2007, Domenico Raschilla 2008 - 2011, Mary Zanotto 2012 -2015 and Rosa Cardamone Villella 2016 - current. 

With the success of the exposition it gave the group greater motivation and they began to plan their next event and in 2003 the CCC, decided to hold a dinner dance. They came up with the idea of a `scialata` a dialect term for great fun.  The motto of the scialata was “Nu tempu bellu non is scorda mai, mangiamu e bevimu alla salute de tutti quanti”, written in dialect it translates to” A beautiful time is never forgotten, let's eat and drink to everyone's health”.

At the first dinner dance the entertainment was a play demonstrating the Italian card game Briscola and young men who would sing, serenading a beautiful girl from the village. Each year they would focus on a different theme and the people loved it. They found it so relatable as it reminded them of their life and traditions. Many of those who performed in the scialata were also children and grandchildren of the local Italian community.

The response was overwhelming. Over the years attendance grew and between 400 - 500 people would attend yearly.  It was a wonderful time for getting together with friends, making new acquaintances and enjoying and embracing all things Calabrese. They had a DJ at the dance playing both Italian and English music. The menu for the dinner dance was strictly Calabrian of course provided by the chefs at The Fraternity Club.  The dinner dance would eventually become an annual event and they welcomed one and all, people of different nationalities, to share in their joy with the big emphasis of getting the younger ones involved.  

Throughout the year they arranged bus trips to various places such as wineries and restaurants.  They organised weekends away down the South Coast of NSW and further afar to Griffith, where the Salami Festival was held. One of the restaurants they visited, and on more than one occasion, was La Vigna, at Camden. La Vigna had placed an advertisement in the Italian newspaper La Fiamma, stating that they were having a tomato sauce making day. It was open for people to come along and watch the process and then one could purchase some sauce as well. Afterwards they dined in their restaurant. They also arranged a bus trip to nearby Leppington Valley Farm. The farm sold prickly pears, (also known as Indian figs) as well as fresh tree figs and other culinary delights. Customers could buy the freshly picked fruits.

The group would try an organise something every 3 - 4 months. Along with other Italian groups they also held a picnic day annually at Towradgi beach, attracting up to 150 people.  When Italian week was held in Wollongong you would find the committee at their popular food stall selling delicious cannoli and home made crostoli. There were two and three generations involved with CCC connecting young and old.

As a group they also raised money and donated to local hospitals, sports men and women, the cancer council and the heart foundation. The CCC at their core were all about the community and helping them out.

In 2006, on a bus trip to a Griffith for a winery/good food weekend the group came up with their most ambitious project/idea yet. They thought of creating something as a permanent structure/symbol that represented the migrant community. The migrants who left their homeland for a better life with almost nothing but a suitcase. The migrant family who toiled and worked hard to create a new beginning and chapter of their life in this new country. The group’s first idea was a park bench with an inscription on it about migrants, but after much thought they conceded it wasn’t good enough. They wanted to do something better.

With the idea of the bench not being worthy they thought about a sculpture representing the contributions made by the migrants of the Illawarra. The committee became incredibly excited and enthusiastic about the possibility. Upon returning to Wollongong from their Griffith trip, the committee brainstormed their idea. With their idea now agreed upon they approached major companies like Blue Scope, BHP and other Italian engineering groups for support and even other Italian associations, but no one was interested. Their response was: these are tough times!  

Feeling quite dismayed they then approached the Wollongong City Council and they were faced with many challenges. The council’s first concern was funding for the project. Representatives from the Wollongong Council and four people from CCC group, whom they nominated to represent them, held a meeting with Alex Darling who was the Lord Mayor. They expressed their desires and put forward their ideas about a sculpture that represented the migrants of the Illawarra.  

They had their hearts set on something typical that depicted the Italian immigrant with perhaps a suitcase tied with a rope around, perhaps wife and children.  The council didn’t seem to think this was a good idea as it could  possibly have spurred on other ethnic groups to want their own sculpture and insisted it should be a sculpture to represent all migrants. This would be more favourable. A sculpture that represented all groups. The council also insisted that a representative from other ethnic groups be involved in the process and attend all future meetings.

When it came to the decision about the sculpture it had to be put out for tender. Various people who represented a cross section of the migrant community in the region were asked to join in the meetings to discuss and plan the proposed piece of art.

The tender went out to several artists in the state. Approximately five proposals with designs and costings came back. Through much deliberation a sculpture design was agreed upon. It was a steel structure that was shaped like a boat. The cost was $60,000.00. The project artist was Nerine Martini.

How were they going to raise the funds? That was the big question. Now that they had the backing of the Wollongong City Council, a design and a plan, they approached the same companies as they did initially.  Hoping that with all the groundwork laid and with Council support now at the ready it may convince them to reconsider and to have their names associated with a sculpture depicting the history of the immigrants to the area. It could also give them community recognition. Yet, the answer remained the same and that was no.

CCC thought of other ways to try and raise the funds but with such a large amount of money it would take a long time, perhaps years. The process itself had already been years in the making and to extend it further didn’t sit well with them. Vice president of the group Domenico Chieffe made a call to his friend Tom Gallo about the project. Tom is head of the WGE Group. WGE are a local specialist construction company who have been in operation since 1976. Tom was only too happy to help and along with other groups and organisations the sculpture came to life.

As I spoke with Tom he said it was a collaboration between several companies that donated time, money, expertise and product. He also said that whilst WGE dealt with metal construction, this was the first time that they had done anything artistic. Nevertheless, they were confident in doing the project and they liaised with the design team on many occasions  The sculpture was constructed at the WGE site taking a total of six months to complete. 

From the time the tender was put out till the time the sculpture was finished it took 18 months. You will find the sculpture situated at George Dodd Reserve on the corner of Cliff Road and Georges Place Wollongong along the waterfront, overlooking the sea.

