THE DE PERON FAMILY

 In 1961 the De Peron Family arrived in Australia aboard the ship Aurelia.  Giuseppe with wife Vittorina and their 8 year old daughter Anna, arrived in Melbourne, Victoria.  The De Peron family paid their own way to come to Australia bringing their worldly possessions with them in five large trunks.  They also were fortunate to have had a good amount of money which helped immensely!

Initially, Vittorina (whom everyone knew as Vittoria) didn’t want to come to Australia with Giuseppe. She wanted him to come first, find a place and a job then send for his family.  Vittoria`s mother was not so sympathetic to her hopes and told her that as a wife, she must follow her husband.

Traveling on a cattle train the family were taken to Bonegilla Migrant Camp, near Wodonga.  Back in Italy, Giuseppe had worked in a factory that made ladies stockings so he thought that Melbourne would have more opportunity.  Sadly, this was not the case, as in 1961 there was high unemployment.  There were even riots within the camp from frustrated migrants who were desperate to find work even though part of their travel agreement was the promise that employment would be allocated.

Relatives in Italy had contacted their cousin Domenico informing him that the family were in Victoria. Domenico had arranged accommodation within the house he was dwelling and made provisions for Giuseppe, Vittoria and Anna to come and stay with him.  He traveled to Bonegilla by train to bring the family to NSW.  Domenico filled out all the necessary paper work at the Migrant Camp and was now responsible for them.  The family only stayed at Bonegilla for three days.  Together they caught the train back and settled in the boarding house at Illawarra Road, Port Kembla.

Within two months Giuseppe acquired a job at the Steel Works thanks to Domenico who helped him find employment.   Giuseppe began working as a labourer and within a short while the family moved into a small two room apartment.  The apartment had a kitchenette along with a shared bathroom.

Five months later, in November 1961, Giuseppe and Vittoria purchased their first home in Warrawong.  It was a two bedroom fibro house on a quarter acre block.  Giuseppe didn’t drive so the location was good as it was close to the Steel Works and sometimes Giuseppe would ride his pushbike to work.

Around 1962, Vittoria got a job at the Capri Restaurant in Port Kembla. Working from 4pm - 10pm her job involved waitressing and working in the kitchen.  The Comelli Family owned the Capri Restaurant at the time.  Vittoria was a bit shy, but was happy to have a job.  She was glad she was contributing to the family.  Anna would often walk past the restaurant on the way home from school at St Patrick`s, in Port Kembla.  Her mother would give her a drink or something to eat.  Vittoria worked for approximately 18 months at the Capri.

Whilst Vittoria was working at the Capri, Giuseppe was actively involved with local soccer.  You would often find him down at the oval training and playing soccer with the many young, enthusiastic Italian soccer players.  He carried on doing this for many years and would become one of the first club president for Port Kembla FC in 1966.  

In 1964 Giuseppe and Vittoria took out a large loan for 10,000 pounds, which was a lot of money at the time.  They purchased an existing delicatessen in King Street, Warrawong.  They were able to rent out their home as the delicatessen had a flat upstairs and so the family lived above.   Anna recalls how as a young 11 year old she was translating at the Solicitors office for all the legal papers for her parents to sign.

Having the shop changed Vittoria and she really came into her own.  She loved being her own boss, running the shop her way.  She was a natural born business woman.  Giuseppe and Vittoria purchased the deli from Giorgio Contarin.  Giorgio`s brother Luigi was running his own deli with his wife Irma, in Wentworth Street, Port Kembla.  

They renamed the deli G & V De Peron Delicatessen. Giorgio worked with the De Peron`s for one month to help them learn about the business and how it functioned etc.  They kept the same staff and the same suppliers.  They sold lots of Italian grocery lines and general groceries as Giorgio did, that also included small goods.  They even sold wine, beer and spirits, silently of course.

When Giorgio was running the deli, he did quite a lot of home deliveries.  This was a huge part of the business.  Giuseppe continued on with the home deliveries when he purchased the deli, as the delivery van was included. He would even do runs up into the southern highlands.  They had customers from as far as Robertson and Bowral.

As the business began to grow they upgraded their slicers, they purchased a coffee grinder and a parmesan grinder too.  They were also selling kitchen ware.  G & V deli even sold bomboniere.   Anna often helped out in the shop, as she did from the get go and they built up quite a loyal following.

Prior to the deli, Vittoria was attending free English language classes and Anna would help her practice her homework.  But with the deli Vittoria almost stopped using English as most of her customers were Italian as were most of the sales reps.   On the occasion when they had an Australian sales rep she would do a basic order in English.  Giuseppe’s English was much better as he was working with other Australians when he was at the Steel Works.

The deli was just the thing that Vittoria was waiting for and she ran the deli like she had been doing it forever.   She knew how to treat the customers, she knew when all the different Italian groups would come in and accommodated to them accordingly.  Often, when it was quiet, she would let the other staff run the shop whilst she would take a customer upstairs and share a coffee and a much needed conversation for some of the women who were struggling and often lent them money if they needed it.  Vittoria became their confidant.

Vittoria and Giuseppe both ran the shop with Giuseppe being more behind the scenes.   Vittoria was more than capable of running the deli on her own and she did it wonderfully. Vittoria was front of house and blossomed in the role.

In 1968, Giuseppe got a job in the mines.  He was very fortunate that he worked swing shifts and was able to accommodate all the home deliveries for the deli.  They continued with their home deliveries right up until they sold the deli and all home deliveries were free of charge.

