THE MENEGAZZO FAMILY PART THREE - PIETRO

Singer extraordinaire!

Pietro discovered that he had quite a good voice and by his teens he was singing all the time. It would sometimes annoy his parents so they would send him outside on their farm to sing to the cows! He never had any formal training but he was certainly gifted with the most beautiful voice. Pietro collected records of his favourite artists, particularly Mario Lanza and other opera singers. He would also fall in love with Irish and Scottish folk music. His wife Nellie, was Irish and played the piano accordion. Nellie’s mother, was quite the musician herself. She also played the accordion along with many other instruments. As young man Pietro also played guitar.

When Pietro first met Nellie Harriott in 1949, it was at a picnic day at Lake Illawarra. She was playing the accordion and so he decided to approach her and sing along. He informed her that she was playing it incorrectly. This wasn’t well received from Nellie and in fact she didn’t like him at all and she felt he was a bit of a show off.  But over time their friendship grew and so did Pietro`s love of Irish music. He loved music and he loved to sing. He often sang solo, or with other theatre performers. You would always find him singing in the church choir regularly. Pietro also sang at the weddings of family and friends.  Pietro was made an honorary Alpini choir member. The Alpini were a specialised military corps and their choirs were taken very seriously. They developed a friendship with Pietro and he sang with them on many occasions.

By 1943 Pietro was well into singing and regularly performed when he could. He had performed with various groups and even recorded himself on vinyl disc. Peter also had a varied music collection. Music inspired him and he loved to sing different styles. Opera was a big love for him but he also loved classic ballads and Irish folk music. 
 

1943 Australian Comforts Fund for returned soldiers

 

Friday June 11, 1943 a show was held at the Crown Theatre, Keira Street, Wollongong. The show was to raise funds for the Australian soldiers during the war, in particular the men of the 34th Battalion (Illawarra Regiment).

Australian Comforts Fund was an organisation that through fundraising purchased care items for soldiers during the war, items that were not  normally supplied to the servicemen. The lineup of artists for the June show was quite impressive for the time. Wilfred Thomas and Bebe Scott, radio stars from 2FC (that would later become ABC Radio), Impersonator Dave Arthur, Sydney soprano Phyllis Rogers, artists from the Capital Theatre in Sydney and local artists including Peter (Pietro) Menegazzo. 

Harmony Recordings - Direct to Disc

 

Harmony Recording was the record label from Harmony House. Harmony House was a music store that was operated by John Cohen.  In 1940 John`s son Ron set up a commercial recording studio behind the store . It was a recording studio made available for anyone who wished to record their voice, `Direct to Disc` under the `Harmony Recording` label. The artist would record their voice onto the disc and it was given to them once the recording was done. This was the master copy.  It was also very cheap, making it affordable for the masses. Some famous artists who recorded their voices there were Dame Joan Sutherland and Frank Ifield. Between 1943 - 1948 Pietro did a series of recordings at Harmony House. He sang anything from Opera to Irish Ballads. 

Pietro`s Zia Maria on his maternal side also had a beautiful singing voice, as did his daughter Delora and his grandson Matthew, though none of them pursued it further. Pietro`s wonderful record collection is safe in the hands of his granddaughter Amy.  Unfortunately there is no footage of Pietro singing, but those direct to disc recordings from Harmony House are just priceless. Pietro Menegazzo was so humble about his creativity and was happy to share his talents. We were ever so blessed by his work and contribution in the community. He is still talked about with such praise.

Speaking with Pietro`s son Paul and his daughter Amy, they recollect how Pietro would always play music in the house on his record player. Sundays he would invite neighbors and friends over to the house to listen to the many records from his collection. It was a time for gathering with friends and enjoying the music. I asked them both some questions about what that time was like. Amy spoke candidly about her grandfather. Following are her words. 
 

“Yes he did sing when he worked and had his friends and neighbours over to listen to music. Growing up I would spend most of my weekends with my grandparents (the joys of living on the same street). Particularly on a Sunday I would make Sunday lunch risotto and grandad would have music playing when I got there and as soon as I walked through the door he would ask me to guess the singer. He and I would sing along and we would sometimes sing in the workshop when I would watch him make a lot of the woodwork. Our love of Music and of everything Italian was part of our special bond.”

 

 

 

 

Pietro played the guitar as a young man in his 20`s.  He would

go on to record his extraordinary voice throughout the 1940`s.

 

 

 This video shows some of the recordings that 

Pietro did between 1943 - 1948.  It is him

singing in the background. 

All images from the collection belonging to the Menegazzo family.

 

THE MENEGAZZO FAMILY PART TWO - PIETRO

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. 

 

 

Pietro working making gates and railings.

 

 

 Images of Pietro`s works scattered throughout

the Wollongong region

 

 

 

 

Images of Pietro`s creations in timber

and metal.  He did much of this

after he retired. 

