OLINDO BATTOCCHIO - PAINTER

Olindo Battocchio touched down in Sydney Australia, 26 February, 1961.  He got a job at EPT with his brother Antonio, who was also working there.  Antonio had arrived in Australia in 1955 and was living in Unanderra and Olindo lived with him. A short while later, Antonio returned back home to Italy.

Olindo`s first labouring jobs with EPT were at the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Airport at Mascot. These labouring jobs went for 3 months.

Still with EPT, Olindo had switched roles and began working as an industrial painter. Olindo worked as painter in Italy so he had some experience. He was sent to Canberra on a three month work stint to paint large industrial television antennas. When Olindo came back to NSW he was assigned to the Port Kembla Steel Works as a maintenance painter, specifically doing small jobs and offices ect.

Olindo worked at EPT for approximately 13 months before he and his friend Baffo decided to start a business together painting houses.  The two of them began working and built up their business. After approximately 18 months Baffo went back to EPT and Olindo carried on. Olindo found it much easier painting houses than his previous job.

Olindo did all the work himself initially when he went out on his own and eventually the business employed two extra staff members. His house painting business was doing well and Olindo was becoming well noted for his work. On the 24th of August, 1963, Olindo married Gianna Piccolotto at the Immaculate Conception Church at Unanderra and they later celebrated their wedding reception at  Luccarda`s at  Tarrawanna. He and Gianna had three children, two sons and a daughter. Steven born in 1965, daughter Monica was born in 1967 and Robert was born in 1972.

Olindo`s children went to St Francis Xaviers Primary School in Wollongong.  He became very involved with the school and the church. He was vice  president of the school committee. Olindo was known for his good work and the fact that his brother was also a priest.

When his children attended high school he was assigned work at both Edmund Rice College and St Mary’s College. Olindo did all the school maintenance painting, the convent and the priests quarters, the new chapel and the new building at Edmund Rice. 

Olindo and his crew did ongoing painting maintenance at St Mary’s, all the while still doing house painting.  Olindo painted houses for approximately 20 years.

Olindo was asked to do a commercial painting job, something he had never done before. He took up the offer and the customer was very pleased with his work. It was soon that Olindo change from domestic house painting to commercial premises. Here he seemed to thrive and more commercial work came in. Bigger projects and big houses.

Trading under the name of Aymar Pty Ltd his first commercial painting job was the Illawarra Master Builders Club in Wollongong. Olindo and his team painted the club inside and out.  Other places that he and his team worked on in the area were the Italian Centre Wollongong, the renovation of the Corrimal Catholic Church and the Unanderra Immaculate Conception Church. At Berkeley he worked on the Retirement Village and Nursing Home and also a Church.

One of the biggest jobs that he did was the Garrawarra Nursing home at Waterfall, NSW.  The nursing home had begun major renovations. The job took him six months to complete. He was also doing apartment blocks with some of them being nine stories high, either newly painted or re-painting.  He also did work at the Wollongong University which was ongoing for 18 years and he repainted government schools.

He worked on the new library at Thirroul in 2009 and after painting his last block of units after 30 years, Olindo officially retired in 2010. After he retired from painting he focused on the renovation of his home in North Wollongong, which took him 12 months to complete. Once the renovations were complete, Olindo began sketching and was contemplating taking an art class.

It was remarkable to me was when I visited Olindo at his home in North Wollongong. We had a lovely conversation and he expressed how he felt the desire to try his hand at painting on canvas. He went along to one class but felt hindered. So he just began working on his own, painting things that he saw and what appealed to him. He would get inspiration from various sources.

His paintings are scattered around his house and they are all diverse and bursting with colour and vibrance with many telling a story of their own.  Personally, I think that they are worthy of being exhibited. They are quite unique. Olindo said that painting relaxes him and that he enjoys the time alone and creating art. Olindo mostly paints in the afternoon and in the evening when the place is quiet and he has the feeling to pick up the brush. He also said that he has no set time, he just paints as he is feeling good.

I originally contacted Olindo as I was looking for information about his brother Gino. Gino, who we featured in an earlier story was talented and creative with metal and it turns out that Olindo had his own creative talents too, that expanded after his retirement. His garage is his art studio and is it just a delight to bear witness to.  

 

 

Olindo with one of the large projects that he did.

 The tree in Olindo`s backyard. Olindo painted this to keep as a memory before it was cut down, as it did some damage to a neighboring property.

All images from the collection belonging to Olindo Battocchio

GINO BATTOCCHIO - MECHANIC/METAL WORKER

At 26 years of age, aboard the ship Toscana, Gino Battocchio left Venice April 23, 1952 and arrived in Freemantle, Western Australia May 27.  He disembarked in Melbourne, Victoria June 7th. From there he moved to the Bonegilla Migrant Camp. On the 2nd of August he moved to the Commonwealth Hostel, Unanderra, NSW.

Gino was the eldest of eleven brothers and the family were struggling in Italy.  This was the reason why Gino came to Australia to be able to work and earn good money to send back home. Gino’s fiancé Renata Baldissieri remained in Italy. She would have to wait a few years before Gino returned home. Gino wrote to Renata constantly never wavering from his plans.

Gino’s profession was listed as Mechanic/Turner. He began working on August 4th factory in Unanderra, `Australian Iron and Steel` that was part of the Port Kembla Steel Works. After a short stint living at Flagstaff Road, Warrawong he soon moved to Unanderra where he rented a house in Grace Street.