The location of the sculpture was significant as many migrants traveled to Australia by ship which was a journey of approximately 30 days. The sculpture is a frame of a ship made of steel and the majority of migrants` first  jobs in the Illawarra was in the steel industry at Port Kembla. It was a bittersweet moment for the group after ten years! Quite the project indeed! The sculpture was unveiled on Friday January 23, 2015 with the Lord Mayor of Wollongong Rev Gordon Bradbury, politicians, representatives from the local migrant groups and members of the public were all in attendance.

CCC held the scialata for thirteen years which brought together family generations from the Italian and other European communities. Aunties, Uncles, Grandparents through to Grandchildren were all there. Some of the themes for the scialata were the making of the pasta sauce, salami making day, music and traveling to Australia from Italy, where the translator on the ship informed the traveling migrants that if you see signs in the shop windows that say SALE, it doesn’t mean salt, it means that you can buy goods cheaper.

Though, as time went on the number of people attending the scialata declined and the young ones who were involved with the scialata were getting older and their lives and circumstances had changed. Some of the older generation were not as enthusiastic, some due to health or other reasons.  The last scialata was in 2016 and it was held at the The Italian Centre, Wollongong. Over 100 people attended.

After the last scialata many people had lost interest in the group.  CCC were still holding their picnic day and running their bus trips, but by 2018 it was very slow. Covid hit and everything came to a halt! The core group stayed in touch by spending time together. In 2023 CCC held a 20 year reunion of all committee members both past and present. Forty people in total attended a luncheon at The Fraternity Club. CCC are hoping to start again slowly with a bus trip to see the response and maybe, just maybe, we may see them running some great events again!

The current CCC committee are as follows:

Rosa Cardamone Villella                        - President
Domenica Risorto                                   - Vice President
Domenico Chieffe                                   - Vice President
Sara Risorto                                            - Secretary
Mary Zanotto                                          - Treasurer
Pasquale Sacco                                       - Committee
Tullio Chiodo                                         - Committee        

The current CCC committee. 

From left to right: Domenico Chieffe, Rosa Cardamone - Villella, 

Pasquale Sacco, Domenica Risorto, Mary Zanotto & Tullio Chiodo.

 Above image from the collection belonging to CCC group.

Collage of the main sculpture including the three poles.

 

 The Migration Project and it`s contributors.

 

The current sculpture.

All images in above video from the collection belonging to CCC group.

 

All the following videos are from the youtube channel belonging to Vittorio Giudice

Click on the link to view: https://www.youtube.com/@mycd1

2016

2015

 2014

 2012

2011

 2008.

 

You will find a variety of other videos of performances and photos. 

Search `scialata` on the video channel.

 https://www.youtube.com/@mycd1/featured

 

PIO LUCCARDA

Pio Lucccarda was born on the 22nd of January, 1905 in Torrebelvicino, Veneto, Italy. He arrived in Australia on the 17th of July, 1938 on the ship SS Viminale. He went straight to Tarrawanna to live with his brother Luigi. On the 4th Feb, 1940 aboard the ship Remo, another brother Arduino arrived in Australia. Traveling with him was Pio`s wife Lucia and their son Francesco, who was 5 years old. 

As WW2 had already broken out, since September 1st 1939, suddenly the Italian migrants were classified by the Government as “enemy aliens”. Six months, after arriving in Australia, Pio was interviewed by the Australian Government’s Military Police Intelligence (MPI) Section in Sydney, NSW on 20th August 1940.  This was a mandatory alien registration and application for an alien registration certificate. Pio’s certificate was granted, however, he had to complete a period on ‘Parole’ and report to the local Corrimal Police station every week.  It is unknown how long Pio and the many other Italian migrants were on Parole.  At the time of Pio’s interview with the MPI section, he stated that he was working as a “charcoal burner” for a S. Griffiths in Colo Vale, NSW.  He was working with 18 other Italian men, and they lived on a campsite there. Pio’s alien registration form concluded that “this alien appears to be friendly towards the British Empire” and he was deemed of no threat or harm to Australian Security.  This would have been an extremely frightening experience for Pio, and the many other ‘alien’ migrants at the time.

1941 Pio and Lucia`s daughter Ida was born and they all lived together with Luigi Luccarda along his brother Arduino. Ida shares the same name as her Aunty Ida, who would eventually run the Luccarda boarding house years later. Luigi’s house was always full of people - full of other Italian migrants that had settled in Tarrawanna and the surrounding suburbs.   

Pio worked as a miner like his brother Luigi. Pio and Arduino eventually started a market garden on land at Woonona.  The land was owned by the Bevans family (Bevans Real Estate).  The Bevans family knew the Luccarda’s and asked them if they would like to start up a market garden on land that they owned. Pio and Arduino took up this offer.  They would both travel to the market garden from Tarrawanna to Woonona on their push bikes. The vegetable farm employed both migrant men and women. The farm produce was sold to the local green grocers and shop owners etc, including the Fazzolare Brothers, who were fruit and vegetable merchants in Wollongong.

The Bevans family got to know the Luccarda brothers and mentioned that they were selling a site at Tarrawana. This land was close to were Luigi lived, in Paynes Lane (which later would become Caldwell Avenue). This property was on Tarrawanna Street (which later became Meadow Street). The site consisted of three blocks of land that included a timber dwelling that housed the combined General Store and Post Office. The family who ran the store lived at the back of the shop. The site was purchased by Luigi and Pio. 

Luigi put plans into the council to renovate and add extensions to the dwelling that was used for the general store and in 1949 the plans were approved. However, it would take several years before the extensions and renovations were actually completed. The land had been rezoned and the local council reclaimed a portion of the Luccarda`s land on the corner, as council needed it to widen the road and the Caldwell Avenue & Meadow Street intersection. Once the work commenced on the renovations, the Post Office was temporarily relocated across the road, still on Tarrawanna Street.

