Romeo Ceccato
| Town/City | Mt Nebo |
|---|---|
| First name | Romeo |
| Last name | Ceccato |
| Country of Origin | Italy |
| Date of Birth | 7/1/1943 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1965 |
| Submitted by | Heather Ceccato |
Story
Romeo CECCATO
Place of Origin ITALY
Year of arrival 1965
MY STORY
When I was 20 years of age I became a “Religious Refugee”. After five years of primary school I had seven years of classical studies in the Franciscan College with the intent of becoming a Priest. When I left the Franciscans and came home to Asolo the Italian Government did not recognise my studies. I could not get an apprenticeship as I was too old. People looking for work were then immigrating to Australia. Two of my uncles and several of my cousins went to Australia in the early 1950’s.
In April 1965 I came by plane to Brisbane. My first job as a labourer was doing sewerage digging in the Inala area. At night school I learnt English.
In 1966 I met my beautiful wife Heather, an Australian. In October of the same year when I was a Cane Cutter in Tully North Queensland, on Friday the 7 October I took a plane to Brisbane. On Saturday the 8 October, Heather and I were married in a quiet ceremony at St Benedict’s East Brisbane. We flew back to Tully the next day as I had to be back to continue cutting cane on the Monday.
In July 1967 our son James Joseph was born. That year I was proud to become an Australian Citizen. Then in October 1970 our second son Philip Romeo was born.
In 1969 Iezzi Constructions built out first home through the Queensland Housing Commission on our block of land at Arana Hills. In that year I became a Bread Vendor working 7 days a week for three years. In 1972 I sold the Bread Run, paid off our home in full. Then with my wife and two sons flew back to Asolo to visit my Mum, Dad, brothers and sister.
Returning from Italy I worked several jobs. Then I was accepted in the Brisbane Gas Company as a Clerk. At lunch time I took private voice training lessons for Opera singing as I am a Tenor. I performed in Operas and Operettas in Brisbane.
In 1982 we moved to Benson Road Mt Nebo. There I worked for many years as a Real Estate Salesman then Agent for Les Austin’s Mt Nebo Real Estate. I also drove the school bus and sang songs with the kids.
This is in a nutshell the story of my life without going into the many other adventures like three years voluntary work with Catholic Psychiatric Pastoral Care visiting the mentally ill in hostels with my wife. We spent 8 months as missionaries in an Indigenous Community at Kalumburu, Western Australia, Kimberley area.
I now have 6 grandchildren and life is full of surprises!