Gino was very creative and loved to take many photos and he learnt to develop and print them as well. Though his incredible gift was working with metal and he was a master craftsman. Gino created amazing designs and soon they would be on display for the public to see.

In 1954 the Immaculate Conception Church was officially opened in Unanderra. Many people donated items to commemorate and Gino built and donated a Lectern of the Altar to the value of 50 pounds at the time.  It was made of sheet metal with semi-gold plated bronze frames and fretwork that he machined. He also made a chalice and the gates of the altar. These works he carried out in the garage of the rectory in Unanderra. Gino became quite acquainted with the church.

On the 10th of November, 1955 his brother Antonio arrived in Australia traveling on the ship Surriento. Antonio lived with his brother Gino in Grace Street and he soon got a job at the Port Kembla Steel Works. 

Across the road from his rented house at number 8 Grace Street was a house own by the church at number 3. It was situated at the back of the Unanderra Church that faced the Princes Highway. Gino rented out a room, moving out of the rented house at number 8. Gino, whilst still working was always dedicated to his metal creations.

In 1959 Gino began working on a new piece for the Immaculate Conception Church at Unanderra.  It was the Tabernacle and it was truly beautiful. He noted that on Holy Thursday, it was almost complete. September 27 of the same year Gino Battocchio returned to Italy after staying in Australia for seven years. Brother Antonio returned five months later.  Gino began working in the Madras shoe factory in Bassano del Grappa as a maintenance officer for the production machines. But his intent to repatriate was very decisive. In 1960 he started, in his own basement, his first independent business.

Soon after Antonio`s  arrival in Italy the two of them had their house built with two apartments. They immediately began working on the basement garage that became their first workshop. In 1961 Gino married Renata. Renata began working as the secretary for the company `BB OFFICINE BATTOCCHIO`.

Prior to leaving Italy, Gino began working at the age of 14 at the F.IIi Arise company in Bassano del Grappa. At the age of 17 he moved to the Gasparatto shoe factory where he learned the trade of maintenance mechanic with his future father-in-law who was a master mechanic. Knowing the shoe industry and manufacturing Gino created and patented machines that fastened the soles and the uppers. These machines were created for shoe factories and quickly became popular.  Gino and Antonio built an adjoining workshop as they needed to expand. The machines were exported over time to nearly 50 countries around the world. Antonio worked with Gino for 15 years.

In 1975 Gino and Renata built a new house. In addition to the shoe machines Gino carried out other precision mechanical work for various companies including those in the goldsmith sector. Gino’s son Andrea would end up working with him.

Gino ran his factory with his son Andrea till he retired in 2005. The shoe machines along with the patents were sold off and are still in circulation today. Gino Battocchio passed away on March 12, 2010 and he was 84 years old. Renata passed away ten years later on March 19, 2020. Renata was 82.

Gino Battocchio certainly left an incredible legacy behind. He is survived by his three children Riccardo, Andrea and Cristina, two Grandchildren as well as several siblings. He visited Australia another 3 times with Renata who got to see Australia, the country that he so often wrote to her about and the stories that she heard. Gino had many fond memories of his time here. In 1993 he was Knighted by the Italian government for his services to the community. He was also a local councilor and was instrumental with the launching of the group ANEA.  `Associazione Nazionale Emigrati ex-Emigrati Australia Americhe`. The ANEA association was dedicated to cultural and social purposes for immigrants and repatriates. They are still operating today with many members world wide.

Gino has blessed us with his marvelous metal works which are still in use and on display at the Immaculate Conception Church, Unanderra. Gino had strong ties to the church. Two of his brothers became priests as well. Egidio who was of the Scalabrini order went to Brazil and Tarcisio who went to Ecuador is of the Salesiano order.

Lastly, his son Monsignor Riccardo Battocchio, is the president of the Association of  Italian Theology and the Rector of the Almo Collegio Capranica in Rome. It is a college of seminarians and young priests. He also took on the role of Special Secretary of the Synod of Bishops 2021-2024.

As I spoke with daughter Cristina we had several conversations in the middle of the night and I was just amazed at the story of her father. I first found Gino’s name in a newspaper article from 1956 that was brought to my attention from the staff at the Wollongong Library. From there I began my search and found connection after connection. Without Cristina and the Wollongong Library this story would not exist. My heartfelt thank you goes to them both.

I would like to share a moment of personal thought here. As a person growing up in Australia there were times when I was discriminated against for my ethnicity. Both of my parents were immigrants and even though they had moments of discrimination too, they often spoke about the great opportunities that Australia gave them and the wonderful people that they met along the way.

I feel the same way and do not see myself as a victim at all.  The reason that I write this is for you, the reader, to take a moment and think about the many immigrants who came here. Gino was obviously an incredibly talented and creative individual who gave so much here to Australia and his beloved Italy. Yet, so many times I heard ` just an immigrant` from the mouths of many. As if `just an immigrant` were those who filled in the gaps because Australia didn’t have the population and needed people for its growth.

How many New Australians as they were often called, were never able to share their gifts and talents because they were thought of as second class citizens? We have been so blessed to have had the opportunity to bring in those people who shared a part of themselves with good intention and honesty of who they were. How courageous they were in the face of hardship as well as non acceptance by some.  

Gino came here and worked as a mechanic yet his creative side yearned to be expressed and we are so very blessed that it did. Gino is still here in Australia and in Italy too. His legacy is strewn throughout the world and it truly is wonderful!

