On September 2nd 1966 when Mario Mastroianni arrived in Australia he was 13 years old. He travelled on the ship Galileo, with his mother Giuseppina and his brother Fiorenzo who was almost six. Mario`s father Giovanni was already in Australia. Giovanni first arrived in 1955 aboard the ship Surriento arriving June 6. He stayed for a few years working on the Snowy Mountain Hydro scheme and then went back to Italy. Giovanni returned again in 1960 arriving November 18, on the ship Roma. He went to Redfern for some time before going to work at Warragamba Dam. He was living with his sister in-law Concetta. Giovanni became an Australian citizen May 2nd, 1962. By the time the family arrived in 1966 he was living in his own house that he purchased at Mt St Thomas and was working at BHP as a rigger.
As a young boy Mario enjoyed playing soccer locally in his home town in Italy and soon joined the local soccer club Coniston after arriving in Australia. He was good at soccer and loved to play. Fiorenzo also joined the club a few years later. Coniston Soccer Club began in 1955 as a Junior club only. It wasn’t until 1984 when they merged with Crown United that it brought together Junior and Senior teams. They entered the Premier League and won the grand final in 1981, 2001 and 2003 and have recently entered a women’s team in the Premier League for the first time.
Mario went to school at Keira Boys High and left in Year 10 to pursue an apprenticeship as a Fitter and Turner at BHP. Soccer became a big part of life for Mario and in 1970/71 he became a Junior referee for the club at age 18. He was also a referee, for Junior and Senior reserve games (local competition). At 21 he began to referee all Senior games then later moved to Premier League games. He reffed many grand finals of the top 3 teams each year. Mario refereed five Illawarra Premier League grand finals.
He was part of the Referee association of Illawarra. Mario also was a referee for local grand finals and the Bert Brampton Gala Day. The Bert Brampton Cup was a knockout competition for soccer clubs in the South Coast competition. Bert Brampton was a football (soccer) official and a former board member of the Illawarra Football Association. The cup was in honour of his contributions to local football.
Mario continued reffing soccer games and in the late 1980`s he left his job at BHP and purchased a business called Piccadilly Gifts and Cards in the Piccadilly Shopping Centre in Crown Street, Wollongong, near the train station. Mario soon expanded the variety in the shop and sold soccer memorabilia and collectors items, Italian cards, soccer jerseys etc. His shop had many customers who enjoyed the variety on the shop floor.
Prior to opening his shop he became involved with the San Giovanni Battista committee who ran their yearly festival. In 1981 he was elected secretary and stayed in this role in for almost 25 years. As secretary he was responsible for all correspondence. He knew many people and was great at the role. Mario also did a tremendous job with the entertainment for the festival. The San Giovanni Battista festival was the flagship festival for Italian entertainment in Wollongong and the Illawarra.
In 1991 when Mario was 38 he became a NSW State Games referee. Mario was not very tall and he received the nick name `MOUSE` but his height was never a deterrent for him. He was known for standing up to the older players who were much bigger than him. He became well known as a referee and was well respected too!
Mario was also director of the Wollongong wolves when they won two consecutive championships in the National Soccer League: 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. He was also a share holder. Mario would help organise the programmes and sponsors for the team. He was very hands on and worked tirelessly for the good of the organisation.
Every year when the World Cup Soccer was on Mario would organise functions at the Fraternity Bowling Club at Fairy Meadow. He would coordinate the early morning match viewing (around 3am) for members and guests and it was always popular. When the 2006 World Cup was held in Germany, Mario set up a small merchandise shop at the Fraternity Club for the duration of the cup. He sold all soccer memorabilia, including German and Italian soccer balls. When Italy won it was just the icing on cake for him.
Mario was set to referee a friendly A-League practice between match between Perth Glory and Sydney FC. The match was set to take place on August 6, 2006. Sadly the day before, Mario suffered a heart attack and passed away. He was only 52 years old. It was such shock to everyone.
Piccadilly Gifts and Cards closed for approximately three months. Mario`s father Giovanni, who was in his seventies then, ran the store for another 12 months before closing the shop all together.
Giovanni Mastroianni passed away January 21, 2018, he was 90. Wife Giuseppina passed away 22nd May, 2019. She was 86.
Mario`s brother Fiorenzo had all his children, both sons and daughters playing soccer and now his grandchildren play too. Mario left behind a legacy in local Wollongong as a referee and a champion for local club soccer. He was also instrumental with the San Giovanni Battista Festival as secretary for many years. His work in the community is not forgotten.
On the ship with friends coming to Australia
Attending a family wedding
Coniston Junior Soccer Club
Italy winning the World Cup in 2006 was Mario`s joy!
All images from the collection belonging to
Fiorenzo Mastroianni