Around 1950, an existing house which was bordering the land that the Luccarda brothers purchased on Meadow Street, came up for sale. Pio purchased the home and he moved in with his family giving much relief to Luigi’s crowded house. 

Pio and Lucia started their own boarding house at their Tarrawanna home. Pio and Lucia had many boarders between 1950 and 1962. The boarders were Italian migrants that needed a place to live upon arrival to the Illawarra, and it gave them a safe and supportive place to live while they got themselves settled, working and able to move on to their accommodation.

Pio and his wife Lucia had borders in their house. The house had an enclosed verandah that accommodated several boarders. There was a bathroom situated at the back of the property for the men. A short while later Pio built a dwelling at the back of his house for additional boarders. This allowed there to be 8 - 10 men boarding at any given time. The men always came into the main house for dinner which would be prepared by Lucia. Lucia would also prepare the men a packed lunch each day for them to take to work.

Lucia worked hard.  She was busy looking after her own family and the men boarding with them. Monday would be wash day and the copper boiler was fired up. All the beds were stripped, clothing washed, ironing and some mending done. All of this was provided to the boarders.

Aunty Ida had already arrived in Australia and within a short time she and her brother Luigi set up a boarding house too. It was a separate dwelling on Luigi’s property in Caldwell Avenue, which  was a short walk away from Pio and Lucia’s home.  In the early 1950`s, a dry cleaners opened up across the street, giving the option for the men to get their dress clothes pressed and cleaned. This worked well for both of the boarding houses.  

Meanwhile on the weekend, back at Luigi Luccarda`s boarding house, men gathered together to play bocce for free and purchase a glass of wine. Pio was also there at the bocce courts using the large hand operated concrete roller to flatten and level out the courts. The bocce courts had been built years before and the men were making bocce playing at the Luccarda courts part of their weekly ritual. These gatherings were the rumblings of what would soon become the current Fraternity Bowling Club, in Fairy Meadow. 

There was also a bocce court at Cringila and members of the Italian community would frequent this court as well as Luigi Luccarda`s, at Tarrawanna. At the community hall in Cringila, they had organised gatherings, sometimes monthly, to raise money towards a newly proposed Italian club.  Francesco Luccarda (Pio`s son) would play the accordion and they would have a dance along at the hall.  People would bring a plate of food to share for supper. This was also the perfect opportunity for a get together for the local Italian community as well. People made donations and the word was spreading about the proposed club.

There was talk about purchasing some property, a few acres, near Appin or Wilton.  It was deemed too far away and then an opportunity came for a site at Fairy Meadow. Fairy Meadow was the perfect location.  The location was close to the Highway, not too far from Wollongong and in between Port Kembla and the northern suburbs of Illawarra, where the Italian community dwelt in between. For those who didn’t drive or have access to a car, the bus stop was an added bonus.  On August 29, 1953, The South Coast Social and Fraternity Club was officially opened. The Italian community now had its own club. 

Pio Luccarda had bought a car. As Luigi didn’t drive, Pio used his vehicle to gather many supplies for himself and for his brother Luigi, for both boarding houses and eventually when the reception centre was added around 1955. 

Around the early 1960`s the renovations and extensions were finished at the Tarrawanna Street site and two new shops were added. The old general store no longer existed. Soon a fruit shop would be open at the site and eventually the Post Office would return.  By 1962, Pio and Lucia Luccarda were no longer operating their boarding house. Lucia was now often helping out Aunty Ida at the Luccarda reception centre.  

Pio Luccarda passed away in 1970 and Lucia lived at her home in Tarrawanna until 2011. She moved to Marco Polo nursing home until her passing in 2012 at the age of 99.  

Both Pio and Luigi Luccarda were recognised by the Fraternity Bowling Club as Life Members. Luigi Luccarda was also made an honorary board member of the Club. The Luccarda family was honoured for their contribution to the local Italian community and the Wollongong City Council recognised the Luccarda family by naming a laneway after them - Luccarda Place, Tarrawanna. 

 

Pio and Lucia Luccarda`s boarding house in the early 1950`s. The front verandah was closed in for their first boarders.  98 Meadow Street, Tarrawanna.

Pio built a second dwelling at the back for more boarders with adjoining bathroom and laundry facilities.

All images from the collection belonging to Sue Luccarda

 

TARRAWANNA ITALO - AUSTRALIAN CO-OPERATIVE CLUB LIMITED - LUCCARDA`S PART TWO

The first story that was ever written here on the https://italiansofwollongong.blogspot.com/ was the story of the Luccarda Boarding House and Wedding Reception Centre, Tarrawanna. The story was published on Wednesday February 9, 2022. Many people frequented the centre at Tarrawanna and it became quite the meeting place for so many Italians in the community.

As I wrote more stories, Luccarda`s was mentioned many times from not only people who worked there but those who had their wedding receptions there. It certainly was well known. I was extremely fortunate to have contacted Rosalie Pirlo who is Luigi Luccarda`s niece. Her father Arduino was Luigi’s brother. Rosalie provided me with the most amazing photos of years gone by and each photo almost told it’s own story. Once I was able to put all the images together and write the story it then set the tone for the stories that followed.

Months had gone by and I received a call one day from Rosalie who had found an old certificate amongst some photos.  She had no idea what it was for but she felt the need to ring to let me know. As soon as I saw the certificate I was very surprised. I wondered about the title and was extremely curious to find out all that I could. Dated in 1955, I wondered what were the chances of learning about this information, if any, as a lot paperwork and articles from that time period were not kept!
 
So I began my research. I was able to put in a request to the Department of Fair Trading NSW to acquire information regarding the proposed Tarrawanna Italo-Australian Co-Operative Club Limited. I was then granted access to the information. All names and addresses of the members were redacted but all other information was granted with transparency.