West Wollongong Technical College Exhibition 26/08/1956.  Gino with his creations

 and some admirers of his amazing works.

 

 

 

  Gino doing what he does best.

 

 

 

Gino received a Knighthood from the Italian Government.

Gino`s patented machines that were exported world wide.

 

 

 

All images from the collection belonging to Cristina Battocchio
 

 

 

 

Images from the collection belonging to Cristina Battocchio 

with granted permission of video footage

of the Immaculate Conception Church Unanderra

ILARIO RACCANELLO

Ilario Raccanello arrived in Australia June 3rd, 1934 on the ship Romolo.  Travelling with him was his younger brother Giovanni who was only 4 years old. They were two of six brothers from Crespano del Grappa, Province of Treviso.  All six brothers were orphans. 

Ilario and Giovanni, after landing in Sydney, headed to Griffith NSW to live with their Aunty.  They were getting ready for a new life in Australia. Ilario was 17 when he arrived and soon got a job working on a farm.

On August 17, 1937 brother Giacinto arrived in Australia on the ship Viminale.  He headed straight to Griffith to be with his brothers Ilario and Giovanni. Giacinto also began working on a farm. Prior to Giacinto arriving, a young lady by the name of Ivonna Lazzarotto arrived in Australia April 27,  aboard the ship Ormonde. Ivonna was young girl who was also heading to Griffith.

By 1938 Ilario was courting Ivonna and went to work in Innisfail Queensland, cutting cane.  There he was able to make some good money before returning home to Griffith. In 1940 he married Ivonna. 

In 1941 Ilario was a guest at a wedding and he took his camera to take photos of the festive occasion. Ilario`s friend cautioned him about taking the camera, as the war had broken out and Italy and Australia were not exactly the best of friends. Accusations were made and people came to the wrong conclusions and subsequently Ilario was interned for 12 months in 1942. The authorities thought he was a spy.

After twelve months he returned back to Griffith to his wife. Ilario and his and brother Giacinto then purchased a farm. They worked hard and were well known in the area as the Raccanello Brothers. The farm was doing well and they grew a variety of fruits such as plums, grapes, quinces, watermelon, rock melon as well as carrots.

In 1947 the family grew with the birth of Ilario and Ivonna`s son Ermes. Two years later, in 1949 another brother arrived.  Onorio Raccanello also came to Griffith but didn’t stay too long.  Eventually he moved to Stanthorpe where he settled with his future wife Emma. Now there were four brothers living in Australia. 

In 1957 IIario had hurt himself from the physically demanding work on the farm and was unable to continue in the same capacity.  So he and Giacinto made the decision to move on and sell the farm. Ilario then got a job at the rice mills and Giacinto moved to Cootamundra where he went into partnership with a friend and bought a fruit shop.

In 1959 Illario and Giacinto purchased a business in Wollongong.  There were two businesses that they looked at. One was the Balgownie Hotel, but Ivonna didn’t want young Ermes growing up in that environment and the other business was a Guest/boarding house in Wollongong. They also had friends in the area.

The guest house was called Ronoli Guest House and it was situated at 107 Corrimal Street, Wollongong. The building was next door to the Fazzolare Building that faced Crown Street. The building in it’s early days was a boarding house and then it became a convalescent hospital up until the late 1950`s. It was the only private hospital at the time between Milton and Sutherland. All the other private hospitals had closed down due to staff shortages.

The guest house structure consisted of two buildings that were connected via a large majestic mahogany staircase. It was two stories with long corridors and large rooms for accommodation. The guests had their own communal kitchen to cook in and were allocated their own lockers to store their personal items. There were also communal bathrooms on each level.  There was a large lounge area where guests could relax and socialize.

The guests had to do their own personal washing in the communal laundry though all the housekeeping was done by Ivonna.  The source of heat for the guest house was a coal fired burner that had to be filled every day.  Trucks would deliver the coal to the property and the driveway was often filled with coal ready to be shovelled for usage.

Illario and his family along with Giacinto lived in their own separate quarters on the lower floor of the building that had separate access. Their quarters consisted of two bedrooms, kitchen, dining, bath and lounge room. Those who stayed at the guest house had their own keys to enter the building at their own discretion. All the guests were single men, women were not allowed.

Ermes was 12 years old when his family purchased the guest house.  He has lots of fond memories and said that he loved all the different people who used to reside there.  There was a professional artist (painter), a wardsman at Wollongong Hospital, a signal man on the railways, another man who worked at the Steel Works and a casual/permanent truck driver who would stay for a week at a time in between jobs yet booked the room permanently so it would always be available to him. There was even a professional card player/gambler. He would play cards all night and sleep all day.  There were usually up to 8 men staying at the guest house at once.  

Whilst still living at the guest house, Ermes got his first full time job at an Italian Delicatessen in Fairy Meadow when he was 15 years old.  He worked there for 3 years. After approximately 7 years of running the Ronoli Guest House the Raccanello family sold it.

After the sale of the guest house the family purchased a house in Campbell Street, Wollongong as well as a small block of units. Some of their neighbours in Campbell Street were local Italian fishermen from Wollongong Harbour.  Ermes began a new job working at the deli in David Jones.

Ilario got a job at the Steel Works as a leading hand gardener. He was also a regular at the Fraternity Club where he would meet with friends to play cards, darts and bocce. He was asked to maintain the Bocce courts and also do some gardening at the club.