 

All images from the collection belonging to

 the Menegazzo family 

THE MENEGAZZO FAMILY PART ONE - MARCELLO

Marcello Angelo Menegazzo was born in 1895 in Cavaso Del Tomba, Province of Treviso. He came to Australia in 1912 at the age of 17. Travelling on the ship Zieten he arrived December 7. He was the eldest of many siblings. It is said that he was one 20. Of those only 13 survived into adulthood. Marcello was listed as a labourer. He came from a farming background and was also a Goldsmith as was his father Pietro. Marcello went to Broken Hill where he stayed with two Uncles who came to Australia years before. At Broken Hill he worked in the mines for BHP.  Broken Hill had quite a few Italians at the time. Marcello was working hard and sending money back home to help the family. 

1915 saw the commencement of WW1 and Marcello along with his friends joined the first A.I.F. It took him to Italy where he was fighting in the north near his home town. At the end of the war Marcello went back home to Cavaso and got a job in a silk worm factory. It was there that he met a young woman named Giuseppina Bugno. They would soon marry. 

In 1922 their first child Pietro Giovanni was born, who was named after Marcello`s father. Post war Italy wasn’t prosperous so the family decided to immigrate to America or Australia. They applied to both countries and agreed whichever released the necessary papers first was where they would go. The paper work for Australia came through first and in 1922 Marcello returned to Australia on the Ormonde Oct 5. He settled in Tarrawanna where there was a growing Italian community. February 6, 1924 aboard the Ormuz, wife Giuseppina and son Pietro arrived to join Marcello.

Marcello found work as a wood machinist for W.Waters and Sons in Wollongong, as well as doing watch making and repairs on the side. After a short while Marcello purchased an old house and section of land on the corner of Short Street and Balmoral Street, Balgownie. (Short Street later became Foothills Road). Marcello and Giuseppina worked hard to make their house a home. They established fruit trees and a large vegetable garden. Marcello even grew his own tobacco. In 1924 they welcomed their second child Anna into their family. The Menegazzo family was well known in the area. 

In 1927 Marcello applied for his citizenship and on December 22nd he received his naturalisation. Marcello spoke English quiet well and this also helped with his standing in the community. He was often called upon to help with disputes or misunderstandings if language was a barrier. Marcello also understood local laws and was able to help his local Italian community with legal matters.

In 1929 saw the beginning of the great depression and unfortunately Marcello was let go from his job as a machinist. Not one to sit and wait Marcello did what he knew best and farmed his land, not only for himself and his family but also for the community.

He started off selling some of his home grown produce. Marcello would often  peddle up and down the local streets with his son Pietro to sell and trade his fruits and vegetables. As the demand grew Marcello began to grow chickens and turned his property into a poultry farm.

Marcello and his wife Giuseppina now were running the poultry farm and added large sheds to accomodate. They not only sold poultry they also used the barter system as the times were hard for many. They grew more fruits and vegetables in their extensive garden that helped the community. Giuseppina was an excellent cook and they were self sufficient. They also had a cow on the property that produced milk and butter. The farm did well and serviced many, suppling many local businesses as well with eggs and chickens.

Marcello offered accommodation and meals for people who had no where to go. In return they would help out on the farm. Marcello converted some of the poultry sheds making them habitable and a safe place to stay. At the peak of the poultry farm Marcello had almost 2000 chickens.

At the end of the depression the timber yard re-opened and Marcello returned to his job as a wood machinist and was still running the poultry farm. Young Pietro (who was now 15 years old) was growing up and in 1937 he got an apprenticeship as a boiler maker. He worked for Garnock Engineering and David Brothers. With the onset of WW2 Pietro was completing his apprenticeship as a boiler maker. By the end of WW2 Pietro was working at B & W Steel, Fairy Meadow. 

After the war the economy began to recover and by this time Marcello slowly wound down the poultry farm. Pietro noticed a small fabrication business for sale. In 1947 Pietro purchased the plant and equipment and started a business on his father’s property called Illawarra Gate Manufacturers. With the existing sheds from the Poultry farm he converted them into work sheds and an administration office. They started producing gates, railings and small coal skips.

The business was doing well and soon Marcello was now a part of it. Marcello`s role was in administration. He was very good at it and he did a lot of the day to day operations while Pietro was busy creating the gates and railings. Pietro was very hands on and incredibly creative. They were very busy and they were constantly reconfiguring the sheds and buildings on the property to accomodate for their ever growing demand.

In 1949 daughter Anna married. She hadn’t been well for some time but was getting over her illness. Anna married Aurelio Spagnolo. Unfortunately, her illness returned and Anna was admitted into Balmain Hospital.  Anna passed away on June 13, 1950. She was only 24 years old.  It devastated the family and Marcello struggled to cope. This would also affect his health. He would be found at Anna`s grave site sitting for hours on end. This went on for quite some time. Pietro had to step in and bring him home as it was all too consuming for Marcello who was grief stricken and heart broken.

Marcello was a member of the RSL Wollongong and on the 28th of August 1953, he was nominated and gazetted as a Justice of the peace for his outstanding work in the community. It was a proud moment for him and his family, especially after the death of Anna. Sadly he never got to hold the position as he passed away October 9, 1953, before the offical notification came through. Marcello die from emphysema. Giuseppina passed away in 1980 on December 14. She was 78 years old. Aurelio Spagnolo, (who never remarried) passed away August 23, 2003. He was 80. 