In 1954 an application for the club was made and on 21st of March, 1955, it was certified that the Tarrawanna Italo-Australian Co-Operative Club Limited was incorporated as a `Community Advancement`.

There were seven directors of the proposed club. Five of them were from Tarrawanna, one from Balgownie and the other from Cringila. The date of appointment was January 15, 1955. There were 30 members of the club all paying one pound each. The annual fee for club membership was one pound and no member was able to have more than five shares.

The club was to be formed under a` Community Advancement Society` with its operations taking place at Payne`s Lane, Tarrawanna. It was to be a non sectarian, non political club that was open for everyone in the community.

In the STATEMENT OF FORMATION MEETING the following was stated:

“ This Society has, through persons acting as Trustees on its behalf entered into negotiations for the hire of the premises situated at Paynes Lane, Tarrawanna and it is proposed that the premises provide accommodation and recreational facilities to members which hitherto have been lacking in  Tarrawanna”. 

“The success of the Society is assured as a large number of persons have already formed an unincorporated club known as Tarrawanna Italo-Australian Club and its members have assured their support to the society”.

“The formation of the Society will provide badly needed club and recreational facilities at Tarrawanna”.

Further South from Luigi Luccarda`s home was a new club that had opened  in Fairy Meadow called The South Coast Social & Fraternity Club, (now known as The Fraternity Club). It was a family club for Italians that in the beginning predominately traded on the weekends, opening in 1953. At the  time there were no provisions at the club for meals and the legal age to drink was 21.  For those who wished to have a drink at the club had to move to a room at the back to consume their alcohol. Saturday night there was usually a band of musicians playing and on a Sunday people came to play bocce. Luigi Luccarda was offering something different.

Prior to the registration of the club, Luccarda`s was recognised as an `Unincorportated Club`, which is basically the same as a charity, though it is unsure when this officially happened, but as an `Unincorporated Club`, this made perfect sense! 

Luccarda`s was a place that evolved slowly over time. Remembering that Luigi arrived in 1922 and by 1930 he was living in his home at 90 Caldwell Avenue (previously known as Paynes Lane), Tarrawanna. Over time he made additions to his property. With the many migrants coming into the area Luigi provided them with a place to socialise as he built bocce courts at the back of his property. On top of that he also had friends and family living with him in his house as well as lodgers in his boarding house next door. There was always activity at the Luccarda place. Meals were provided, glasses of wine served from Luigi’s sprawling grapevines and the Italian community was growing its roots in the area. It was only natural that an expansion into a registered club would happen. Wedding receptions began to take place and would become one of the driving forces of the club. Luigi’s house and boarding house were at capacity and the bocce courts were frequented every weekend as a means for socialising and friendly gatherings. Slowly, over time Luigi removed some of the bocce courts to extend the dinning hall as they were outgrowing the space quickly.  As the years went by they just got busier.

According to records from The Wollongong City Council, in 1966 Luccarda`s was officially registered as a Wedding Reception Centre. The Tarrawanna  Italo-Australian Co-Operative Club Limited was now de-registered. The boarding house also continued and it would continue into the next two decades with the next two owners of the establishment.

In 1969 an application was put into council to add a restaurant to the already functioning reception centre. Application had to be made for a liquor licence as well and the property needed to be tidied and presentable for the neighbourhood. The car park had to accommodate space for no less than 43 cars with line marking, paving and drainage. Fences needed to be erected, leveling and sealing of the driveway, establishment of lawns and ornamental shrubs across the front, removal of some of the grapevines, all to council requirements.  These requirements had to met within twelve months of the date of council`s approval.  In 1971 Luigi sold the premises.

Luigi, who was born in 1899 was now 71 years old.  He passed away eight years later in 1979. He was the oldest brother and both of his younger brothers had passed away before him. His sister Ida, the last Luccarda sibling living in Australia, passed away in 1993. What a legacy they all left behind!

The Luccarda family created what many would call `Little Italy`, in the Wollongong area. They provided a home away from home for so many immigrants who came to Australia to build their new life. The celebrations of the many weddings at the club, the bocce players who gathered every weekend to socialise with their friends and buried beneath the Tarrawanna soil are the countless memories they all left behind.

                                                 

 

   Above is the list of all seven directors. The names were redacted

 List of the members, 30 in total all paying 1 pound each.  Members were not allowed to have any more than five shares each and there were to be no more than 250 members of the club. 

 

Objectives of the club above and the declaration below

 

        Certificate of Incorporation

                  Image from the collection belonging to Rosalie Pirlo

RACHELE BARBARO

On the 28th of April, 1964 Rachele`s husband Francesco Barbaro arrived in Australia on board the ship Roma. Four days later he arrived in Melbourne where he went to stay with his wife’s parents who lived in Ascot Vale. Francesco soon made his way to NSW where he got a job at the Port Kembla Steel Works.

Francesco quickly settled in and purchased a home in East Corrimal.  The house sat on a large block with a granny flat and a garage at the back.  With forward thinking, Francesco divided the house in two and rented both sections out along with the granny flat. He decided to live in the garage whilst he was on his own. He did this so he could afford the house and all the rental went towards the mortgage payment. Francesco was doing everything he could to provide security for the arrival of his wife and their three daughters.

December 17, 1965 Francesco’s wife Rachele and their three daughters, 11 year old Sara, 6 year old Domenica and 4 year old Maria, arrived in Australia aboard the ship Sydney.  When the family arrived he reconfigured the house and they all moved in. Francesco and his family were having their first Christmas in their own home.