In 1969 Ermes married Dianne Luke whom he met whilst working at David Jones. Their wedding reception was held at Luccarda`s reception centre at Tarrawanna with 180 guests. All four Raccanello brothers were there to celebrate.

During the time that Ermes was working at David Jones he got a casual job at the Fraternity Club, working at night, which soon lead to a permanent position at the club, having worked there for 6yrs. In 1973 Ermes left the Fraternity Club and began work selling, repairing and installing Poker Machines where he worked till he retired in 2012.

Giacinto was working at Transfield. Ilario had left the Steel works and was working as a gardener at Wollongong Hospital where he finished out his retirement. By now the Campbell Street house had been sold and Ilario, Ivonna and Giacinto were living in Fairy Meadow.

Ilario fell ill and had batted cancer for nearly 5 years. It was extremely difficult for the family and Ivonna was constantly caring and nursing him. On the 28th of November 1987 Ilario Raccanello passed away. He was 71. Brother Onorio passed away in 2003.

Ivonna wasn’t well herself and she moved in with Giacinto who took care of her, as she had dementia. He was there for her when she needed him. After many years Giacinto passed away on October 12, 2008. He was 87. Four years later Ivonna passed away March 19. She was 90 years old and at the age of 91, youngest brother Giovanni passed away 29 October, 2021.

Ilario and Ivonna are survived by their three grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Here was another story where the boarding house played a pivotal role at the time.  Many migrant men and even non-migrant men relied heavily on them. They enabled so many a place of refuge and affordable accommodation. There were dozens of boarding houses at one stage, very few remain today. The Ronoli Guest house eventually was demolished making way for retail development.

 

Ermes and his dog Bobby at the back of the Guest House.

The Ronoli Guest House.

The Four Brothers at the wedding of Ermes.

Left to right: Onorio, Giacinto, Giovanni and Ilario

All images from the collection belonging to Ermes Raccanello

ROCCO ANNECCHINI - BUSINESS OWNER

On December 4th 1955, Rocco Annecchini arrived in Freemantle, Western Australia. He sailed into Sydney, NSW on December 10, traveling on the ship Australia. Rocco`s brother Tommaso had arrived three years earlier aboard the Hellenic Prince and he first stayed at the Unanderra Hostel and began working at the Port Kembla Steel Works. Brother Paolo arrived August 3rd, 1960 aboard the Australia, the same ship as his brother Rocco.

Rocco began working at Municipal Pipes in 1956. Once Paolo arrived the three brothers would purchase a business together, a service station/garage in King Street, Warrawong. The service station was built by Shell and they were looking for someone to run it. Brother Paolo was also a mechanic so the garage was a good fit. After approximately two years the brothers had finished up with the garage.

Rocco would become quite the businessman and went out on his own and purchased other businesses. He never worked for anyone else again, right up to retirement. In 1962 Rocco purchased the Capri Restaurant in Port Kembla. Lidia Lebrocchi was the owner and was very well known in the area.  Lidia Lebrocchi was also quite the business woman.  

The Capri catered for many of the Steel Workers during the day and the nights were busy as well.  Often on a Friday and Saturday night they would have a dance band in the restaurant.

The next business he owned, and the one that he became very well known for was his coffee lounge.  In 1964 Rocco purchased the coffee lounge from his brother Tommaso and his wife Norina. Tommaso and Norina had been running the coffee lounge since 1960. It was situated out front of the Lakeview shopping centre, King Street, Warrawong. When Rocco`s daughter was born the coffee lounge was given a new name, the Marina Coffee Lounge.

The Marina Coffee Lounge became quite the meeting point for so many Italians. Coffee, conversation and connections made the Marina Coffee Lounge the place to be. It also had a pool table and some pinball machines.  I spoke with Mark Ballesi, who’s father ran Photo Roma Studio upstairs in the same building as the Marina Coffee Lounge. Mark said that he remembered when his father was photographing a wedding, members of the bridal party who were waiting to be photographed would often would pop downstairs to Rocco's to get coffee and other treats.

Many a long night was had at the Marina with friends and soccer rivals.  A healthy competition between friends and cafes began and many young men frequented the coffee lounge.  It would also be the place to play cards before and after soccer games: and Rocco just loved soccer.

Rocco had put a soccer team together from the Marina Coffee Lounge and so did his friend Italo Corradetti. Italo had his own cafe (Italo Coffee Lounge) in Wentworth Street, Port Kembla. Friendly rivals one could say. In 1966 Rocco Annecchini`s team and Italo Corradetti`s team decided to amalgamate their teams and Port Kembla FC was born. Rocco became a huge part of the club with a vested interest for many years.  

I spoke to Anna De Peron, who’s father Giuseppe was the president of the soccer club. Anna said that she would make posters for the Port Kembla Soccer Club’s fund raising dances at the Warrawong Community Centre.  The club paid for all the stationary to make the posters and Anna made several. The Marina Coffee lounge always had a poster advertising the dances which were held monthly.  The dances at the community hall were around 1966 - 1970 and the Latin Beats were the band. After 1970 the dances moved to the Fraternity Bowling Club at Fairy Meadow, where the band also performed and there were no more dances at the Community Hall in Warrawong.