Marcello Menegazzo was well known and respected in the community. Arriving in 1922 in Tarrawanna, the growing Italian population were making their mark in the area, including the surrounding suburbs of Balgownie and Fairy Meadow. We owe these Italians much credit for how they created their community through their businesses and contributions, hard work and the bonded friendships that helped them endure and sustain.

                                                                Walking down the street.

 

 

Well dressed.

 

 

 

 

 All images from the collection belonging to the Menegazzo Family

FRANCESCA SANTANGELO - BUSINESSES AND BOMBONIERE

Francesca Santangelo (nee Raschilla) arrived in Australia on the 10th of February 1958, aboard the ship Australia. Travelling with her was two year old daughter Felicia. Francesca`s husband Vittorio was already in Australia having arrived November 10, 1955. He travelled on the ship Surriento. Both Vittorio and Francesca were from Nocera Terinese, province of Catanzaro.

Vittorio was living in Fairy Meadow and was working at the Port Kembla Steel Works. Vittorio was also a Tailor and this was his profession in Italy. Once he purchased his house on the Princes Highway, Fairy Meadow, he operated a small tailor business from the front room. Francesca would help him with his business. She would cut, sew and do what ever was needed all the while Vittorio was still working at the Steel Works full time. By the early 1960`s  Francesca gave birth to her son Fred and another daughter Carla. She was busy with three young children as well as helping husband Vittorio.

Across the road from their house was a small fruit and vegetable shop.  Francesca was quite friendly with the owners and around 1966 an opportunity came up and Francesca purchased the business. She obtained her drivers licence and would drive into Wollongong to purchase fruit and vegetables at the FVM fruit market in Kenny Street, Wollongong, and to Davis and Penny for other supplies. The shop was a small corner store. Francesca also sold basics such as milk, bread, canned and dry goods along with newspapers.

Now with the shop, Francesca was extremely busy balancing motherhood and helping her husband Vittorio with his tailoring. They would often drive to Sydney for his supplies of fabrics and sewing essentials. Francesca never stopped, but she thrived on working and loved to engage with people each and every day. 

In 1970, whilst running her corner store, Francesca and husband Vittorio purchased a block of land in Sherwood Drive, Balgownie. It was a new estate that had opened up in the heights. They built a brand new home and theirs was the first in the estate. After a short while Francesca sold her business and purchased an existing shop in Balgownie Road. The premises also had a house at the back and an apartment above  This business was very similar to her Fruit shop at Fairy Meadow only bigger. She sold fresh produce plus more Italian grocery lines.

In 1980 the family had moved into the house at the back of the shop, having sold their house at Sherwood Drive. After a short while Francesca made the decision to sell some Bomboniere in her shop and had several on display. Francesca would drive to Sydney by herself to get them. She became a wiz at driving and knew all the back streets for the trip.  Before she knew it the demand was strong and she and Vittorio built a brand new garage at the back of the property using it as the showroom.

The bomboniere business was expanding at a fast rate. Supplying bomboniere for weddings started to overtake her corner shop business. Francesca made the decision to lease out the Balgownie Road shop and move her Bomboniere business to Warrawong. Many of her customers came from there. She still used her garage for storage but the business now had it`s own shopfront that she rented. The Warrawong store was situated in Cowper street. The migrant community were quite prominent in Warrawong. There were other Italian businesses there as well.

Francesca soon outgrew the Warrawong store and relocated to Railway Street, Corrimal in the Ronald and Glass building, early 1980`s. The shop was much bigger and brand new too! She had such a vast array of bomboniere, gifts and party favours and the range was impressive. Further down the road in Railway Street, Francesca also had another storage shed to house even more stock as well as her garage at home in Balgownie.

The Corrimal shop ran for approximately ten years. The styles of bomboniere had started to change and Francesca could feel the demand slowing down. By the late 1990`s Francesca closed her Corrimal shop and continued running her Bomboniere from her Balgownie home, with the garage/showroom out the back.  There was a sign out the front of the house that read Bomboniere Santangelo.  It was by appointment only.

After she closed the Bomboniere shop at Corrimal, next door in another building was an existing sandwich shop takeway/cafe. Not one to wait, Francesca purchased the business and away she went. She continued with the existing shop format but she added Italian takeaway food such as lasagna and was an agent for Italian continental cakes.   

After a couple of years, she sold the cafe and in the early 2000`s she took over the lease at Corrado`s Deli in Fairy Meadow for several years before returning to take over the Balgownie shop again.  The shop was no longer a mixed business and the current owner ended their lease. This time Francesca turned in back into a corner store but with the addition of hot takeaway Italian food and takeaway pizza at night.

I had a wonderful conversation with Francesca`s daughter Felicia. Felicia commented on how Francesca was fiercely independent and defended her work ethic. Felicia also said that with her sister Carla they were always helping their mother in the shops, before and after school, but never felt neglected. Their mother always provided for them. She spoke about her mother`s zest for life and how with all the businesses she ran, all the work she did, the family always sat down to a hot meal cooked by their mother. She remembered days when her mother first ran the Balgownie shop. The Southline Drive-In picture theatre was down the street and the line up of cars to purchase sweets, drink and treats before and after the movies was amazing.  Francesca would also take Felicia’s children on occasion with her on the trips to Sydney for the gathering of supplies of bomboniere. Francesca made every moment of her life a memory.

