By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
WHEN Guiseppe Loiacono came out to Australia from Italy more than half a century ago, he couldn’t believe there was meat on the table.
In Italy he and his wife Katerina were scraping every last cent to stay alive.
And last month Guiseppe, a resident at Hallam Aged Care, turned 100.
Hoping to find a new life in Australia, and raise enough money for Katerina to also make the journey later on, Guiseppe embarked in 1956 for a new country full of hope and opportunity, where he stayed with his brother-in-law’s family.
Dominic, Guiseppe’s nephew, was part of that family, and has fond memories of his fighting fit uncle.
“He was very caring, and he’s never owned a motor car, he always got around on a push bike,” Dominic said.
“He was using it up to at least the age of 70.
“He’s only been in Hallam Aged Care for about four months. He’s still got all his faculties.”
In Italy Guiseppe worked on fruit farms in the country’s South, and also served in the army for five years in Bastille.
Once he immigrated to Australia Guiseppe settled in Gippsland, working in a milk factory at Maffra for six year years before moving on to work for Telecom, where he stayed for 22 years until retirement.
Katerina, who followed Guiseppe to Australia roughly five years later, passed in 2005.
The pair had no children, but Guiseppe has 11 nieces and nephews in Australia.
“To him I probably am his son. Whenever he wanted anything or needed something, I’d come and help him with it,” Dominic said.
“He’s the oldest bloke in the nursing home but he’s also the youngest.
“He’s still getting around alright, and he’s very sharp, that’s the annoying part. Anything you want to know, ask my uncle and he’ll let you know.
“He’s worked hard all his life.
“No such thing as a restaurant back in those days, everything was off the land.”
