Greta Camp was originally an Army Camp. Greta Army Camp was built in 1939 near Greta, in the Hunter Region of NSW. It was used to train soldiers for WW2. After the war, it was converted into a camp for Migrants. It was a camp from 1949 till 1960. During those years over 100,000 migrants were housed there from almost 20 countries around the world. It was the largest migrant camp in all of Australia.
Word got out at Greta Camp about employment opportunities in Wollongong at the Port Kembla Steel Works. Salvatore soon left the camp and headed south down the coast and secured a job. Salvatore was a first class welder at the Port Kembla Steel Works, a job he did prior to arriving in Australia. In Italy he worked at an arms factory in Colleferro before going off to war. He was paratrooper with the well known Italian Nembo regiment. After the war he came back to his home town and commenced working again at the same factory prior to the war, only now it was an iron and steel factory. It was there that he met his future wife Rosina Armenis, who was working there too.
Salvatore found placement at the Unanderra Hostel and shortly after the family moved down to be with him. The Romano family spent approximately two months at the hostel. Salvatore wasn't happy staying at the hostel and he found an Italian family at Cringila who were letting out some rooms. The boarding house was owned by Federico Fina. It seemed like a better fit, so the family moved in, stayed for approximately one month before moving to Woonona where they rented a small garage. Salvatore, Rosina and their three young children all under the one roof.
The dwelling was the size of a single car garage. Salvatore and Rosina put up bed sheets to divide the sleeping arrangements between parents and children. There was no internal kitchen, with Rosina using the kitchen of the main house. They had a dinning table in the garage where the family would eat and and outside bathroom. Daughter Luana recalls going under the main house with their dog, Dora. There was a little table under the house and together with her dog, the neighbours dogs would often join them for a tea party. The stayed in Woonona for approximately 2 years.
In the late 1960`s the NSW Housing Commission operated a scheme where people could rent to buy homes in the Illawarra area. It was aimed at low income earners. Salvatore took up the opportunity and soon the family were moving into a brand new home built at Berkeley. This scheme created a lot interest with many other Italians taking up the offer. Berkeley developed a strong Italian community.
Salvatore and Rosina were all about family and were kindhearted. When they were living at the Unanderra Hostel they met a gentleman called Pietro Sandron (everyone knew him as Peter). Pietro had travelled by himself from Rome and was living at the Hostel. His mother came out from Italy to join him at the Hostel. Salvatore and his family had gone to Woonona and Pietro and his mother had left the Hostel, having found a place to rent. Unfortunatley, almost 12 months later Pietro`s mother passed away. He went to live with a family in Cringila. When they were no longer able to house him Salvatore and Rosina took him in whilst they were living in Woonona in the garage. Pietro then moved with them when the family purchased their new home at Berkeley. Pietro lived with the Romano family for 8 years in total and they had a very close friendship until his passing at 90 years of age. Daughter Luana became Pietro`s carer for five years before he moved into a nursing home. Pietro passed away November 20, 2024.
ROSINA ARMENIS
Rosina Armenis was a dancer and came from a long line of entertainers. She had parents, grandparents, great grandparents, aunts and uncles who were all performers. It was just in the blood! As performers they were known as Les Armenis, Troupeee Armenis or Duo Armenis, depending who was performing. They were dancers and actors, with dance being their primary art. Her father Luigi father was a `primo ballerino`. Luigi as young boy, along with his parents, danced for the Tsar of Russia. The family entertain until the second world war. Great grand father Carlo was an actor as well as a dancer. In 1952 Rosina`s Aunt Sara had a cameo role in a movie with Ingrid Bergman called Europa 51.
Her family also dates back to the 13th Century. There was a bishop in the family and you will find their name written in the papal archives in Rome. Speaking of Rome, a funny situation happened by chance. In 1967 a newly wed couple from the Wollongong region were on a 12 month honeymoon in Italy. They were parking their car at St Peter`s Square. One of the parking attendants recognised that they were Australian and casually asked them if they knew of a place called `BERKELEY`. The bride, Catherine George, knew Berkeley only too well as she was a school teacher there for three years at Berkeley Primary School. The parking attendant was Luana`s grandfather Carlo Armenis. Turns out that Catherine George was Luana`s school teacher. What are the odds of that happening? The story made the local newspaper, Illawarra Mercury in 1968. Carlo Armenis was also an interpreter at the Vatican, speaking seven languages.
The Romano family lived in Berkeley their whole life. It was their family home and they loved the area. With many Italians as neighbours they had a strong connection to their Italian community. Salvatore was only young when he passed away at the age of 56 on September 3rd, 1977. Rosina Romano passed away November 30, 2010. She was 89. Salvatore and Rosina are survived by their three children, 7 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Above photos of Salvatore Romano WW2.
He was part of the Nembo Regiment.
Salvatore far left with cigarette.
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All images from the collection belonging to Luana Romano Castro.
Thank you so much for your time and effort into writing stories of Italian migrants who courageously left everything behind to come to Australia, your stories mean they will not be forgotten
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