Around 2013, Francesca slowed down her work somewhat to focus on her husband Vittorio.  Vittorio was diagnosed with Dementia and she became his carer. Life had changed for Francesca, yet she was still running the shop whilst Vittorio would sit out the back. He was happy to be there and Francesca was able to keep an eye on him. She missed her many friends but devoted herself to care for her husband. In 2015 Vittorio was moved into a nursing home where he needed specialised care. Francesca had now retired from her business and closed it down. She leased out her Balgownie premises once again. Vittorio passed away November 2nd, 2020.

In 2021 Francesca was diagnosed with cancer and yet she still pushed on. She managed to do some things for herself and was able to stay in her home, which  enabled her independence. 

Affectionately known as `Ciccina`, she served so many people over the years in business. You would often find her at the Fraternity Club socialising with her friends. She always made time to visit or call them whenever she could. I remember her well and she was always happy to see me, she was the same with everyone. Francesca loved people and they loved her! December 19, 2024, Francesca passed away.  She was 91 years old.

Francesca and Vittorio are survived by their three children, six grandchildren and five great grand children. Francesca Santangelo was still working at 80 years of age and for almost 50 years she served the community. An incredible contribution indeed!

Francesca, Vittorio and daughter Felicia. Vittorio wearing

one of his tailor made suits,

All images from the collection belonging to 

the Santangelo Family

All images from the collection belonging to 

the Santangelo Family

SAN GIOVANNI BATTISTA FESTIVAL - THE ENTERTAINERS

The San Giovanni Battista festival became its own entity. So many performers and so much entertainment for the festival that I felt that a story dedicated just to the performers was warranted. With the first festival it was a lot smaller so the amount of entertainers were limited.

Enzo Giribaldi

Enzo Giribaldi performed several times at the festival with his first performance being at the December 1966 festival. At just six years of age Enzo won his first competition. Then at the age of nine, in 1957, his family emigrated to Australia. He continued his studies with a German teacher Otto Weiss located in Sydney.

Aged twenty Enzo began to teach accordion under the supervision of Maestro Simonelli. During this time Enzo had been playing in Australia’s largest Italian club, Club Marconi with his quartet. Enzo also completed a Theory of Music course at the Conservatorium of Music - Sydney.

When Enzo was 24 he opened his first music school and in a short time he had a total of four music schools with twenty two teachers working for him teaching about 600 students of which about half were learning the accordion. During this time Enzo produced local, state and Australian champions. He was an incredibly accomplished accordionist.

Both videos from the collection belonging to Enzo Giribaldi

via youtube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@Enzooscar

 

From 1981 under President Luigi Villella, the San Giovanni Battista festival started up again and became an extravaganza. Mario Mastroianni was the secretary and the coordinator for organising the yearly entertainment. The variety of entertainers was amazing.  Local artists, variety show performers, dancers and singers. Australian well known entertainers graced the stage of the San Giovanni Battista festival. Then there was an ever growing group of Italian/Australian artists who would perform on a regular basis. The icing on the cake were the International Italian artists. Mario was brilliant at organising them. There was something for everyone. Mario was secretary from 1981 - 2006.

I wanted to include as many as of the artists as I could. This isn’t all of the them, but it is most of them.


AUSTRALIAN MUSIC SCENE ARTISTS 

Reńee Geyer, John St Peeters, John Paul Young, Doug Parkinson, Moving Pictures, Judy Stone, The Deltones, Barry Crocker, Mick on Wheels, The Zips, Jackie Love, Delilah.

AUSTRALIAN VARIETY PERFORMERS

Jane Scali, Joe Perrone, Michael Montgomery, Euro Latino, Audio Vixen, George (Playschool),

TRIBUTE ACTS

Spice Power,  Fabba, MJ Show, Dean & Jerry Show, Jacques Renay (Tom Jones Show), Ricky Martin Jnr & Friends,

COMEDIANS

Joe Avati, Vince Sorrenti, Tony Lewis, Marty Coffy

LOCAL PERFORMERS

Rhonda Fassone, The Con Artists, David Di Santis, The Wongawilli Band, Con & The Latin Beats, Local DJ`s,

MAGICIANS

Phil Cass, Brenden Montana, Ken Littlewood & Toshi,

DANCERS LOCAL AND STATE WIDE

Marilla Newman Dancers, Italian folkloric dancers, South American dancers, Portuguese Artistic group, Flamenco dancers & Burn the Floor/Strictly Dancing Dancers

ITALIAN AUSTRALIAN PERFORMERS

Nick Bavarelli, Peter Ciani, Sylvana, Romano Dragoni (passed), George Vumbaca, Tony Mazell, Domenic Vasta, Jay & Gisele, Francesca Brescia, Tony Pantano (passed), Tonino Speciale, Fiorentino Mannino, Joey Fimmano, Amedeo Bazzarelli, Maria Venuti, Grace Rizzo, Carmelo Ridolfo, Roseanna Gallo, Gaetano Bonfante, Deanna Vitagliani, Angelina Ciccotti, Ross & Robyn

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS (Italian)

Tiziana Rivale, Gino Di Procida, Aldo Vignola, Paola Semprini, Edoardo Vianello, Micu U Pulici, Enzo Laface, Jim Fontana, Rosanna Fratello & Band, Salvatore Panetta
Nico Dei Gabbiani, Wilma Goich,

YOUNG AUSTRALIAN TALENT SHOW CONTESTANTS

Chris Ninni (The Voice), Jacinta (X factor), The Pack (A.G.T), Anthony & Tamara (The Voice Kids) 

Such a diverse group of entertainers who performed. Two performers who were regular at the festival, John St Peeters and Nick Bavarelli, left lasting impressions.


