De Ionno, Nicola, Pacific Star, 1939-45 Star, Defence medal, 1939-45 War Medal, Australian Service Medal, Infantry Frontline Service Medal, JP south Australia 1955. Company Director. Born San Giorgio La Molara, Benevento, Italy 24 September 1922, son of Grazio Domenico De Ionno and Maria Rita De Ionno nee La Bella. Married 1948 Grazia De Ionno nee La Bella; 3 children: Santo Domenic De Ionno (b 1949), Antonio Mario De Ionno (b 1952), Rita. Educated at Athelstone School, South Australia. Career: member, Real Estate Institute of South Australia, 1956-96; Company Director 1978. Miltary Service: AIF, 26 Australian Inf Bn C Coy 1941-46. Community Service: Vice President, San Giorgio's Community Centre Inc.
A short memoir
In 1935 I left Naples to come to Australia on a ship called 'Remo', with my brother and mother. I was 13 years old and my brother was 11, it took us 37 days to get to Melbourne. After arriving we travelled to Adelaide by train and went to our home which my father rented for 10 shillings per week at Hamilton Terrace (known now as Gorge Road, Athelstone).
I attended the Athelstone Primary School for 12 months after which I went to night school.
Initially I worked in a market garden, then a sand quarry, and then worked for five and a half days per week in a stone quarry at Smithfield for two pounds, five shillings per week and to be able to work there I had to join a union.
In 1938 my father purchased 11 acres of land on the corner of Montacute and Stradbroke Roads, Rostrevor and thereon built a stone and brick home.
He started a market garden and went to the Adelaide Fruit and Vegetable Market with his two wheeled cart and horse.
In 1941, I was conscripted into the Australian Army and served in the Queensland Battalion A.I.F. Initially I went to Thursday Island, Cape Yorke Peninsula on a ship called 'City of Mexico' and from there was transferred to Bougainville. I served in the Army for 1486 days, was wounded and discharged in January 1946.
A few months later I returned home and my father and I purchased a market garden property at James Street, Campbelltown. The main product grown was celery of which 90% was sent interstate to Melbourne and Sydney. The balance was sold on the local market.
On the 1 July 1948 I travelled to Italy to visit my relatives. I sailed on a ship called 'Stratheird' and initially went to London to obtain a visa to travel to Italy and France. While in Italy I met my wife Grazia, whom I married in December 1948. I returned to Australia via England and because of visa requirement delays, honeymooned with my wife in London for 2 months.
I became a Justice of the Peace in 1955 and commenced a Real Estate Land and Business Agency of which I was the principal. In 1961 a farm property was purchased at Echunga which comprised some 160 acres utilised principally for growing potatoes and rearing beef cattle. In 1977 the Echunga property was sold and the family home at Paradise purchased. The real estate business was recommenced and in the late 1990's I retired. Both my wife and I remain Company Directors.
Compiled by Nick De Ionno, Adelaide, April 2003.