Francesco was working hard and had established a garden with Rachele helping out. By this time Sara was in high school and Domenica and Maria were both in primary school. They had family in Sydney and would go to visit when they could. On one such trip Francesco and his family travelled to Sydney to visit them. Whilst they were there, Francesco along with his brother and brother in law went to see his brother`s new farm leaving Rachele and the girls with the relatives. They were all waiting for Francesco to arrive back, but he never did. On the way back the car that he was traveling in was hit by another oncoming. Francesco was in the back seat and was flown from the vehicle and sustained major head injuries. He survived for only 24 hours. On the 30th of January 1968 Francesco Barbaro passed away at only 37 years of age. The family were reeling and in a state of shock.

Once Rachele adjusted to the situation she had to make a decision for her family. She spoke almost no English and had a house that wasn’t paid off. Rachele had two options. She could go back to Italy or move to Victoria where all her family was.  She made the decision to move to Victoria and the children were all excited too, because they would get to stay with their cousins and be surrounded by family. The papers were ready and so were the buyers for the family home. At the last minute Rachele changed her mind. Everything that Francesco had worked for and sacrificed to get their house meant too much to her so she decided to stay and work out a way to keep the house and pay it off. Rachele was on her own with three young children.

The first thing that she did was reconfigure the house back to how Francesco had it when he rented it out. In one half of the house lived Rachele and the girls, with the other half of the house rented out to tenants along with the granny flat. It was a one bedroom half house that Rachele and the girls lived in with everyone sleeping in the same bedroom. Rachele plus one child in a bed, another child in a single bed and another in a fold out bed. It was very cramped at night, but it didn’t matter. They were all together and they were safe.

Rachele got to work and tended to the garden. Using her knowledge from her upbringing she was no stranger to hard work and living off the land.  Although Francesco was from Oppido Mamertina, Rachele and Francesco lived in Piminoro, which was situated high in the mountains of Calabria, a predominately agricultural region. It was those skills and understanding of rural life that Rachele tapped into. She knew exactly what she had to do.

Rachele grew all the vegetables that went into the family meals.  The family raised chickens in the backyard and Rachele sold the eggs as well. She would make her own soap, preserved as much as she could from the garden and cooked everything from scratch including pasta. Her resourcefulness kicked in and the family became self sufficient in so many ways.

It took a lot of courage to do what Rachele did, but she was certainly capable and kept moving forward steering her family. For a short while her parents and her younger brother came to stay, helping in what ever way they could. Rachele couldn’t read or write but that was no hindrance whatsoever. Her tenacity and patience were all that she needed to succeed, and succeed she did.

It was also hard on Rachele’s children too! Sara wore black for one year at school with Domenica and Maria wearing black and white. They were often teased because of it. Rachele wore black for ten years, before finally removing it in 1976.

The family went without many things like toys or new items, but not the necessities. With the rental income and a small Widows Pension, Rachele was able to make the house repayments. She often gave away vegetables to her neighbours as apposed to selling them. She believed in the importance of being kind and helping out. Though, through it all, the family were able to make yearly trips to Melbourne to see their relatives as they travelled by train.  

I spoke at length to Domenica about her life. She recalls one time as a young girl once when the tenants had left the house and they were paying $8 per week rent.  She re-advertised the house for $10 per week. Worried that no-one would show up, new tenants arrived to her relief. The family lived in the half house for approximately 4 years before paying it off and no longer requiring the tenants.

By the mid 80`s all her daughters were married and Rachele decided to sell her home in East Corrimal, moving to Tarrawanna to be closer to friends and family.  She moved in with her daughter Sara while her new house was being built. Once it was built she established her garden and was back to her life of living in self sufficiency. She was so happy at her Tarrawanna home and filled it with love and laughter, family and friends, good food and so many good memories. There were many family outings too and Rachele was living her life contented.  

Once a week her daughters with their husbands along with her grandchildren and eventual great grandchildren, would all get together for a wonderful family dinner. Not only family, but friends of theirs as well! As far as she was concerned the more the better. The family gatherings were her joy and the family were united and placed importance of the weekly event. Often the grandchildren would invite a friend or two with them and Rachele just loved the sharing. All the produced from her garden, the preserves and her wonderful cooking created so many wonderful memories for everyone. Those family gatherings went for years and years. Rachele was still doing a lot of her gardening up until her 80`s.

Domenica spoke about the passing of her mother. Rachele had just made her a coffee and she called out to Domenica to help her to the lounge.  Domenica noticed that Rachele was acting a bit strange and within minutes she wasn`t able to communicate with her. She made it to the hospital but passed away soon after. It was hard on the family because up until that moment, Rachele was of sound mind, even though she had a stroke two years prior. Rachele passed away May 18, 2023, she was 92. She is survived by her three daughters, seven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

Domenica said that there were so many people at her mother`s funeral and so many of them were young. All friends of the grandchildren who would often be welcomed at their family gatherings. To her family, Rachele was not just their Nonna, she was everyone’s Nonna!                         

 

  The Barbaro Family.  This is the only family photo of everyone together.

The kitchen was the heart of the home for Rachele.  

She created wonderful meals for her family and friends.

All images from the collection belonging to the Barbaro family.

OLINDO BATTOCCHIO - PAINTER

Olindo Battocchio touched down in Sydney Australia, 26 February, 1961.  He got a job at EPT with his brother Antonio, who was also working there.  Antonio had arrived in Australia in 1955 and was living in Unanderra and Olindo lived with him. A short while later, Antonio returned back home to Italy.

Olindo`s first labouring jobs with EPT were at the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Airport at Mascot. These labouring jobs went for 3 months.

Still with EPT, Olindo had switched roles and began working as an industrial painter. Olindo worked as painter in Italy so he had some experience. He was sent to Canberra on a three month work stint to paint large industrial television antennas. When Olindo came back to NSW he was assigned to the Port Kembla Steel Works as a maintenance painter, specifically doing small jobs and offices ect.

