Rocco La Bella was born on 15 January 1929 in San Giorgio La Molara P Benevento Italy.

His parents were Carlo La Bella born in 1891 and Maria Grazia De Ionno born in 1896.

Rocco's early years as a child were spent on the family farm in San Giorgio La Molara, in the southern part of Italy. He was the third of seven children to his proud parents Carlo and Maria Grazia La Bella, having three other brothers and three sisters.

After the sudden death of his father at sixteen years of age, Rocco became the head of the family and took over responsibility for the welfare of his mother and siblings. This was a difficult time for the family, as living in a small village there were no work opportunities anywhere. Their only means of support was the produce grown on the small family farm. The family was large and having lost a father, the children were left with extra responsibility and very hard work. Rocco at a very young age had the courage to oversee his family affairs and also look to the future. He knew that if they all stayed on the family farm it would be impossible for them to have adequate funds to support all the children as they grew up, also realising that without actual paying work they would not be able to meet their financial obligations.

By the age of eighteen, Rocco had made the decision to immigrate to Australia in order to better support and provide for his family. Rocco knew he had an uncle and auntie already living in Australia and after deciding that he would go to Australia, Rocco got in contact with his Uncle Domenico and Auntie Pasqualina De Ionno who were already situated in Adelaide, South Australia. Domenico and Pasqualine officiated the paperwork in order for Rocco to immigrate. This decision was not made as a choice but out of necessity, this would be his most difficult decision in his young life. They were very hard times and he did what he knew in his heart he must do for himself and his family.

At the age of nineteen, Rocco became engaged to the seventeen year old Lucia Paradiso, also from San Giorgio La Molara. One year later, Rocco's documents for immigration were approved, prior to his departure for Australia Rocco married Lucia by proxy on 1 August 1949. Again it was not by choice to marry by proxy and leave his young wife but again out of necessity. He had no means to bring his wife with him nor the means to support her when they arrived. Also he had no idea what he would find in a new country so with a very heavy heart he left his wife and family.

Rocco left Italy from the port of Naples aboard the ship "Ugolino Vivaldi" and his destination was Adelaide, South Australia. Having left his home, family and new wife, Rocco travelled alone to a new country and disembarked in Melbourne on 30 August 1949. He then travelled by train to Adelaide arriving on 3 September 1949 where his Uncle Domenico whom had been living in the Campbelltown area greeted him. Rocco lived with his uncle and auntie in Campbelltown for the first 12 months, Rocco was very fortunate to have been treated as a member of his uncle's and auntie's warm and loving family as he knew no-one in Australia, spoke no English and had no money when he arrived. Rocco loved and respected his uncle, auntie and cousins and has had a warm affection to them all his life, never forgetting the generosity of this family and what it meant to a young man on his own in a strange culture and country.

Rocco La Bella and Lucia Paradiso