Living History

Noonoo and Noona

This is a brief story of my family history on my mother’s side, about my grandparents and their family. I am not a senior but would like to share the story of my Italian heritage and ancestors.

My grandparents separately migrated to Australia in the hope of making a new start, and although their marriage was not perfect considering the circumstances they were brought together, they still managed to build a life together and raise a family.

Although I never met my Noonoo (grandfather) as he passed before I was born, I will forever be grateful to him for having the courage to make a life changing move to Australia in the hope of a better life, as I would certainly not be sitting here today if he hadn't.

I am also grateful to my Noona (grandmother) for the same reasons, as well as her fabulous Italian recipes!

This is my story....

My Noonoo immigrated to Australia from Italy in the early 1930s to settle in Mossman in Far North Queensland where he worked on a cane farm. Several years later, my Noona immigrated to Australia with her family to also settle in Mossman and run a cane farm.

Years later, my Noonoo starting working on my Noona’s father’s farm, and of course they struck up a friendship. As Noona was the only girl of the family, and keeping with tradition of the old ways, an arranged marriage was organised and the pair married in December 1937.

Noonoo continued working on the farm for a couple of years before they ventured to Brisbane to start a new life and family. Unfortunately after a few years things weren't going to plan so they moved back to North Queensland, where Noonoo once again found work on a cane farm. By 1951 the pair were living and working in a small cane farm in North Queensland and Noona had given birth to her fourth child.

Noona's brother (my great uncle) was living in Brisbane at the time and had started the courting process with his future wife, who lived in Italy and yet had to migrate to Australia. Among the many letters between them were photos of his family, including photos of my Noonoo and Noona's young family. Of course these family photos were shared among my great aunt’s family, in which her brother sighted a picture of my young aunt.

Immediately captivated by her looks, he decided that he would also move to Australia and marry her!

So he did, but because of my aunt’s age their courting was kept a secret--my aunt was only sixteen at the time. One evening, with the help of her older sister, my aunt told her parents they were going to the movies. She instead met my uncle and the pair eloped!

Lisa, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

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