ITALIANS OF WOLLONGONG: THE MENEGAZZO FAMILY PART TWO

As we come into the second part of the Menegazzo story we pick up from the early 1950`s where Pietro`s business, Illawarra Gate Manufacturers, were busy with orders for gates and wrought iron designs. With several staff members, business was constant and Illawarra Gates had large orders, in particular multiple sets of gates for the then Housing Department. Even with the loss of his father Marcello in 1953, Pietro was extremely busy with work and with his family. He was already married and had a two year old daughter Delora. The following year in 1954 son Mark was born and 4 years later another son Paul was born.

In the early 1950`s St John Vianney Catholic Church, Fairy Meadow was built. In 1957 Pietro was asked to make several items for the church. The first one being the communion rails. He was apprehensive at first. He had never done this type of thing before. But Pietro soon realised that he knew what to do and the railings turned out wonderful. He was also asked to make the baptismal font and the cross that sits upon the apex on the roof of the church. Further south in Wollongong the St Francis Xavier Cathedral also has one of Pietro`s designs which is a crucifix above its eastern entry door that sits in the window.

Pietro also designed and built the hand rails and school crest for the St John Vianney Catholic School and he went on to do several school crests and gates including various public and secondary schools. St Pius at Unanderra and St Mary`s College in Wollongong also had Pietro`s work.

In 1967 Pietro was commissioned to build a statue of Jesus that would sit on the outside wall of the St Therese Little Flower Catholic Church at West Wollongong. It was based on the statue Christ the Redeemer that sits on the Corcovado mountain top in Rio De Janiero, Brazil. It is spectacular to say the least . It took Pietro 700 hundred hours to complete, all in his spare time. It was built in his back shed and with only small tools. It was finished in 1968.

Pietro loved working with wrought iron and other metals. Every thing he did was hand beaten, no machinery used. By 1974 Ilawarra Gates began to wind down. Still on the same site as Illawarra Gates, Pietro and his son Mark, who was also a boiler maker did some pipe work for local businesses and companies. In 1978 son Paul (who was also a boiler maker) joined his father and brother with the business and they became PMP Pipe and General Fabrication. PMP supplied the mining industry with metal fabrication and pipe work. They also worked on methane gas drainage in the mines including design and development of those systems. In 1987 Pietro sold his land and moved, still staying in Balgownie, and he also officially retired. PMP Pipe and General Fabrication relocated to Pringle Road, Fairy Meadow. In 1988 the business was sold.

Pietro had worked hard all his life and he had some health issues. The years of working with his hands took its toll and Pietro experienced loss of sensation in his fingertips as well as arthritis. At his new home he had a double garage set up where he crafted items out of timber, as it was softer to work with. He made things like lace bobbins, spinning wheels, carved letter openers and even some furniture. He also made a harp. Nellie was a folk art painter and drawer. She used to paint some of the wood work that Pietro made.

Pietro passed away November 23, 2003. He was 81. Wife Nellie passed away September 9, 2017. She was 86. They are survived by their three children, seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Pietro Menegazzo was an incredible artisan. Creative, well known and well liked by so many. He took great pride in all his creations. You can visit many places in the Wollongong area and they are still on display. There are remnants of Pietro all throughout the region with his wrought iron designs and works. His magnificent statue of Jesus that is graced at the St Therese Little Flower Church, West Wollongong, still stands there in all its glory and will do so for many years to come.