John St Peeters 

John St Peeters performed at the San Giovanni Battista festival over the years from when the second festival started in 1981. He performed a total of six times. His last performance for the festival was in 1996 and by then he was already a star.

When the festival kicked off John had already racked up a string of achievements. He had released at least 11 singles and in 1977 he was crowned Australia`s King of Pop. People may remember his hit singles `So Many Ways` and of course `Wonderworld` which was also the theme song to the Australian children’s television show Simon Townsend`s Wonder World.

Yet John was a talented musician as a young boy playing the piano accordion. A child prodigy who by the age of 11 was appearing in various television talent and variety shows. John was also performing at clubs and other venues. He released singles from 1970 - 1972 (playing the piano accordion) and spent approximately three years in Canada performing and recording. John also toured North America and Asia with two female vocalists before resuming his solo career in 1976.

John`s solo career was moving forward releasing several singles in Australia. He appeared on Countdown and also hosted one of the episodes. He even hosted his own television show where he performed and also had guest artists.

John has appeared in many clubs and venues around Australia and the Italian community know him only too well. There really isn’t anything he can’t do. John has sung pop, rock, traditional Italian folk songs, ballads and more. He has worked with some of the great Australian rock artists such as Tommy Emmanuel, Ray Burgess, John Swan and Marty Rhone when the single ` Legends of Southern Land` was released in 2015. A song which he co-wrote. A song that embraces and embodies the tapestry of Australia and the Australians who made it so!

Over the course of his musical career he has performed in Las Vegas, created one of the largest Elvis shows in the world (acknowledged by The Australian Book of Records). He has and continues to work with so many Australian artists, writing and releasing songs and sharing his love of music.  He has released songs in both Italian and English. `Mamma Dove Sei Tu`  John`s Italian #1 hit is still the most requested song on Italian radio networks around Australia.

John`s body of work is endless, yet he continues to give so much. He has performed for his holiness The Pope at Melbourne Cricket Ground before a huge crowd of 120 thousand people and in 2020 he received (most deservedly) an OAM.

John St Peeters is Australian as he is Italian. His audience is diverse and appreciates his authenticity and generosity. John was remembered with fondness performing at the San Giovanni Battista festival and was credited by the committee members as a great contributor. The festival began in 1981 and to have had John there as one of the top entertainers was very special indeed.

 

 Video from the collection belonging to John St Peeters

via youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@maorgan 

Video from the collection belonging to 3AW RADIO

via youtube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@3AWRadio

Nick Bavarelli

Nick Bavarelli was the preferred Musical Director for the St Giovanni Battista festival from when the festival relaunched in 1981 at the yearly event until it ended in 2014.

Nick Bavarelli comes from a musical family of uncles emanating from Calabria. His father Michele played accordion and guitar and was one of the first musicians who played at the Marconi Club in Sydney in the 1950`s.  

At the age of 8, Nick was forced by his father (his words) to learn and to formalize his musicianship with the accordion. He soon became quite adept at this instrument entering talent quests and appearing regularly on television talent and children`s shows from the late 60`s through to the 70`s gaining recognition in the Italo/Australian community.

In his HSC exam for music he achieved marks in the top 5% of NSW. It earned him a scholarship to study at the Conservatorium of Music. From there his ability rapidly expanded becoming a concert pianist and educationalist having tutored in College and University. Over the course of his performing life he has created for himself a musical resume that is impressive to say the least. This also led him to become a pianist with the Australian Ballet, Sydney Dance Company and Music Director for the elite NIDA productions.

His ability to compose and write music allowed him to also enter the world of television and film, writing for T.V and radio commercials. Even at a young age his musical directing, piano playing and co-ordinating of musical events gave him recognition within the Italian community that allowed him to tour with many Italian Artists such as Patrizio Buanne, Europes Three Italian Tenors, Marcella Bella, Claudio Villa, Gianni Nazzaro, Bobby Solo, Nilla Pizza, Pupo Christian, to name a few.
 
To expand his musical horizons he responded to the call for Italian entertainment in the 90s for weddings and special functions allowing him to combine his singing, virtuoso accordion and keytar playing with Two Divas Singers /Dancers to perform not only on TV such as a regular on the John St Peters Show but to then Tour Asia and the Pacific many times over.

Nick has also has played and programmed alongside popular dance/pop artists from the 80`s and 90`s dance groups genre such as Black Box, Culture Beat, Boney M and toured alongside Barry Gibb`s last tour. Locally he has also musically directed artists from X Factor and The Voice and most recently come back from a tour playing piano for shows with Il Divo and their Orchestra .

Recently Nominated in the 2025 ACE AWARDS for best musical Director and Instrumental performer he believes he has been fortunate not only in having music as his vehicle to travel the world and express himself but to cross paths with many cultures and people of social standing that many would need lifetimes to achieve.