After some years, Rocco sold the Capri to his friend Italo Corradetti. Having had the Capri for almost 15 years. He had also sold the Marina Coffee Lounge and in 1978 Rocco went to Wollongong. He rented out an empty shop in (downtown) Crown Street, Wollongong. Rocco opened a delicatessen with a gelato bar. He stayed for two years before selling and coming back to Warrawong.

He ran another business in King Street for a short while. A Cafe/delicatessen. Rocco was incredibly motivated with his businesses and eased in and out of them. Having been in the food industry he would also supply grocery lines to other small restaurants and cafes on a wholesale basis.

Things were changing and as the Warrawong shopping precinct was expanding, Port Kembla was decreasing.  Port Kembla had been a hub of activity for so long but with the opening of King Street, from Warrawong through to Primbee and further south, Warrawong had everything. The Lake Market Shopping Centre on King Street was sold in the mid eighties and getting ready for a major refurbishment and Rocco was planning a new project.

On the 27th of January, 1981, Rocco Annecchini had plans approved for a building at Lot 2, Cowper Street. The plans were approved for a two story brick building that consisted of two shops and three offices.  The building would have offices above and shops below.

Rocco had put in a small deli downstairs at the back of his new building in Cowper Street. The deli was a tiny shop. He sold Italian small goods, grocery lines and coffee. By now his friend Italo, who had been running the Capri was ill and passed away June 1st, 1985.  Rocco then took over the Capri for a second time. Rocco`s wife June was running the restaurant during the day whilst Rocco was running the deli. At night, Rocco would run the Capri after coming from his day job at the Cowper Street Deli.

After a short while the Capri was sold on and Rocco then was able to focus on the Cowper Street, Deli. The shop next to the Deli had been a bike shop and a Doctors surgery at different times. After a few years the Doctor left, and Rocco created an entry way between the two shops creating a bigger Deli that incorporated a Cafe as well.

His cafe was well frequented with many patrons who also attended his Marina Coffee lounge.  They would enjoy coffee, a chat and a game of cards, of course. In 2004 Rocco sold the building, but kept the deli.  At 71 years of age Rocco finally retired in 2006.

The building in Cowper Street has had several owners since Rocco retired. The Deli is still there and is run by Santo La Rosa. I spoke to Santo and  some of his customers and so many of them remember Rocco and his Marina Coffee Lounge. They in turn came to the Cowper Street, Deli/Cafe and still visit.  On the daily you will find many retired men who get together to play cards and have a coffee and a chat. Such was the legacy that Rocco left behind.

Rocco passed away on the 29th of April, 2008. He was 73 years old. Rocco Annecchini was well known for the Marina Coffee Lounge and his Deli/Cafe in Cowper Street and for his contribution to the Port Kembla Soccer Club. He was well known in the Italian community, was well liked and for over 45 years he served the Italian community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A young Rocco heading for Australia

 

 

 

 Rocco serving his customers at the Marina Coffee Lounge

 

 

 

 All images from the collection belonging to Marina Potter (Annecchini)

CORRADO COROLLA

Corrado Corolla was born in Italy on the 17th of March, 1942 in Canelli, Asti.  In 1959, at age sixteen he arrived in Sydney with this father Eugenio, mother Carolina and brother Angelo on the ship Australia. Corrado`s older brother Sergio was living in Fairfield, NSW and the family stayed with him.   

Sergio had been in Australia since 1954 and also travelled on the ship Australia. He worked for Melosi Small Goods during the day and at night he was a musician, playing the piano accordion.  

Both Corrado and Eugenio got jobs at Melosi and worked along side Sergio. Corrado would later get a second job at Brescia furniture.

Sergio soon married and the family moved, though still in the local Fairfield area. Corrado then got another job for Milano Small Goods, and eventually he would branch out on his own.

Corrado, after watching his brother play the accordion, picked it up and taught himself to play. He then formed his own band and also began to play bass guitar, he was young and into the rock and roll scene. His band also had a lead singer, though Corrado didn’t sing.

In 1963 he was at an Italian picnic that was run by the Friulian Association. It was there that he met Marina Ghidella who was from Wollongong and three years later they married. They had their wedding reception at Luccarda`s reception centre, Tarrawanna.

Corrado moved to Wollongong and set up his own small goods business from his home garage called C & M Corolla, in Gregory Street.  Whilst he was working on his small goods business he still played with his band in Sydney. Corrado would go to Sydney to play the bookings and come home at night.  He continued to do this for a few years.  Traveling to Sydney for the band was too much, so he decided to try and form a new band in Wollongong. It was now 1968.

Over at Warrawong, approx ten minutes south of Wollongong, was a local band called The Latin Beats, who had been playing together for 2 years.  The Latin Beats were a four piece, group of young men, who played at the Warrawong community centre once a month.  It was a gathering where people would come and meet, listen and dance to the music, enjoy the food and the company. Often the dances would be fundraisers for local groups etc. The Latin Beats consisted of a drummer, bass player, guitarist and a button accordion player.

Corrado came to practice with the group, downstairs in the guitarist’s mother`s house. Corrado had experience and could play  a variety of music styles. He replaced the original accordion player and now the Latin Beats were ready for a change.

The Latin Beats no longer played at the community centre and started to play at local hotels and restaurants in and around Wollongong. Two restaurants in particular that they performed at were the Capri at Port Kembla, and the Frascati in Wollongong.  The other thing that had changed was that Corrado began singing with the group.

In 1970 they were given a permanent gig at The Fraternity Club, Fairy Meadow.  They would perform Thursday through to Sunday, with Wednesday being their rehearsal day.