Olindo worked at EPT for approximately 13 months before he and his friend Baffo decided to start a business together painting houses.  The two of them began working and built up their business. After approximately 18 months Baffo went back to EPT and Olindo carried on. Olindo found it much easier painting houses than his previous job.

Olindo did all the work himself initially when he went out on his own and eventually the business employed two extra staff members. His house painting business was doing well and Olindo was becoming well noted for his work. On the 24th of August, 1963, Olindo married Gianna Piccolotto at the Immaculate Conception Church at Unanderra and they later celebrated their wedding reception at  Luccarda`s at  Tarrawanna. He and Gianna had three children, two sons and a daughter. Steven born in 1965, daughter Monica was born in 1967 and Robert was born in 1972.

Olindo`s children went to St Francis Xaviers Primary School in Wollongong.  He became very involved with the school and the church. He was vice  president of the school committee. Olindo was known for his good work and the fact that his brother was also a priest.

When his children attended high school he was assigned work at both Edmund Rice College and St Mary’s College. Olindo did all the school maintenance painting, the convent and the priests quarters, the new chapel and the new building at Edmund Rice. 

Olindo and his crew did ongoing painting maintenance at St Mary’s, all the while still doing house painting.  Olindo painted houses for approximately 20 years.

Olindo was asked to do a commercial painting job, something he had never done before. He took up the offer and the customer was very pleased with his work. It was soon that Olindo change from domestic house painting to commercial premises. Here he seemed to thrive and more commercial work came in. Bigger projects and big houses.

Trading under the name of Aymar Pty Ltd his first commercial painting job was the Illawarra Master Builders Club in Wollongong. Olindo and his team painted the club inside and out.  Other places that he and his team worked on in the area were the Italian Centre Wollongong, the renovation of the Corrimal Catholic Church and the Unanderra Immaculate Conception Church. At Berkeley he worked on the Retirement Village and Nursing Home and also a Church.

One of the biggest jobs that he did was the Garrawarra Nursing home at Waterfall, NSW.  The nursing home had begun major renovations. The job took him six months to complete. He was also doing apartment blocks with some of them being nine stories high, either newly painted or re-painting.  He also did work at the Wollongong University which was ongoing for 18 years and he repainted government schools.

He worked on the new library at Thirroul in 2009 and after painting his last block of units after 30 years, Olindo officially retired in 2010. After he retired from painting he focused on the renovation of his home in North Wollongong, which took him 12 months to complete. Once the renovations were complete, Olindo began sketching and was contemplating taking an art class.

It was remarkable to me was when I visited Olindo at his home in North Wollongong. We had a lovely conversation and he expressed how he felt the desire to try his hand at painting on canvas. He went along to one class but felt hindered. So he just began working on his own, painting things that he saw and what appealed to him. He would get inspiration from various sources.

His paintings are scattered around his house and they are all diverse and bursting with colour and vibrance with many telling a story of their own.  Personally, I think that they are worthy of being exhibited. They are quite unique. Olindo said that painting relaxes him and that he enjoys the time alone and creating art. Olindo mostly paints in the afternoon and in the evening when the place is quiet and he has the feeling to pick up the brush. He also said that he has no set time, he just paints as he is feeling good.

I originally contacted Olindo as I was looking for information about his brother Gino. Gino, who we featured in an earlier story was talented and creative with metal and it turns out that Olindo had his own creative talents too, that expanded after his retirement. His garage is his art studio and is it just a delight to bear witness to.  

 

 

Olindo with one of the large projects that he did.

 The tree in Olindo`s backyard. Olindo painted this to keep as a memory before it was cut down, as it did some damage to a neighboring property.

All images from the collection belonging to Olindo Battocchio

GINO BATTOCCHIO - MECHANIC/METAL WORKER

At 26 years of age, aboard the ship Toscana, Gino Battocchio left Venice April 23, 1952 and arrived in Freemantle, Western Australia May 27.  He disembarked in Melbourne, Victoria June 7th. From there he moved to the Bonegilla Migrant Camp. On the 2nd of August he moved to the Commonwealth Hostel, Unanderra, NSW.

Gino was the eldest of eleven brothers and the family were struggling in Italy.  This was the reason why Gino came to Australia to be able to work and earn good money to send back home. Gino’s fiancé Renata Baldissieri remained in Italy. She would have to wait a few years before Gino returned home. Gino wrote to Renata constantly never wavering from his plans.

Gino’s profession was listed as Mechanic/Turner. He began working on August 4th factory in Unanderra, `Australian Iron and Steel` that was part of the Port Kembla Steel Works. After a short stint living at Flagstaff Road, Warrawong he soon moved to Unanderra where he rented a house in Grace Street.

Gino was very creative and loved to take many photos and he learnt to develop and print them as well. Though his incredible gift was working with metal and he was a master craftsman. Gino created amazing designs and soon they would be on display for the public to see.

In 1954 the Immaculate Conception Church was officially opened in Unanderra. Many people donated items to commemorate and Gino built and donated a Lectern of the Altar to the value of 50 pounds at the time.  It was made of sheet metal with semi-gold plated bronze frames and fretwork that he machined. He also made a chalice and the gates of the altar. These works he carried out in the garage of the rectory in Unanderra. Gino became quite acquainted with the church.

On the 10th of November, 1955 his brother Antonio arrived in Australia traveling on the ship Surriento. Antonio lived with his brother Gino in Grace Street and he soon got a job at the Port Kembla Steel Works. 

Across the road from his rented house at number 8 Grace Street was a house own by the church at number 3. It was situated at the back of the Unanderra Church that faced the Princes Highway. Gino rented out a room, moving out of the rented house at number 8. Gino, whilst still working was always dedicated to his metal creations.

