Written by journalist Irene Sampognaro, Edited by Mario Congedo of Galatina (Lecce) Italy

"Carmelo Caruso - The Two Hearts of an Immigrant", is the title of a biographical book about Teneriffe businessman Carmelo Caruso, which was launched on Thursday, 19 March at 7.30 p.m., at ANFE HOUSE 10 Wyandra Street, Newstead. Brisbane. Organised by the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Queensland, the evening saw many high profile guest speakers including the Italian Consul of Italy Dr. Francesco Capecchi, Grace Grace MP, Cr.David Hinchcliffe, the President of the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Luigi Casagrande, and many others who spoke on the topic of migration.

Carmelo Caruso, an Italian migrant from the Sicilian Town of Licodia Eubea in the Province of Catania, Italy, commenced his Australian life when he arrived in Melbourne, penniless, on the 13th of June 1950, after 28 days journey by sea on the motorship Ugolino Vivaldi. After disembarking, Carmelo travelled the long five-day journey from Melbourne to North Queensland by train, to his Uncle Joe Leonardi's farm in Home Hill. His landing permit was granted as a cane cutter but his true profession was tailoring. In the town were he arrived, there was no tailor; therefore with the help of some relatives and friends Carmelo opened a tailoring business. After three years between Home Hill and Ayr, he realised that the climate of North Queensland, was not a suitable for the products and services of his profession. Therefore, after 3 years in Australia and with 300 pounds in his pocket, he decided to move to Brisbane, where he has lived since 1953. He opened a tailoring business at 100 Kingsford Smith Drive, Hamilton and a few years later he purchased an old colonial-style house at 70 Breakfast Creek Road, Newstead, opposite Eagers, where he further expanded his business. As business prospered, he decided to move again, and this time in the centre of the city, precisely at 669 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, were he transferred his tailoring business, opened a Travel Agency and a Migration consulting centre. He also established the iconic Italian shop, Caruso's Italian Emporium, which became an enormous success in the Australian business community selling shoes, menswear, gold jewellery, perfumes and cosmetics, homewares, artistic porcelain gifts and many other items imported from Italy.

In 1959, in collaboration with well-known fashion-stylist, Mrs. Maria Guarrera of East Brisbane, Carmelo successfully organised the first ever Italian Fashion Parade in Brisbane, at Moomba Hall, Annerley. Amongst the many activities he was involved in, Carmelo was also a journalist and correspondent for the Italian newspapers La Fiamma from Sydney, and Il Globo from Melbourne. He also produced and presented the first ever Italian bilingual (Italian-English) radio programmes on 4KQ which were broadcasted three times a week - "Italian Serenade" on Sundays; "Italian Melodies" on Fridays and "Italy Sings" on Tuesdays. The programmes went to air uninterrupted for over 20 years. He also compered and produced an Italian broadcast on Radio 4EB for another 5 years. His constant contact with the community through his radio programmes also meant that he became more increasingly involved in charity work and in 1962 he founded the National Association of Emigrant Families, known as ANFE, to assist migrants integration into this country during the 1950-1970 mass-migration years. He helped them find jobs, accommodation, put a roof over their heads when they could not afford it and assisted in translating and processing of documents. Carmelo still holds the position of National Delegate in Australia for ANFE.

Carmelo also became involved with the well-known Giuseppe Verdi Choir, and the Azzurri Sporting Association, (now known as Brisbane City Soccer Club). During his term as President (1967-69), he built the Spencer Park Soccer Ground at Newmarket, that was officially opened in 1969 by the then Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Ald.Clem Jones.

In 1964 he met and married Rina Muriglia. The wedding reception was held at Cloudland Ballroom in the presence of about 500 guests that came from all over Australia and Italy. From this marriage three children were born, Maria Antonietta, Adriano and Fabio. In 1965 with his wife, he purchased a house in Teneriffe were he is still resides happily. Carmelo, after closing his retail business in Fortitude Valley, concentrated in the property development business and has built many apartment blocks in the New Farm and the Hamilton area.

In 1998 he wrote his own autobiography "Under another sky - The life and sentiments of an Italian emigrant", which was successfully launched in Australia, Italy and Argentina. Carmelo is also the author of another book, "Past - Present - Future" a historical account of the Italian migration phenomenon in Australia written in 2002, on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the foundation of the National Association of Migrant Families, ANFE.

"Carmelo Caruso - The Two Hearts of an Immigrant", is available in both the English and Italian language and is distributed by the Caruso Group Pty. Ltd. of Brisbane. The beautifully presented glossy hard-bound volume is available at the RRP of $55.00, and is on sale at the following outlets: American Bookshop in Elizabeth Street, City (opposite Hilton Hotel); Mary Ryan’s Bookshop, New Farm, as well at the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at Yungaba in Kangaroo Point.

Carmelo Caruso, in spite of his initial hardship, which is inevitable especially when you don’t know the language of the country you are migrating to, has prospered during his almost 60 years of continuous life in Australia. And like so many other post-war migrants, has taken advantage of the many opportunities which Australia has offered. At almost 80 years of age, he is still very active in his property development business and still takes part in other activities on behalf of the community, in particular for the elderly as well as for the maintenance and safeguarding of his Italian cultural heritage. He regularly travels to Italy and other countries attending conferences and meetings to keep up-to-date with the trends and directions of the new generations.