Saturday nights at the Fraternity Club always drew a big crowd.  The Fraternity had a large auditorium for dancing and the Latin Beats were a great dance band covering a range of styles. The Latin Beats also played at other social gatherings outside of the club, particularly cultural events. They often played at the San Giovanni Battista festival in Wollongong. 

In 1972 a new member joined the group, Fred Marsh. Fred was a saxophonist/singer and he had show band experience. It added another dimension to the group. Fred had recently returned from Vietnam where he was entertaining the troops.

The Latin Beats seemed to be going from strength to strength.  They played their usual gigs at the Fraternity Club and often played in other places too. Occasionally you would see them at the Marconi Club in Sydney, or maybe when they played for a wedding at Bruno`s Reception Centre in Tarrawanna.  

In 1975 the band changed their name and were now known as Con and The Latin Beats. It seemed fitting because Con was so well known around the Fraternity Club and the local area as he was still working with his small goods business and he had many customers: suppling restaurants, cafes and other food outlets.

The Fraternity Club held wedding receptions on a Sunday night and the band was usually playing. They were incredibly busy playing music and the work just kept coming. Even Con`s brother Sergio, filled in for him on one occasion.

When Italian singer Nicola Di Bari came to Australia in the early 80`s, Con and The Latin Beats were his backing band. They played at five different venues. from NSW through to Victoria.  Nicola Di Bari was a two time San Remo Festival Winner and an extremely popular singer/entertainer in Italy.

By 1980, Corrado sold his small goods business so he could focus more on his music, as he had opened a music store.  The music store sold instruments such as guitars, drums and accordions as well as sheet music. Corrado and wife Marina went to Ancona, Italy, so they could obtain an import licence to sell accordions back in Australia at their store. Upstairs from his music store was Con`s Music School where he leased out the space to music teachers. By 1985 the music store had closed and Con and Marina rented out the shops that once occupied the store. The music school was still going upstairs.  

They decided to open a delicatessen and once again went back to selling small goods wholesale. The wholesale side of the business picked up quickly and soon they were back supplying food outlets.

In 1993 Con and The Latin Beats became a six member group with the addition of a lead singer whose name was Margot. With a female in the group the dynamics had changed again and it gave the band even more depth.

FRED MARSH

I spoke with Fred Marsh and he spoke with such joy about his time with the band and the impact that they had in the area and for the Fraternity Club.  

Fred spoke about the dance nights on Saturdays at The Fraternity Club.  The auditorium would be packed and they could easily have up to 1000 people. Both men and women were well dressed for dancing and it was always a great night. The band was diverse in its music style, playing everything from Latin to Rock and Roll.  

Nothing was more important than playing at the Fraternity Club.  The band had a huge following and the dance nights became part of the fabric of the Fraternity Club, whether they played upstairs in the main auditorium or downstairs in the lounge.

We also spoke of some of the shows that they did and in particular  when the Fraternity Club ran the Ballroom Dancing Latin Competition over a series of weeks. It was standing room only on Grand Final night.  It was such a popular event that it ran for years and years.

SAM FOLINO 

Another band member I spoke to was Sam Folino. Sam began playing with Con and The Latin Beats around 1984/1985.  He was a bass guitar player.  Sam recalls when he first met Corrado as a young teenager browsing through his music store. Sam was looking at the guitars and picked up one and began playing `tico tico`. Con, who was always so encouraging, got up and accompanied Sam on the keyboard.  That was the start of their friendship. Sam eventually worked at Corrado`s music store alongside Corrado`s wife Marina. When the music store closed down Sam was running the Music School upstairs and was one of the guitar teachers as well. Con`s Music Drama School is still running to this day.

Sam mentioned how at first he used to watch the band playing at the Fraternity Club.  Corrado was generous and often asked him to join in with the group and play. Sam initially played with the group for one year before returning to the group in 1989 until 1997 when the band had finished. For him, Corrado was an entertainer who touched people’s hearts. He also remembers how in the downstairs lounge on a Sunday night there would be hundreds of people dancing the night away, full of joy and having a great time.  Never had he ever seen anything like it when everyone was in sync waltzing around the floor together. It really was special. 

On the 4th of November, I997 at age 55, Corrado Corolla passed away.  It was such a shock to the community. Without Con there was no band and they all stopped playing at The Fraternity Club.  Nothing could fill the void. Con`s funeral was attended to by so many people. His effect on the community was immeasurable. His beloved accordion sounded no more. 

When you think of Con and The Latin Beats, you immediately think of The Fraternity Club. Corrado was larger than life, always generous, jovial and well liked.  The club has never been the same since.

The small goods business still carries on and is run very successfully by his sons, who began working in the business years before. Con is also survived by his wife Marina and their grandchildren.

Even though we have such fond memories of a wonderful time and so many of us remember dancing on more than one occasion to the music from Con and The Latin Beats, when Con passed away it was as if time stood still. The music stopped, the dancing stopped and the joy was no longer there!

A young Corrado Corolla with his beloved accordion.

(image from the collection belonging to Marina Corolla)

 

 

( Images from the collections belonging to:

Marina Corolla, Fred Marsh and Sam Folino)

SALVATORE OGGERO - PIZZAIOLO

Arriving by plane when he was just 16 years old, Salvatore Oggero arrived in Australia April 10,1965. He came to Warrawong where he boarded for 3 months before living with his brother Vito, who arrived in Australia August 1st, 1960 travelling on the ship Sydney.  