In 1959 Gino began working on a new piece for the Immaculate Conception Church at Unanderra.  It was the Tabernacle and it was truly beautiful. He noted that on Holy Thursday, it was almost complete. September 27 of the same year Gino Battocchio returned to Italy after staying in Australia for seven years. Brother Antonio returned five months later.  Gino began working in the Madras shoe factory in Bassano del Grappa as a maintenance officer for the production machines. But his intent to repatriate was very decisive. In 1960 he started, in his own basement, his first independent business.

Soon after Antonio`s  arrival in Italy the two of them had their house built with two apartments. They immediately began working on the basement garage that became their first workshop. In 1961 Gino married Renata. Renata began working as the secretary for the company `BB OFFICINE BATTOCCHIO`.

Prior to leaving Italy, Gino began working at the age of 14 at the F.IIi Arise company in Bassano del Grappa. At the age of 17 he moved to the Gasparatto shoe factory where he learned the trade of maintenance mechanic with his future father-in-law who was a master mechanic. Knowing the shoe industry and manufacturing Gino created and patented machines that fastened the soles and the uppers. These machines were created for shoe factories and quickly became popular.  Gino and Antonio built an adjoining workshop as they needed to expand. The machines were exported over time to nearly 50 countries around the world. Antonio worked with Gino for 15 years.

In 1975 Gino and Renata built a new house. In addition to the shoe machines Gino carried out other precision mechanical work for various companies including those in the goldsmith sector. Gino’s son Andrea would end up working with him.

Gino ran his factory with his son Andrea till he retired in 2005. The shoe machines along with the patents were sold off and are still in circulation today. Gino Battocchio passed away on March 12, 2010 and he was 84 years old. Renata passed away ten years later on March 19, 2020. Renata was 82.

Gino Battocchio certainly left an incredible legacy behind. He is survived by his three children Riccardo, Andrea and Cristina, two Grandchildren as well as several siblings. He visited Australia another 3 times with Renata who got to see Australia, the country that he so often wrote to her about and the stories that she heard. Gino had many fond memories of his time here. In 1993 he was Knighted by the Italian government for his services to the community. He was also a local councilor and was instrumental with the launching of the group ANEA.  `Associazione Nazionale Emigrati ex-Emigrati Australia Americhe`. The ANEA association was dedicated to cultural and social purposes for immigrants and repatriates. They are still operating today with many members world wide.

Gino has blessed us with his marvelous metal works which are still in use and on display at the Immaculate Conception Church, Unanderra. Gino had strong ties to the church. Two of his brothers became priests as well. Egidio who was of the Scalabrini order went to Brazil and Tarcisio who went to Ecuador is of the Salesiano order.

Lastly, his son Monsignor Riccardo Battocchio, is the president of the Association of  Italian Theology and the Rector of the Almo Collegio Capranica in Rome. It is a college of seminarians and young priests. He also took on the role of Special Secretary of the Synod of Bishops 2021-2024.

As I spoke with daughter Cristina we had several conversations in the middle of the night and I was just amazed at the story of her father. I first found Gino’s name in a newspaper article from 1956 that was brought to my attention from the staff at the Wollongong Library. From there I began my search and found connection after connection. Without Cristina and the Wollongong Library this story would not exist. My heartfelt thank you goes to them both.

I would like to share a moment of personal thought here. As a person growing up in Australia there were times when I was discriminated against for my ethnicity. Both of my parents were immigrants and even though they had moments of discrimination too, they often spoke about the great opportunities that Australia gave them and the wonderful people that they met along the way.

I feel the same way and do not see myself as a victim at all.  The reason that I write this is for you, the reader, to take a moment and think about the many immigrants who came here. Gino was obviously an incredibly talented and creative individual who gave so much here to Australia and his beloved Italy. Yet, so many times I heard ` just an immigrant` from the mouths of many. As if `just an immigrant` were those who filled in the gaps because Australia didn’t have the population and needed people for its growth.

How many New Australians as they were often called, were never able to share their gifts and talents because they were thought of as second class citizens? We have been so blessed to have had the opportunity to bring in those people who shared a part of themselves with good intention and honesty of who they were. How courageous they were in the face of hardship as well as non acceptance by some.  

Gino came here and worked as a mechanic yet his creative side yearned to be expressed and we are so very blessed that it did. Gino is still here in Australia and in Italy too. His legacy is strewn throughout the world and it truly is wonderful!

West Wollongong Technical College Exhibition 26/08/1956.  Gino with his creations

 and some admirers of his amazing works.

 

 

 

  Gino doing what he does best.

 

 

 

Gino received a Knighthood from the Italian Government.

Gino`s patented machines that were exported world wide.

 

 

 

All images from the collection belonging to Cristina Battocchio
 

 

 

 

Images from the collection belonging to Cristina Battocchio 

with granted permission of video footage

of the Immaculate Conception Church Unanderra

ILARIO RACCANELLO

Ilario Raccanello arrived in Australia June 3rd, 1934 on the ship Romolo.  Travelling with him was his younger brother Giovanni who was only 4 years old. They were two of six brothers from Crespano del Grappa, Province of Treviso.  All six brothers were orphans. 

Ilario and Giovanni, after landing in Sydney, headed to Griffith NSW to live with their Aunty.  They were getting ready for a new life in Australia. Ilario was 17 when he arrived and soon got a job working on a farm.

On August 17, 1937 brother Giacinto arrived in Australia on the ship Viminale.  He headed straight to Griffith to be with his brothers Ilario and Giovanni. Giacinto also began working on a farm. Prior to Giacinto arriving, a young lady by the name of Ivonna Lazzarotto arrived in Australia April 27,  aboard the ship Ormonde. Ivonna was young girl who was also heading to Griffith.

By 1938 Ilario was courting Ivonna and went to work in Innisfail Queensland, cutting cane.  There he was able to make some good money before returning home to Griffith. In 1940 he married Ivonna. 

