GAVA Mary (Nee Vincenti)                                          
"Life in a new Country"
Researched and compiled by Gordon Freegard 2021
Including material supplied by Mary Gava

In 1934, in a small town in Italy, my mother who was just 24 years old with her 2.1/2 year old daughter, was preparing to leave her home. She was leaving family, friends and all she had been brought up to know and love, to join her husband in a far off country called Australia. This was a traumatic experience for a person who had never moved further than the little village where she was born.

Her husband had organised passports for his wife and child, plus the boat fares to come out and be with him in this new land. She was full of hope and anticipation for the future. The journey was long (over 30 days) and rough at times but they arrived at Fremantle to be met by her husband and crowds of other Italian people (mostly men) to meet the new arrivals. It was a shock, I am sure and being unable to speak a word of English. My father was extremely happy to have his family with him after being separated from them for two years.

MARY GAVA     #1
 

 Together they journeyed down to Nornalup near Margaret River in the South West, where my father was working on a dairy farm owned by Richard Haynes, a well-known Perth lawyer. They lived in a small hut on the property and my Mother went to work for the owner as a housekeeper. She experienced difficulties, due to her inability to speak English to the owner’s wife. Her interpretation of the situation was “they don’t speak or understand Italian.”

Their next move was to Pickering Brook where they leased a property in Merrivale Road from Mr. Tom Grimshaw, to grow fruit and vegetables. In 1937 my brother was born. My sister was then five years old. The same year they bought themselves land on Pickering Brook Road from Mr. Camp brother-in-law of Ernie & George Holroyd, old identities of the district, with my Mother helping to clear the land and plant trees that was to become their orchard. They became very self-sufficient with their home produce i.e. they grew vegetables, fruit, kept fowls for eggs, a cow for milk, pigs to raise and fatten for meat. Transportation consisted of a horse and cart, which was also used as a working animal on the land. By 1940, I arrived on the scene, born in the old house that was constructed there. It was a home birth for me, delivered by Mrs. Gill from Carmel, the local Nursing Sister and Midwife.

Times were tough. My parents, like all migrants at the time, were very hard working and dedicated to build a better life for their family than what they had left behind in Italy. Unnecessary ridicule was experienced by my Mother due to her inability with the English language. Names such as “Dings” and “Wogs’ were favourites for Italians. My Mother’s favourite saying was, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt you.” My Mother would tell me time and time again, how difficult it was to leave her town and family, not knowing the new language and customs and for not having enough money.

Shopping was extremely difficult in those early years for my Mother, as we didn’t have a motor vehicle. The owners of the Pickering Brook General Store (Bert & Alice Beard) contributed a great deal during those difficult years, in helping the early Italian migrants in Pickering Brook. Bert Beard would come out twice a week in his delivery truck and bring out the orders, groceries, bread, paper and mail to the homes. My Mother told me many times she would swap home grown vegetables for much needed items of food. She was always full of praise for the Beard family who were very kind and understanding.

The Pickering Brook property was built up through a lot of hard work, dedication and sweat. My Mother worked tirelessly alongside her husband in the orchard, while raising three children. She found it difficult to help her children with their school work, as she could not read or write in English.

In 1956-57, a new house was built on the property which still stands today. Sadly in 1959 my Mother died and was greatly missed by us and all who knew her. The property no longer belongs to the family. Even today as I drive past the home and orchard, I constantly think of the hardships that my Mother endured in her time in this country. My Mother deserves credit in instilling in her children, that same drive for hard work, honesty and being a proud Italian, born in Australia.

Most importantly we were brought up to respect the people, the culture and the country Australia where we live.

My Mother’s determination, hard work, love for her family and tireless courage will live on in our memory forever.

FORMER GAVA FAMILY HOME AT PICKERING BROOK     #2

Every endeavour has been made to accurately record the details however if you would like to provide additional images and/or newer information we are pleased to update the details on this site. Please use CONTACT at the top of this page to email us. We appreciate your involvement in recording the history of our area.

References:                 Article:      Gordon Freegard
                                                 Mary Gava
                                                 
                                                

                                 Images:    Gava Family Collection       1
                                                 Gordon Freegard               2

Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2008-2021