Salvatore lived with his brother Vito for approximately 1 year before moving to Tarrawanna where he resided at the Luccarda boarding house.  At that time there were approximately 10 -15 boarders and Salvatore kept friendship with some of the boarders, even after he left.  He remembers the good food.

He worked as a concrete labourer for approximately 12 months before commencing another labouring job at BHP (Port Kembla Steel Works). After about six months at the Steel Works he was promoted to Shunter.  He had passed the test having applied for the role and his English was quite good. This was an apprenticeship.  

Around that time the Steel Works employed over 20,000 people and with so many on the job site, accidents happened.  During his time as a Shunter, Salvatore nearly lost his leg. But it was when he lost two work mates within two weeks of each other it made him re-evaluate the situation and he left.  Salvatore was a shunter for two years.

His next job was at Metal Manufacturers (M & M) for another two years before going back to the Steel Works working as a rigger.

Around 1978, having already been married, Salvatore decided to change course and purchase an existing Pizzeria situated in George Street, Warilla.  It was called Pizza Roma and was first opened by Primo Gaggero who was the original owner of Pizza Roma in Wollongong and opened several others in the area.  Salvatore worked with Primo for a short while to see how it operated and became familiar with the running of the pizzeria before taking it over.   

When Salvatore left Italy as a young man he was already doing his apprenticeship as a pastry chef.  So he had experience in the kitchen and with restaurants.  After about 12 months, with renovations finished, Salvatore changed the name of the Pizzeria to Sam’s Pizza. Sam’s Pizza was opened six days per week and operated from 5.30pm - 2.00am.  Monday was his day off.  Not only did he do pizza`s but other trattoria style meals such as Chicken Schnitzel, Pasta and he became famous for his Garlic Bread.  

In a good week he could sell up to 300 pizza`s per day and in a slow week  around 50 pizza`s per day.  He was very busy at Warilla.  There wasn’t anyone else around and not only the locals but many came from out of town because he was open late at night.

In 1983 he sold Sam’s Pizza and went back to his old job Rigging and did this for about 2 years.  In 1985 he opened another eatery at Unanderra. This time he opened it from scratch and it was a Pizza Restaurant.  The Unanderra Pizza Restaurant was more of a family eat in restaurant that also did takeaway.  With seating available for up to thirty people he operated the restaurant six days per week, the same hours as Sam’s Pizza in Warilla, only operating at night.  

The Unanderra Pizza Restaurant was a lot different to Sam’s Pizza. It was quieter and also had a different clientele. Salvatore`s brother in-law was a musician and after short while Salvatore employed his bother in-law and his band members to play music at the restaurant on a Saturdary night. The customers really enjoyed it. The Unanderra Pizza Restaurant was sold in 1992.

Salvatore had a break and in 1993 he began again. This time he went to Cowper Street, Warrawong and opened Romeo’s. It was a new family restaurant and it was bigger than Unanderra.  He also did pizza`s and his kitchen menu offered a wider range of dishes. Salvatore had other Chefs working for him.  There were times when he had to fill in if the chef wasn’t available. Romeo’s restaurant provided music one or two nights per week. After about 36 months he sold Romeo’s.

He went back to rigging for a while contemplating what he was going to do next.  In North Wollongong on Flinders Street, there was a small shopping complex called the Cragmar Shopping Centre. It was very convenient. Having several shops, a small supermarket, chemist, butcher and a real estate upstairs, just to name some of them. Salvatore opened a small Pizzeria. This was an small existing pizzeria shop that faced Flinders Street and it was tiny.   He called it Mystic Pizza.  He did mainly takeaways as well as deliveries.  It was across the road from the North Wollongong Hotel.  The work took its toll and after two years Salvatore closed the shop.  His health wasn’t the best at the time.

After having a break he did some more rigging work before retiring completely in 2010. Salvatore gave us four pizza eateries in the area, cooking great meals for years and years. Here he was another Italian who provided a great service to the community over the course of nearly three decades.  

Salvatore loves playing cards and chess. You can often find him down at Santo`s Deli in Warrawong having a coffee and playing cards with his friends. Once a week he also plays chess in Wollongong.  He learnt to play chess with some of his work colleagues and kept playing for over twenty years.  He plays chess on a Tuesday night socially at the Collegians club. Salvatore is also Nonno to his five grand children. He keeps himself busy!

Salvatore with his young son behind the counter at his Unanderra Pizza Restaurant

All images from the collection belonging to Salvatore Oggero

ST. ANDREA- IRPINIA ASSOCIATION

As a young girl growing up in Wollongong I remembered some of the Italian Associations/Organisations that were formed by those in our local community.  The one event that stands out to me the most was the Saint Giovanni Battista festival.  I think the reason that I remember it the most was that on a number of occasions, we as a family went along to celebrate their  annual festival at the then Wollongong Show Ground. There would be entertainment, activities for children and of course, food.

Most associations held events yearly. Occasionally some groups would have picnics, sometimes twice or more in a year.  Over time other groups formed that represented different regions and traditions as well. There were religious celebrations, military corps and choirs groups, all from our beloved Italy. However, as the population aged these groups inevitably got smaller and smaller. Some groups finished all together, others amalgamated and some new ones formed as more of a social get together.  