In 1941 Ilario was a guest at a wedding and he took his camera to take photos of the festive occasion. Ilario`s friend cautioned him about taking the camera, as the war had broken out and Italy and Australia were not exactly the best of friends. Accusations were made and people came to the wrong conclusions and subsequently Ilario was interned for 12 months in 1942. The authorities thought he was a spy.

After twelve months he returned back to Griffith to his wife. Ilario and his and brother Giacinto then purchased a farm. They worked hard and were well known in the area as the Raccanello Brothers. The farm was doing well and they grew a variety of fruits such as plums, grapes, quinces, watermelon, rock melon as well as carrots.

In 1947 the family grew with the birth of Ilario and Ivonna`s son Ermes. Two years later, in 1949 another brother arrived.  Onorio Raccanello also came to Griffith but didn’t stay too long.  Eventually he moved to Stanthorpe where he settled with his future wife Emma. Now there were four brothers living in Australia. 

In 1957 IIario had hurt himself from the physically demanding work on the farm and was unable to continue in the same capacity.  So he and Giacinto made the decision to move on and sell the farm. Ilario then got a job at the rice mills and Giacinto moved to Cootamundra where he went into partnership with a friend and bought a fruit shop.

In 1959 Illario and Giacinto purchased a business in Wollongong.  There were two businesses that they looked at. One was the Balgownie Hotel, but Ivonna didn’t want young Ermes growing up in that environment and the other business was a Guest/boarding house in Wollongong. They also had friends in the area.

The guest house was called Ronoli Guest House and it was situated at 107 Corrimal Street, Wollongong. The building was next door to the Fazzolare Building that faced Crown Street. The building in it’s early days was a boarding house and then it became a convalescent hospital up until the late 1950`s. It was the only private hospital at the time between Milton and Sutherland. All the other private hospitals had closed down due to staff shortages.

The guest house structure consisted of two buildings that were connected via a large majestic mahogany staircase. It was two stories with long corridors and large rooms for accommodation. The guests had their own communal kitchen to cook in and were allocated their own lockers to store their personal items. There were also communal bathrooms on each level.  There was a large lounge area where guests could relax and socialize.

The guests had to do their own personal washing in the communal laundry though all the housekeeping was done by Ivonna.  The source of heat for the guest house was a coal fired burner that had to be filled every day.  Trucks would deliver the coal to the property and the driveway was often filled with coal ready to be shovelled for usage.

Illario and his family along with Giacinto lived in their own separate quarters on the lower floor of the building that had separate access. Their quarters consisted of two bedrooms, kitchen, dining, bath and lounge room. Those who stayed at the guest house had their own keys to enter the building at their own discretion. All the guests were single men, women were not allowed.

Ermes was 12 years old when his family purchased the guest house.  He has lots of fond memories and said that he loved all the different people who used to reside there.  There was a professional artist (painter), a wardsman at Wollongong Hospital, a signal man on the railways, another man who worked at the Steel Works and a casual/permanent truck driver who would stay for a week at a time in between jobs yet booked the room permanently so it would always be available to him. There was even a professional card player/gambler. He would play cards all night and sleep all day.  There were usually up to 8 men staying at the guest house at once.  

Whilst still living at the guest house, Ermes got his first full time job at an Italian Delicatessen in Fairy Meadow when he was 15 years old.  He worked there for 3 years. After approximately 7 years of running the Ronoli Guest House the Raccanello family sold it.

After the sale of the guest house the family purchased a house in Campbell Street, Wollongong as well as a small block of units. Some of their neighbours in Campbell Street were local Italian fishermen from Wollongong Harbour.  Ermes began a new job working at the deli in David Jones.

Ilario got a job at the Steel Works as a leading hand gardener. He was also a regular at the Fraternity Club where he would meet with friends to play cards, darts and bocce. He was asked to maintain the Bocce courts and also do some gardening at the club.

In 1969 Ermes married Dianne Luke whom he met whilst working at David Jones. Their wedding reception was held at Luccarda`s reception centre at Tarrawanna with 180 guests. All four Raccanello brothers were there to celebrate.

During the time that Ermes was working at David Jones he got a casual job at the Fraternity Club, working at night, which soon lead to a permanent position at the club, having worked there for 6yrs. In 1973 Ermes left the Fraternity Club and began work selling, repairing and installing Poker Machines where he worked till he retired in 2012.

Giacinto was working at Transfield. Ilario had left the Steel works and was working as a gardener at Wollongong Hospital where he finished out his retirement. By now the Campbell Street house had been sold and Ilario, Ivonna and Giacinto were living in Fairy Meadow.

Ilario fell ill and had batted cancer for nearly 5 years. It was extremely difficult for the family and Ivonna was constantly caring and nursing him. On the 28th of November 1987 Ilario Raccanello passed away. He was 71. Brother Onorio passed away in 2003.

Ivonna wasn’t well herself and she moved in with Giacinto who took care of her, as she had dementia. He was there for her when she needed him. After many years Giacinto passed away on October 12, 2008. He was 87. Four years later Ivonna passed away March 19. She was 90 years old and at the age of 91, youngest brother Giovanni passed away 29 October, 2021.

Ilario and Ivonna are survived by their three grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Here was another story where the boarding house played a pivotal role at the time.  Many migrant men and even non-migrant men relied heavily on them. They enabled so many a place of refuge and affordable accommodation. There were dozens of boarding houses at one stage, very few remain today. The Ronoli Guest house eventually was demolished making way for retail development.

 

Ermes and his dog Bobby at the back of the Guest House.

The Ronoli Guest House.

The Four Brothers at the wedding of Ermes.

Left to right: Onorio, Giacinto, Giovanni and Ilario

All images from the collection belonging to Ermes Raccanello