Peter Manfredotti was born in Camperdown, Sydney on June 3rd, 1945. Both his parents were very young children when they came to Australia. Peter`s father Carlo Manfredotti, arrived in Australia in 1922 and he was only three years old. Carlo travelled with his father Giuseppe and mother Lucrezia. Peter`s mother Pierina (Rina) Pelleri, who was two at the time, arrived in 1924 with her mother Maria, April 1st, on the ship Ormonde. Maria`s husband Carlo was already in Australia arriving in 1921, August 25th, aboard the ship Orsova.
Both the Manfredotti and Pelleri families headed straight to Queensland. There they worked at the sugar cane fields in Ingham. Both families were from the town of Rovato, Brescia, Italy.
In the early 1940`s Peter`s father Carlo came to NSW looking for work along with wife Rina and daughter Diana, who was born in 1941. He took a wood turning course at TAFE and was able to get a job at a factory that made wood products such as lamp posts and even gun butts. The years rolled by and the war broke out. Because of his work he was deemed an essential worker and therefore did not have to serve in the army.
Around the late 1940`s Carlo Manfredotti purchased a fruit shop business in Newton. After sending for his family, who were still in Ingham, they came down and lived in the back of the fruit shop. 13 family members in total occupied the space. 8 adults who all worked in the shop and 5 children. Peter was about four years old.
The shop did well and was very busy. After a few years they began doing home deliveries once a week around the Fairfield area. The fruit shop also supplied corner stores and even a boarding house, with fruits and vegetables
Carlo was very organised with the fruit shop. As it had no cool room, he purchased fresh produce on the daily at the vegetable market at Haymarket in the City. Living close to the market he would arrive there by 2am and park his truck. He would then sleep till 6am when the markets opened. He would do all the buying for the shop then would be back at Newtown by 8am. His daily method worked brilliantly for the shop. In 1956 a second son Michael was born.
In the early 60`s Carlo renovated the fruit shop. He purchased more modern display tables, built a wrapping station with newspapers and scales and the shop now sold soft drinks. By the late 60`s only Carlo, wife Rina, sons Peter and Michael, were living at the back of the fruit shop. It was 1969 and Peter`s sister Diana had already married and was living in Earlwood. Carlo had purchased a block of land in Karella to build a new house for the family. Carlo had put the fruit shop on the market to sell and commenced building his home. He soon sold the shop and with wife Rina, sons Peter and Michael moved in with Diana and her husband whilst the new house was being constructed. Carlo devoted all his time to finishing his new home.
Peter was 24 years old. Across the road from his parents fruit shop was Gartrell White’s bakery where Peter got a job as a delivery driver. He worked for the bakery for approximately 3 years. Peter`s next job was at the Holden factory in Pagewood/ Maroubra. He worked on the line assembling car doors and boots, working at the Holden factory for approximately 18 months.
Peter then got a job at Formica`s Supermarket in Sutherland. His father Carlo was working there at the time. Carlo was the buyer of fresh produce for the supermarket, purchasing from Flemington Markets. The owners of Formica`s knew Carlo from when he had his fruit shop at Newtown. They remember him from the market and eventually hired him to work for them. Peter began working in fruit and vegetables and then other aspects of the supermarket. He had plenty of experience in food retail and fit in very well. His father Carlo worked for 5 years and Peter stayed for 15. Peter left Formica`s in 1985. He had now decided to retire from work.
Peter purchased a house in Towradgi and soon made Wollongong his home. He was enjoying his retirement in leisure and living near the beach. Peter soon met Dorothy and he remarried in 1997. He then went back to work securing a job at Flemington Markets. Peter was in charge of the delivery section and processed orders of fruit and vegetables for supermarkets. He worked at the market for approximately 3 years.
His next job was at Cronulla fruit and veg market for 9 years. He would set set up the shop and did much of the sorting and cutting. The market was close to the beach. They started making fresh fruit salads some time later and if was a real money spinner. People came off the beach for fruit salads on the daily.
Peter then got a job closer to home, which he welcomed, as he had been travelling to Sydney to work since 1997. He worked at Woonona Fruit Basket and stayed there for approximately four years before officially retiring around 2014. Peter had been working with fresh produce and retail for most of his adult life and always found work in this area. In fact, he was sort after for his good work.
Peter and his wife Dorothy began to travel. They developed such a love for it and travelled to so many places around the world. They did this for many years. Paris and Canada, just to name a few, plus all around Australia. It really was a joy for them both. Sadly, Dorothy passed away October 13, 2022. She was 77.
FOOTBALL
When Peter was 15 years old he was attending St Joseph`s High School Newtown, when he was asked to be part of a team that the school wanted to put together. Football (rugby league) was a game that he loved and on sports day at school he would regularly play along with his classmates and friends. The school team did exceptionally well and made the grand final against Lewisham (High School) who won. Peter played second row.
In 1961 he finished High School and went to play football with Marrickville under the CYO (Catholic Youth Organisation). He played in the Under 16`s D grade division. The following year, 1962, he joined a C grade team with Newton PCYC and they won the grand final. In 1963, with the same team they were undefeated premiers.
Peter continued playing for the Newton PCYC in 1964 and 1965, though the team didn’t make it through/not enough players. In 1966 Peter moved teams and played for St Peters B grade who made it all the way to the final. In 1967 he played for Camperdown Dragons, B grade division. They were under 21`s, winning the premiership undefeated.
In 1969 he trialled for Newton third grade. Peter never got picked and saw this has his moment to retire from playing football. He still went to watch games and kept up his friendships with many of the players. By this stage he was working a lot and focused on his job.
In 1974 Peter came down to Ziems Park, Corrimal, to watch the Corrimal Cougars play a trial game against Newtown. He asked the Corrimal coach if he could get a run. The coach said yes and the next thing he knew he was asked to play with the Corrimal team. In 1974 the Corrimal Cougars would win the premiership first and third grades. Peter played front row in third grade division.
At the end of the 1975 season the club organised a trip away to New Zealand. A group of 30 people went, that included club officials, players and fans. The team played one game at Carlaw Park. It was the home ground of the New Zealand team at the time. They played Mount Wellington in a friendly match. The trip was organised by Oscar Danielson. Oscar was a New Zealand International player who played for Newton first grade from 1970 -1972. He then came to Corrimal as a player/coach for the Cougars. Peter Manfredotti played for the Corrimal Cougars from 1974 - 1977. He finally retired from football at age of 31.
Peter was an avid Illawarra Steelers and Cougars fan. He kept in touch with friends from football. They would often go on outings and they still have get togethers once a week or once a fortnight. He followed Newton, up until the club was finished.
Peter has done volunteer work at Towradgi Surf Club with the nippers and assisted Corrimal Cougars football club with their BBQ`s for many years. He often goes for a walk down to the beach alone or sometimes with friends. Peter spends time relaxing and he is ready to take up travelling again.
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The Manfredotti Fruit Shop at Newtown.
All images from the collections belonging to
Peter and Diana Manfredotti