Most associations were formed as a way of staying connected to each other and celebrating their ethnicity and culture. One such group was the St. Andrea - Irpinia Association. St Andrea di Conza is a small town that is part of the greater region of Irpinia.  It is situated in the province of Avelino in Campania, Italy.

I first became aware of them when I interviewed Vince Cappetta about his family who were the last owners of Bruno`s Reception Centre in Tarrawanna.  Vince began to tell me the story of the St. Andrea - Irpinia Association and I was impressed to say the least.  An organisation that is still going after 40 years!

The Association was formed in 1982 and it became official in 1983. Vince and his wife Maria were an integral part of the Association and they held the first Association Dinner at Bruno`s in Tarrawanna, when the Cappetta family were running it. It just so happened that the Mayor of the town back in Italy was in Australia visiting family.  He also attended the inaugural Association dinner, making it all the more special. The following year they were able to purchase their very own club house: as I said, I was impressed. The group donated money towards their goal and soon they found a perfect place at 180 - 182  Wentworth Street, Port Kembla. The purchase price was $80,000.

It used to be a YMCA in it’s day. It had internal toilets, a large hall and parking. It was perfect. The group, with many members and volunteers worked together and raised the funds to renovate their club house. Internal fixtures were attended to and a kitchen was built once they acquired council permission.  They also in time built an movable wall so they could close off the space if need be, but had the option to open it up for bigger functions.

When they first began the Association, they had picnics and gatherings and many people bought food.  They worked constantly to get to their goal of purchasing their own building and they built up their membership.

St. Andrea - Irpinia Association represents the region and it is well known for their pasta dishes: Cappalletti and Cavatelli. Each year they would celebrate with dinners at their club house and the wonderful women would recreate these beautiful pasta shapes all done by hand.  They would raise money for the club and had the most remarkable dinner at their Wentworth Street, address with up to 120 people attending.  Catered by the group, served by the group and totally enjoyed by all. Everyone helped out and often grandchildren would assist with serving the food and other duties.

Typically they ran two large events per year. The first one was in August were  it coincided with the three day festival of the region in Italy.  They usually cooked Cavatelli. The next event was held in November in honour of  (The Saint) Sant`Andrea, in Italy and at this event they cooked Cappelletti. They were also bottling their own pasta sauce. With Vince Cappetta, there was never any shortage of hospitality experience as well.  With the running of the reception centre at Tarrawanna, he was just as passionate with his involvement with the Association. Saturday nights were reserved for Briscola and Tombola with raffles and prizes given such as pasta, olive oil, passata, wine, beer & chocolates.

When Covid hit, things changed dramatically and when people had to stay home and shelter in place, not much was happening at their club house and they had to find a way to pay the utilities.  Part of the club was divided into office space and leased.  This gave them an income that was used towards land rates, water and electricity.  

Slowly, with time, they went back to operating and running their Saturday night social gathering. Men often play Briscola and the ladies Tombola  with the addition of a pool table and table top soccer for all to enjoy. They are also licensed to sell beer and wine along with light snacks and it is still frequented by the members.  

On the 25th of February 2023 the association celebrated their 40th year anniversary, but without a full sized venue to run their annual dinner, they decided to celebrate their anniversary at the Fraternity Bowling Club, in Fairy Meadow.

Weeks prior to the event the ladies of the Association began preparations for the dinner.  I went along to the club house to see the ladies in action and to speak with them about the work involved.  Let me tell you that the youngest woman in the kitchen was over 50 with others being seventy and eighty  years plus.! It truly was a sight to behold watching them all roll out the Cavatelli . The kilos of flour and the kilos of Cavatelli was just amazing.

I first spoke with Gerardina Scioscia who was overseeing the kitchen.  Gerardina told me that the ratio for each serving was 120 - 125 grams per serve.  It would take 1 x kilo of flour to serve eight people and each kilo of flour needed one egg. The ladies used approximately 55 kilos of flour to make the Cavatelli.  Gerardina was a wiz in the kitchen.  She has been cooking all her life.  As a young 7 year old girl in Italy, twice a week she was making pasta.     

Next I went into the hall where I met Vito Esposito.  Vito was placing all the ready made Cavatelli on the tables to dry out.  There were trays and trays of them.  Once they were ready, into the large freezers they would go.  They had several freezers to fill and the plan was to take the Cavatelli to the Fraternity Club kitchen the day before the dinner. It still was unknown how many people would be attending the dinner at the Fraternity Club. They would end up being surprised at the tickets sales. A total of 320 people attended.  The community were ready to go out and celebrate!

I attended the dinner at the Fraternity Club and it was a great night.  People had so much fun catching up with old friends. The dinner was wonderful with the delicious Cavatelli  There were lucky door prizes, raffles to be won and folks danced the night away,  It truly was wonderful to see such a gathering of the Italian community.  The St. Andrea - Irpinia Association are returning to the Fraternity Club for their annual dinner on Saturday February 24, 2024 with a four course meal.  

With a once membership of almost 240 and the reliance of donations, over the years many foundation members have passed away. The once strong group of 21 women in the kitchen are sadly now just 10 yet they still remain optimistic about the future. The Association is hoping to start doing smaller function/dinners at the their club house. You can often see them raising money at Bunnings with their sausage sizzles on
a Saturday morning.

St. Andrea - Irpinia club house at 180-182 Wentworth Street, Port Kembla 

All images from the collection belonging to the St. Andrea - Irpinia Association.