ITALIANS OF WOLLONGONG: December 2024

In the previous story when I interviewed the CCC committee I was taken aback by the story they told me about their dream for a sculpture that represented the migration to Australia. I found it fascinating and I was quite frankly amazed as I never knew anything about it. Upon looking at the sculpture I was in awe of it. It really is spectacular!

It was a team effort, and a huge team at that, to finally have the sculpture built and put into place. It’s situated at George Dodd Reserve, North Wollongong overlooking the ocean. CCC worked tirelessly for almost 10 years to have their dream finalised with many challenges along the way. Their perseverance and dedication to not giving up, always having had the bigger picture in mind. There were some key players in making it all come to fruition.

John Monteleone.

John Monteleone was the Director at the Wollongong Art Gallery and a friend of the CCC group. Some of the committee members initially approached John with their idea of a sculpture. They thought about a location and a suggestion was made about the Wollongong Botanical Gardens. They then approached the Botanical Gardens` group but it wasn’t a good fit. Disappointed, they left it for a while. CCC some time later approached local fabrication and engineering companies but none seemed interested or keen.

Approximately two years later they spoke with John again and he suggested that they speak with Sue Besell. Sue Bessell was the Public Art Officer with the Wollongong City Council. Sue then went and spoke to Council and they were in favour of the idea.

John then organised a meeting between Sue and members of the CCC. The project would come under the Public Arts Program. The Public Arts Program had money allocated by council for such projects. This way they could get the ball rolling with some initial funds, while they then continued to fund raise for the sculpture.

The Council were happy to support the project as it was a representation of the community and the contributions made by the many migrants who called Wollongong their home.

Sue Bessell was responsible for the handling of the process involved. She was also able to link people together to get the project through the Council. All the requirements of O.H&S, the engineering, logistics and the many details involved in commissioning such a project. These were all challenges that were met along the way that had to be dealt with in a particular manner and a certain protocol.

The committee was now formed and met once a month. John was also part of the committee. A brief was written up and expressions of interest went out to potential artists for design ideas. Three artists were short listed. The design and artist accepted was Nerine Martini.

Nerine Martini.

Nerine Martini, originally from Perth was an artist based in Sydney. She created diverse works such as drawings, public art and sculptures that ranged from the small to meters tall. Nerine had two masters degrees from the College of Fine Arts, University of New South Wales.

Nerine`s work often centred around refugees and immigrants. She was particularly drawn to displaced people and had a sensitivity and compassion towards them. She was commissioned in 2014 to create the public art work in Wollongong that represented the migrants and their contributions.

Nerine was very hands on with the project and would often be present at WGE whilst the sculpture was being built. This sculpture presented a completely different set of challenges for Nerine as she had never done anything as big before. Much of the logistics and the after requirements to complete the structure, move it, put it on site were not to her understanding and she credits Tom Gallo for his guidance and help.

Sadly, Nerine Martini passed away 25th April, 2019. She was only 51 years old. Though Nerine`s Art still lives on and with many of her pieces exhibited in art spaces throughout the country. There are also over 30 public art pieces in NSW alone. Nerine`s work can be seen at https://nerinemartini.com/. website She truly left an amazing legacy.

The following is the press release from the Illawarra Mercury January 23, 2015.

Migration Project 2015
Commissioned by Wollongong City Council, with contributions from many local businesses, the series of sculptural artworks celebrate and honour the contribution that migrants have made to the social, cultural and economic fabric of the City of Wollongong.

The Migration Project comprises two separate artworks located in George Dodd Reserve in North Wollongong.

The Boat is a contemporary landmark sculpture. The symbol of the boat is a compelling reminder of the journey that migrants have made in search of a better life. Constructed mainly from steel, the artworks reference the industry and businesses that many of the migrants helped to establish in the Wollongong area. The 4 metre long stainless steel skeletal boat form is elevated on rusted steel I-beams which evolve into ladders more than 5 meters in the air. The base of the sculpture is made from granite stone tiles etched with evocative stories and images adding a further layer of meaning to the artwork.

