By KATH GANNAWAY
THE grandson of an Italian immigrant with grassroots connection to the Silvan farming community provided an inspirational start to Australia’s National day at Wandin Rotary Club’s annual Australia Day Breakfast on Sunday.
More than 200 people attended the event at Wandin Hall where Australia Day Ambassador Paul Guerra spoke of his family connections with the region dating back to the 1950s.
Mr Guerra – who is chairman of the Queen Victoria Market board, has had executive and leadership positions with a number of multinational companies, and is highly regarded for his work with community and youth organisations – shared his family’s story which started with his grandfather, Leonardo Nardella, who came to Australia as an immigrant and established the family strawberry farm in Silvan.
He touched on the entrepreneurial style of his grandfather, along with the hard work, that grew the business, and establish him as a pioneer of roadside selling. He said his mother and her siblings have fond memories of growing up in the district.
“My mum is a good sort,” he said. “She was runner-up Strawberry Queen at the 1958 Berry Festival, and was Belle of the Ball of the Mountain District Ball in the same year,” he said before moving on to share his thoughts on what it means to be Australian.
“I’ve seen a lot of countries around the world, and I’ve done business in over 20 countries. I can tell you honestly, there is no better place in the world,” he said. “We are truly the lucky country.”
He spoke of Australia’s place in the global economy, the mix of cultures and faiths saying “to be Australian is to take the best of what made us, and make it our own”.
“Our identity as Australians is not about a physical or ethnic identity, it’s about being part of a big, noisy, robust family … all different people with different natures, but inextricably bound by a bundle of shared characteristics, commitments and experiences,” he said.
“I’m very glad my grandparents chose to migrate to Australia, and I’m very proud to be an Australian.”
Wandin Rotary Club president David Gamble said the breakfast was a great success, with Mr Guerra’s speech providing an inspirational message, and the generosity of local businesses and hard work and commitment of Rotary Club members enabling the club to raise $4500 for local community charities.
A further $475 was raised for the Rotary Wheelchair project from sales of a family history ‘The Journey Not The Destination’ donated by Silvan businessman Michael Tricarico.
