In 2016 I had the pleausure of being part of the jury that evacuate the stories written by grandchildren of Italian emigrants for the literary competition A journey back to origins, organized by the Association I Nonni. Reading the stories has been a most exciting experience. Choosing the winners proved to be a very difficult task as all stories contained aspects in which anyone who has experienced the migration experience directly, can identify themselves. All testimonies are to be commended as they gave a clear picture of what Italian emigration is all about: stories of hardship and obstacles but also success stories.
A journey back to origins is a collection of 44 stories written by young people aged 10 to 25 to share memories of their grandparents. The stories’ common setting is the reality of a first generation of Italian Australians now disappearing. Despite the significant numbers of temporary migrant arrivals, the lack of immigration from Italy to Australia in recent decades has seen an increase in the median age of Italian-born Australians from 58 to 69 years between 1996 and 2014 (DIBP 2015). By 2018, there were 187.000 Italian-born living in Australia, with the medium age of 71, nearly double the median age for alla Australians. The emigration experiences of those Italians of little means, leaving political and economic turmoil in the home country for a new life, were often heroic. They achieved so much. They are leaving us with a legacy that in now part of both Italian and Australian history. If the recognizably Italian elders sitting on shopping mall benches or at the local café are becoming but a fading memory, so, soo, may be their stories. That is why A journey back to origins is so timely. Each of these 44 stories gives the reader ad opportunity to glimpse into the lives of these nonni. From the shifting emotions espresse in the stories, it is clear the writers themselves have undergone change. Having engaged with their granparents the best way they could, in solving the puzzle any life leale for those who remain, new meanings were forged and so the stories became the bridge between writer and grandparent. Once again, grandparents became their grandchildrens’ best confidants. Hence, the saying: ‘Mai avere figli. Solo nipoti.’. Never have children. Just grand children. In the stories, there are re-occurring themes, sad – such as loss of place and people held dear – and invigorating, such as the forge of new identities as both Australians and Italians gifted with resilience, determination, capabiliy and hope. In these narratives, the grandparents’ experiences become the grandchildren’s. However, as the latter span from 10 to 25, we discover fascinating natural changes not only in content within the stories.
On reflection, each storu is like a ‘container’ for the lives of the first generation of post-WW II Italian-Australians as experiencied by their grandchildren: who thus begin to assert their position as a third-generation of Italian-Australians. The stories do not, only project images of the past to ‘preserve’ grandparents’ migration experiences, but they also give to the third-generation an opportunity to process feelings, thoughts, and beliefs, thus gaining some new insights about themselves, and of future generations. I am sure the reader will see how A journey back to origins provides us with these ‘containers’ to help us to think differently about ourselves, our Italian roots, our Australian nation and the world. For this reason, these stories are precious, and the writers should all be proud of their achievement. I would like to acknowledge the truly massive intellectual and physical work done by Concetta Cirigliano Perna who has coordinated the project from its inception. She has taken to heart the long hours, days and months of consuming work of collecting, corresponding, editing, translating into Italian. She, together with the I Nonni Association, should be congratulated for bringing this project to fruition.
Patrizia Ravalico Totaro, Psychotherapist and clinical supervisor