Luca Cannito

Story

My Dad Luca Cannito arrived here on 31st May, 1962 as a 19 year old young man. He travelled on the ship ‘Roma’. On arrival at Port Melbourne he was greeted with open arms by friends from his home town of Bari. Salvatore and Lucia were like family to my Dad and have always been there for him.

Leaving Nonna Nunziata and family was difficult for my Dad, but it was a chance to find a better life as it was very difficult in Italy after the war. When he arrived, he lived with a lovely lady named Gustina who even though she had her own family and 5 kids, she took in migrants to give them a start. She helped Dad find work which was not easy as he could not speak much English, but he found work after about two weeks at a brick factory in Dandenong. Even though he was not earning much money, Dad still sent money back home to help Nonna and the family.

Dad met a friend in Zio Giovanni and he had many fun times with him. He was with another friend Domenic when he met my Mum Nara De Santis at a friends house on Australia Day 1965. They became closer and started going on outings. They married on 18th December of that year at St Mary’s, Dandenong. Times were not easy for migrants in those days, they worked very hard for everything they had. They never received anything from the Government like today, but yet they never complained. My brother Frank was born on the 22nd September, 1966 and I was next on the 20th August , 1969. My sister Linda followed on the 20th January, 1973. Dad and Mum were very proud when they became Australian Citizens on 19th June, 1979.

Thank you Dad for coming to Australia, for giving us a better chance of life and for being the best Dad in the world. Thank you for all your stories of when you were younger, stories that I will pass on to Sam and Luke. Love always, Nancy. x

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