Nick credits the St Giovanni Battista Festival as one of the icons for raising his Italian profile in the southern regions. He enjoyed performing at the festivals and the locals accepted him as part of the community and he certainly left lasting memories. Nick Bavarelli was like the cog in the wheel at the festival. One just couldn’t imagine the festival without him .

 

 

Keyboard/pianist for Patrizio Buanne

Keyboard/pianist for Europe`s The Three Tenors

 

Both videos from the collection belonging to 

Nick Bavarelli

 

S. GIOVANNI BATTISTA FESTIVAL - PART TWO

Now with the restored statue back in the hands of the committee they began planing and once again became a registered group. Friends, past members and other Italians had been invited to join the committee, it was an open door. Elections were held at the Italian centre, nominations were voted on and roles were decided. They had a lawyer in attendance, local Italian priest Father Lauro, and an accountant. Luigi Villella was elected as the president.

It was agreed that to kick start the group everyone would donate an amount of money. They gathered around $8000 as a start up with each of the committee members giving $350. It was always the intention to give the original committee members their $350 donation back to them. Approximately five years later, once they were well established they all received their money.

Executives would then hold their own meetings to discuss the festival and what they would propose. They would then hold a general meeting with all the other committee members for their approval. It was total transparency. The meetings were conducted the same way every year. As time and years went on, more money meant higher profile singers, more entertainers and better fireworks. The fireworks display was always done by Foti International Fireworks, a now 8 generation family business.

THE PROGRAM GUIDE 

The festival program guide for 1981 was very similar in size to the program guide from the 1960`s festivals. The pages were a bit smaller but there were more of them. 1500 programs were printed for the very first festival. Entry fee was $3 for adults, $2 for pensioners and $1 for children. From 1983 the programs were A4 size, proving how the festival was growing. It remained an A4 size until the last festival program in 2014.

In the beginning many of the advertisers in the program were Italian Business owners but that soon changed. It became apparent quite quickly that the festival was noticed by everyone. Many business began to advertise in the  annual festival program. Ads ranged from 1/8 of a page to full page ads. 1/4 of page and 1/2 page ads were popular. By 1988 the program front and back covers were in colour. From 1989 colour was slowly introduced inside the programs and they made excellent reading. A lot of enthusiasm came from the community, a great response: $50 - $300 dollars for ads in the program. Cash donations also came from businesses and others in the community, and all their names were put in the program. The first year a donation of $500 dollars was given to the festival committee from the Italian church collections.

The program guide was filled with all kinds of things. Of course there were  advertisements that were generating much needed funds to run the festival but you would often find historical content about towns and places in Italy. Fun facts about Italy or its` famous people. You could also see the latest  information about the Wollongong Wolves Soccer team`s seasonal draw and local games ect. There were messages from the president of the San Giovanni Battista committee, the current Wollongong Lord Mayor, the Scalabrini Fathers, the Wollongong Bishop, state and local politicians. Sometimes there were features of locals in the Italian community who were of service.

As the years passed you would even find cooking recipes and there were always photos of the festival from the year prior, with history as well. The centre of the program always had photos of the entertainment lineup and the donations for the year, and, with a recurring list of accumulated donations of money over time. It also showed sponsors and donations of prizes that were used for the raffle at the festival itself. The raffles generated quite a good amount of money too! It certainly was a keepsake and the programs was free. By 2006 the program booklet was 62 pages. 

FUNDRAISING

Aside from cash donations, sponsors and advertisements in the program there were many other events to raise money that contributed to the festival funds. The fundraising for the festival was never ending. It required a lot of work and dedication. Volunteers were needed constantly.  

Each year they would hold two Spaghettata days to raise funds and also have a great time. Easter Monday and Labour Day October long weekend were the assigned spaghettata days. Friends, families and acquaintances would usually meet at the one of the local dams for a huge picnic/spaghettata. The festival committee would cook large pots of pasta for all to enjoy. There was also a dinner dance held annually at The Fraternity Club with funds raised going towards the festival.

In 1998 the ladies committee was formed. The ladies committee did amazing work and created some memorable moments too. They held fashion parades and daily bus trips. Some of the places they went to were fashion warehouses, cherry picking at farms and even trips to the snow! The ladies committee also held masquerade balls with paper mace masks that they  hand made. They were very creative.

You would also find them in the mall on Italian day selling beautiful sweets and delicious foods. The local Italian dancers would perform at various  places and for their performances they received donations, all going towards the festival.  The ladies committee ran till about 2003.

Another way they fund raised was with disco`s for the children. The San Giovanni Battista committee held under 18`s disco`s with a DJ and they served soft drinks and snacks. The disco`s were held at the hall at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross and the Italian Centre, both in Stewart Street, Wollongong. Disco`s were held almost fortnightly with up to 300 children in attendance. The disco`s ran for over ten years.

THE FESTIVAL DAY

After the mass at the Cathedral and the procession with the statue to the Sacred Heart Chapel, people made their way to the Wollongong Show Ground and the festival began around 3.30pm. There were stalls galore of food and drinks. A joyland carnival for the children with a Merry-Go-Round and Ferris Wheel and one could not forget the stalls of the Italian sweets of Mustazolli (honey and gingerbread) and Torrone (Italian nut nougat).

