Vittorio Cremasco
| Town/City | Griffith |
|---|---|
| First name | Vittorio |
| Last name | Cremasco |
| Country of Origin | Italy |
| Date of Birth | 22/06/43 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1964 |
| Submitted by | Melissa Catanzariti |
Story
Vittorio Cremasco was born on 22nd June 1943 in One di Fonte, Treviso, Italy.
He was born during World War II, the fourth child of eleven and the first son. He grew up in a time when there was little food for their large family and few ways to change their situation. As he grew up he realised that Italy could not provide him with the opportunities he yearned for.
In 1964, at 21 years of age, he left his family and his girlfriend Norma Reginato, to find work in Australia. He travelled by ship, and was destined for Griffith NSW to where his sister, Teresa, had immigrated five years earlier. In the next few years, Vittorio worked as a carpenter, kept a correspondence with Norma, learned a little English and built his own modest home in Ross Crescent, Griffith.
Via their correspondence, Vittorio asked Norma to marry him. Norma accepted, travelled to Australia by plane and they were married at St Mary’s Church, Yoogali on 12th August 1967. They had four children over their 26 year marriage. They were Dante in 1969, Melissa in 1970, Laura in 1976 and Sonia in 1981. Vittorio and Norma encouraged them in their education and willed them to do what they had no chance of doing in their poverty stricken childhood.
While making Australia their home, Vittorio and Norma kept in touch with family in Italy. They took their children back to their place of birth several times to show them their heritage.
Vittorio embraced the society he lived in. He learned the Australian way of life and appreciated its cultures. He developed his interest in sport and was a fanatic for rugby league and cricket. He became a member of the local Rotary and shared his Italian spirit with its members.
Vittorio Cremasco died on 27th March 1994. His family and friends were devastated. Vittorio loved life and lived his to the full. He was immensely proud of the family he had raised and the life he had made for himself in Australia. Although he still yearned for his homeland Italy, he died knowing that his immigration to Australia had allowed him to fulfill his dreams.
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