Around 1976/77 there were shifts in the retail industry.  More supermarkets were opening, offering continental grocery lines as well as other delicatessens opening nearby.  It was for this reason that they scaled down the deli and just focused on the small goods and Italian pantry staples.  The  Italian kitchenware items were still a major selling point.  Items such as pasta machines, coffee percolators, coffee grinders, colanders and crockery.

Finally, in 1980 they sold the deli.  During the last few years at the deli Vittoria had some health issues and required major surgery.  The deli sale was needed for her to recover as she was out of action for three months. Anna was now 27 years old.

Anna De Peron

When Anna arrived in Australia she spoke no English and when she went to school in Port Kembla the Italian children who were there only spoke Italian dialect, not proper Italian as she did.  At first Anna struggled to understand them but quickly adapted.  She picked up her English relatively quickly too, in about 3 months.  Anna was also quite smart and did well at school.

Anna went to St Patrick`s Catholic School at Port Kembla and then went to St Anne’s High School at Dapto.  St Anne’s High School finished at Year 10, so Anna finished of her high school years at St Mary`s College in Wollongong.

Anna’s father Giuseppe was quite forward thinking and encouraged Anna to do whatever she liked.  He would encourage her to go for her dreams, or even to travel to Italy.

As she began studying Year 11 at St Mary`s, Anna and some of her friends enrolled in language studies that was part of the school curriculum but not offered at the high school.  So, on a Saturday morning Anna and her friends would take the train to Sydney University for a 3 hour lesson of Italian, from 9 am - 12pm.  Anna had such a great time.  Many times they would venture off into the city, shop around, have lunch and explore the vastness that was in front of them.  They all looked forward to their Saturday adventure.

In 1971 Anna finished her high school education.  She then enrolled at the University of NSW to study Spanish and French as well as History.  It was a three year full time course that through her parents support, she was able to live on campus.  Anna was still helping out at the deli when she could.  While studying at University Anna met her future husband, a young man from Port Kembla.

In 1976 she got a job at St Mary`s College in Wollongong teaching English and History. Through working at St Mary`s she would often get asked to help out with languages.  Gradually she was getting more work with languages so she enrolled at Wollongong University and continued to further her studies of Italian.

In 1980 she was teaching senior Italian classes at St Mary`s. Unfortunately, Anna`s marriage broke up in 1984 and she decided to re-invent her life.  In 1986 Anna took her long service leave and went for a well earned trip to Europe for 3 months. When she came back she worked for another two years before finishing her teaching at St Mary`s College.  Anna taught at St Mary`s for a total of 12 years before resigning.  Anna was keen to go to Italy and stay for a while.

She got a job with ` DE AGOSTINI SOCIETA` GEOGRAFICA ITALIANA`  working as a translator and teaching English to adults, privately.  Anna loved Italy and the freedom it gave her as well. After 3 years she came back to Wollongong because she missed Australia and her parents.

Coming back to Wollongong Anna struggled to settle down.  Anna’s friends suggested to come and stay with them in Innisfail, which is a regional town over an hour away from Cairns.  Anna headed off enthusiastically on this new adventure, but found it to be quite isolating at first.  She was fortunate though because a new TAFE was opening and Anna soon landed herself a job teaching English to `Hmong` refugees.  Anna enjoyed the job as she was able to run the classes her own way that lead to her running her own department.

Living in Innisfail gave her the opportunity to explore far North Queensland.  She also became aware of the large Italian presence there and took an interest in the stories people told her of the early days of cane cutting.

After nine years the TAFE closed down.  Anna was out of a job, but not for long.  She was offered work teaching Italian at a Primary School and a Grammar School on the Sunshine Coast.  These jobs only lasted a short while.  Anna realised that there was a demand for adult language learning as many residents on the Sunshine Coast were retirees who loved to travel to Europe and South America. Anna took a gamble and decided to open her own language school.

She placed an add in the local papers and rented out rooms at the Wallace Centre, Noosa and the community centre at Coolum.  She quickly built up her students to about 50 per week.  At this stage she was teaching French, Italian and Spanish and had to hire more teachers to help with the demand.  It was a very high energy job. The school was doing very well.  She soon let the French go and just focused on Spanish and Italian, from beginner to advanced.
 

In 2017 everything changed as Giuseppe started to become unwell and it was difficult for Vittoria to cope.  They were both elderly and on their own with no help.  Anna closed down the school and headed back to Wollongong.

Anna stayed in Wollongong for about two years and was happy to care for her parents, but she wanted to head back to Queensland.  So, Anna Giuseppe and Vittoria headed back and once again were living as a family.  Due to her many students, Anna managed to start up some classes and was working 2 - 3 nights per week.

Covid came along and Anna couldn’t do much. She just kept one class but eventually she just stopped all together.  On the 15th of April 2020, Giuseppe passed away.  He was 97.  The following year in 2021 Vittoria passed away on her birthday, the 29th of December.  She was 93 years old.

It was a lot for Anna to deal with and she is now just getting through it all.  Anna found a love for painting and her walls are now adorned with her many creations.  She also loves to travel and is keen to venture out again.  One thing that is close to her heart is keeping her family’s story alive.  Anna has begun writing her family history. Like me, she understands the importance of documenting her parents life and the contributions that they made to the vast Italian community.  Giuseppe and Vittoria are but one of the many couples who served us with love and kindness and created many memories and unforgettable moments!

  

 

1961 aboard the ship Aurelia, in Malta and bound for Australia.

 

Anna, (with the blue shirt) teaching a class at her language school

 

 

 

 

All images from the collection belonging to Anna De Peron