There was the famous spaghetti eating competition for adults and in later years for children as well. The entertainment program usually began around 4pm. This gave people time to arrive after the procession with many people finding a seat in the grand stand. The festival concluded with the drawing of the raffles and the fireworks display, finishing around 10pm. The main attraction entertainer usually performed at the end of the night as well. Many years later the fireworks moved to 9pm.

The very first festival compare was Pino Bosi. Pino Bosi was an award winning  journalist and author. He worked in multicultural television and was a pioneer in special broadcasting services for ethnic radio. Pino Bosi also compared the early 1960`s festival. Another compare in later years was Umberto Rossi. Local WIN Television News anchors Michael McRae and Susie Elelman also compared and helped out with raffle draws ect.

From 1995 to 2001 the festival moved to Brandon Park before returning to the Wollongong show ground in 2002.

Luigi Villella had been the president since 1981. He held the position for 25 years. He stepped down from the presidency in early 2006. On the 5th of August of the same year the then secretary Mario Mastroianni (who was the secretary since it began in 1981) suddenly passed away. It was such a shock for all. Both Luigi and Mario who worked tirelessly for the festival along with the committee, helped create a festival like no other in Wollongong.

2006 saw a new president in Mario Vescio. Mario Vescio had been part of the committee since 1981 and had a good knowledge of the festival operations. The new secretary was Connie Sacco. Connie was also part of the committee and had been the assistant secretary since 2001. 2006 also saw the introduction of the pizza eating contest along with the original spaghetti race.

In 2010 the festival moved to the Fraternity Bowling Club at Fairy Meadow. It was also the year that the festival celebrated coming into it’s 30th year of operation, which actually occurred in 2011. The procession still lead from the Wollongong Catholic Cathedral to the Sacred Heart Chapel with the festivities beginning in the afternoon.

The festival at the Fraternity Club was a lot smaller than that at the Show ground but with a different format. The Festival began around around 3pm. They had food stalls, festival sweets and a exhibition of Italian cars, with a competition for the Champion of Champions. With rides for the children and outdoor entertainment. Then, inside the club in the sunken lounge, they had the Italian variety entertainers and a local DJ as part of the day’s program. The festival again finishing with a fireworks display. 

2014 was the last festival. This time the procession was led from the St John Vianney`s Catholic Church at Fairy Meadow. This would be the very last time that the community gathered to walk and celebrate San Giovanni Battista.

I spoke to one of the committee members who recalls as a child going to the festival. He said his Father would give him and his brother $20 each. They would just spend the day there on the rides, buying food and having fun watching all the entertainment. He said it felt like Christmas for him and his brother.

The San Giovanni Battista festival ran for 37 years with a total of 38 festivals. It really was an amazing achievement. It took a brigade of people to run the festival that came together at the year’s end with constant fundraising and activities throughout to get there. The initial fundraising just to get the statue was fantastic in itself. Door knocking and speaking with the community to bringing home the statue in 1965.

From the early stages of the idea, then putting together a group of people, to then selecting the committee members. Coordinating the festival was another endeavour. Each committee member had their role to play and without each other the festival would never have taken place.

Local council requirements and regulations had to be met. Responsibilities for the statue and the processions. The never ending fundraising throughout the year and the organisation of dinner dances, picnic days, bus trips ect, seeking donations from the community and local businesses. Making sure that all insurance’s and entertainment fees were covered. Constantly coming up with different ways to fund raise such as disco`s for the children and food stalls throughout the year remembering that for most of those years they didn’t have social media.

We certainly were blessed that the committee members were motivated to create such a wonderful festival. Many of them had families and/or even businesses of their own, yet they still dedicated so much time and effort to the event every year. It was carnival day for the children, a family day for many and for some people, just walking behind the statue with the procession was worth the wait every year. 

There will be never be another festival or era like it. It was the pride of the Italian community. The many memories will remain with all of us. It was only meant for the time that it was. VIVA SAN GIOVANNI!

 

 

 

 

 

Above: The 1981 festival committee members and their names.

Performers for the 1981 S Giovanni Battista Festival

 

 

 

 Above video images from festival programs, photos by Paul Spinelli

 

 

 

 Above video images from the collection belonging to Gino Spinelli

S. GIOVANNI BATTISTA FESTIVAL - PART ONE

I have fond memories of the San Giovanni Battista Festival in Wollongong when it was held in the early 80`s. With hundreds of people in attendance every year. With entertainment, fun activities for children and a food extravaganza, the festival was a well received annual event. It was as if all the Italian community of Wollongong was there.

If we go back to it’s origins, then we must begin in 1965. Gennaro Renda and Gennaro Sacco along with some other friends formed a social group. They wanted to create something that could be a celebration and a coming together of the community. They were all from Gizzeria, home to the Church of Saint John the Baptist, recognised as the protector of the town.

The group invited others to join. They thought of running a festival in Wollongong. Every year, in the town of Gizzeria, a festival was held and in Brookvale, Sydney, they also ran a festival each year. It was time for Wollongong to have one too!

