The backdrop was the renowned Portobello restaurant, located in the renewed Prince of Wales Hotel on Ascot Vale’s main street. For several years, the venue has been managed by the respected Michele and Rosa Inguanti from Vizzini, well known in the Italian restaurant scene starting in Essendon and later on the Gold Coast in Queensland.
From the sound of cheerful laughter, the warm embraces and the wide smiles of joy on the faces of all the guests, it was immediately clear that the atmosphere was filled with celebration.
“Sixty years of sharing the many small joys that have come with our numerous family occasions,” Joe said, before handing over to his wife Rosa. “Not to mention the wonderful weddings of our two daughters, Vita and Alda Maria, and the births of our six grandchildren. And many years later, the marvel of also having three great grandchildren!”
“And do you remember our beautiful holiday in Vizzini ten years ago, for our 50th anniversary?” Joe continued.
“And the renewal of our wedding vows in the same church where we married on August 7, 1965? And those dear friends from Melbourne, who happened to be in Italy at the same time, joining us at our reception in Ragusa?”
I asked Joe, the second of two brothers with three younger sisters, Anna, Rosa and Vita, children of Giuseppe and Gesualda Guzzardi, how he and Rosa met, and whether it had been love at first sight.
“In 1965, at 26, I wanted to return to Vizzini to see the place again, as well as relatives and friends,” he recalled.
“Here in Australia, my friends always joked, teasing me with lines like, ‘Tell the truth, you’re going to Vizzini to find a girlfriend!’
“I always assured them that it wasn’t my intention to go and find my future wife. Even if that’s what actually happened, I hadn’t planned it.”
There he met the young Rosa, one of the two De Petro sisters (the other is Concetta; their brothers are Salvatore and Giovanni, children of Giuseppe and Vita De Petro).
Joe soon fell in love with her, and she returned his affection. He asked for her hand in marriage, and in 1965 Joe stood at the altar of the central church of Vizzini, San Sebastiano, waiting for his bride.
Weeks later, on September 18, the newlyweds boarded the Marconi, a new ship bound for Australia, where for Joe and Rosa, still on their honeymoon, began a new chapter of their life together.
At their 60th wedding anniversary celebration, with Joe once again at the side of his beloved Rosa, and after having cut the beautiful cake, he turned to her with a big smile and said, “We made it again, we have reached this wonderful milestone!”
The words were sealed with a warm embrace and a long kiss.
Joe has for many years been an active member and leader of the Vizzini Social Club, where he served in important administrative roles for about 23 years as president, vice president and secretary.
For over sixteen years he has also managed the Piedimonte supermarket in Pascoe Vale. There is no doubt that many members, friends and fellow Vizzinesi will be extending their heartfelt congratulations on this special occasion.