The three posts are collectively entitled Dwellings, they reference the accommodation for migrants when they first arrived in Wollongong; sheds, caravans and the Nissen huts. The beautiful timber posts are recycled ironbark, which originally came from a bridge in Northern NSW. This artwork reflects the story of humble beginnings, hard work and contribution to family and community life.

Thanks to the generous in-kind support from the many business who contributed to the fabrication and installation of the artworks. The Migration Project was launched in January 2015.

Video unveiling of The Boat Sculpture.

Illawarra Mercury  Illawarra Mercury article, January 23, 2015. 

Migration Project press release.

Tom Gallo

Tom is the head of WGE, a construction company that he built from the ground up. Domenic Chieffe, from CCC approached Tom early on about the sculpture as he was trying to get funding for the project. Tom was keen to help but told Domenic to come back when he had something concrete. That way he knew exactly what he would be dealing with.

Domenic came back to see Tom some time later with the plan, the artist impression and design, that was made of steel and facing towards the sea. Once Tom saw the design and plan he knew he didn’t need anyone else. He knew exactly what to do as this was his area of expertise. He told Domenic that he would not give any financial contribution, but he would help out and help out he did!

Tom made a plan and took care of the management of the project and coordinated the team he needed. He sourced all of the building materials locally and much of it for free. They used stainless steel as well as Wr40, which is a treated steel that looks rustic, but it doesn’t rust, enabling the effect to weather harsh conditions. There were other local organisations who provided their time and materials for the project too. Gerry Fischl from AllFab Constructions Pty Ltd provided a sizeable cash donation. This helped immensely to kick off the project.

Tom used his workers to build the sculpture in his factory and for them it was heartfelt as so many of them were either migrants or children of migrants themselves, as too were some of those other contributors. There was no better way to honour such a structure than using migrants to build it.

Tom had a meeting with the Wollongong City Council who suggested to him about using people of migrant backgrounds in his team to build the sculpture, but Tom was already one step ahead of them.

Nerine Maritini presented Tom with a small model of the sculpture itself. When I spoke with Tom he said that he estimated that the labour and time for the work that WGE put in was $70 thousand dollars, but he never saw it as costly. He had such a feeling of pride to be part of this project that would be seen by multitudes of people. It was also a way to honour his parents too, and their migration. The sculpture will live on for years.

Domenic Chieffe, Domenica Risorto, Mary Zanotto - CCC

As representatives of the CCC group they remembered only too well the frustrations that happened along the way in seeing the sculpture come to life. With the Public Arts Program the council funding helped to start the process but the funds were only small in comparison to the rest of what was needed to see the project through.

Once they had the approval of Council CCC went back to the organisations that they initially approached for help with the project funding. But even with approval it didn’t change their mind.

So here they were with approval for the sculpture but no way of paying for it. With time and with help from WGE`s Tom Gallo and many other organisations the sculpture would come to life.

The next concern was where were they going to put it? The first place that Wollongong Council offered them was near the Lagoon, over by the reeds. That was just not acceptable for them. It was not a prominent location. The access was not easy and CCC were concerned about possible vandalism. The CCC group suggested a sight on Flagstaff Hill, where the old light keepers house once stood. That was rejected by council as it was a sacred Aboriginal site. The next location that CCC thought would be good was behind the WIN Stadium near the bus interchange redevelopment, but that too was Aboriginal sacred land. They even asked about the possibility of somewhere in the CBD of Wollongong, but the public liability risk was too great.

They were becoming disillusioned but at the same time more determined to find the right place. On driving around the Wollongong area they noticed the George Dodd reserve on the corner of George`s place and Cliff Road, facing the ocean. They liked this site a lot as it had great significance overlooking the sea as most migrants came to Australia by ship. They spoke with Sue Bessell and she did some investigating. To their delight the site was approved and now the sculpture would have a home.

With the sculpture now being built at WGE and with the input of other organisations, the months of work finally paid off. The area was fenced off whilst they worked on putting the sculpture into place. Members of the CCC group would often drive past and peer through the fencing at the progress in anticipation of the final reveal.

On Friday January 23, 2015, The Migration Project Sculpture was finally revealed. A massive structure reaching for the sky overlooking the ocean and Belmore basin. Tall and mighty it stands as a reminder of how and who helped to build this wonderful city of Wollongong.