The group spoke with the local priest and began planning. On the 27th of July, 1965, under the direction of Fr Joseph Molon, The St John the Baptist Committee was officially verified. They were to organise a festival on behalf of the Saint and to raise money amongst the Italian community for the purchase of a statue. The committee members were Gennaro Renda, (president), P. Spinelli (vice president), Giuseppe Perusco (secretary), Tullio Chiodo (secretary of correspondence) and M Stanizzo (treasurer). 17 others made up the group of the S. Giovanni Battista Festival committee.

They began by door knocking. Gennaro Sacco did a lot of the ground work here and he also did a lot of walking! He walked everywhere from suburb to suburb to talk about the festival and raise money. Others in the committee, as well as friends, walked and drove around the area asking for donations and the money started to come in. It was slow at first but with dedication they were able to raise the funds to purchase their statue.

The statute was modelled off a photo of the Saint that sits in the local church in Gizzeria.  Using this photo, it was sent to Italy to the sculptor and the work began. A letter dated December 14,1965 was sent to Father Molon informing him that the sculpture was finished and on its way. Travelling by sea on the  ship `Galileo`.

Weighing 128 kilograms the statue arrived in Sydney and was released by customs on December 30. Gennaro Renda along with Gennaro Sacco and another committee member bought the sculpture home. It was transported back to Wollongong by truck.

In 1966 the festival began. Typically, every year the festival was held in December, but in 1966, there were actually two festivals. The first one was held on the 27th of March at the Wollongong Show Ground. It was not just about having the festival, it was also to commemorate the statue itself. The `Triduum`, which was the three days of prayer prior to the celebration, commenced on Wednesday March 23 finishing on Friday March 25th. Confession was held on Saturday and on Sunday March 27 the celebratory mass was held which also included the blessing of the statue.

The mass was (always) held at St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Wollongong. After the Sunday mass the statue was carried out of the church and a procession led through the streets along with the A.I.S. band. The statue was then transported to the Unanderra Catholic Church where it stayed until the next festival.

The festival had local and state artists. Food was available, rides for the children and the festival finished with a fireworks display. December 4, 1966 the S. Giovanni Battista (2nd festival) was held at Wollongong Show Ground.

In 1967 the Sacred Heart Chapel, Stewart Street, Wollongong was completed. The program for the procession began at the Wollongong Cathedral to the Sacred Heart Chapel. The statue would remain in the Sacred Heart Chapel for the year. The next year, on the day before the festival mass, it was brought back to the Cathedral where it would be taken out again for the procession. This was repeated every year of the festival.

For the next three years the annual festival took place in Wollongong. The festival was well attended and appreciated by the Italian community. They were also able to raise revenue with advertisements in the programs. This helped raise more money, although raising the funds was not easy. Whilst the committee was happy to door knock and ask for donations to run the festival, the money that was leftover at the end of the year, one would think, would be used towards the festival for the following year. But this was the not case. Any surplus/profits from a previous festival ended up being given back to the church, as a donation and not everyone agreed with it. It became impossible then to sustain the festival by door knocking each year to raise the funds again from scratch. The last festival was held in 1969. The then president Michele Calci made the hard decision to end the festival and disband the organisation. He felt quite hurt about the whole experience.

The statue sat in the Sacred Heart Chapel, Wollongong. After some time it seemed to have just disappeared! Around 1974 Padre Don Alessandro Audino, who was a priest from Gizzeria, was visiting and came to Wollongong to see some family and friends. He mentioned that he wanted to see the statue. The question was asked around at the major catholic churches including the Wollongong Cathedral and the Sacred Heart Chapel. The answer was `we don’t know where it is`. No one in the diocese knew where the statue was and it seemed that no one was even interested. It was quite disappointing considering that so many donated their money to getting the statue built and brought to Wollongong.

Fast forward to 1980 and Gennaro Sacco (who was the President of the Committee in 1968) had a conversation with Luigi Villella. Luigi had helped out with the festival in the last two years that it ran. Gennaro was keen to start up the festival again. Luigi was keen too, but did not want to model the  new festival like the previous one. They needed to raise funds and to keep the funds in the hands of the committee. To be able to plan and make better decisions with full control. There would be no door knocking this time.

However, before they agreed to anything they wanted to investigate the whereabouts of the statue one more time, because without the statue they would not have a festival. The priest assigned to the Sacred Heart Chapel was Father Lauro Ruffo. Luigi, Gennaro and Mario Mastroianni asked Father Lauro if he knew anything about it or what happened to it?  To their surprise Father Lauro knew where it was. It was underneath the stairs at the Italian Centre. They went to see it straight away. It was in need of repair and certainly unloved. The statue was full of dust and it had some mold. The paint had started to craze and crack and one of the arms had broken pieces.

Glad to retrieve the statue, they took it to Gino Sanguineti for a full restoration. Gino was well known in the Wollongong area for his spectacular sculptures and artworks. The statue was taken to Gino`s workshop under his house and he worked on it for several weeks. The cost was over $1000.

 

                                  The original print that was used to model the design of the statue.

Inside and outside the church. Preparing for the procession.

The beginning of the procession.

 

 The very first program for the very first festival. 

Sunday March 27, 1966. 

 

All above images from the collection belonging to John Renda 

courtesy of Bruno Ballesi