Born in March 1933 to a Sardinian father and a Tuscan mother, Pietro Schirru lived a difficult childhood in fascist Rome, sharing a house in the historic centre with five brothers and an older sister. A period marked by rationed foodstuffs, bombings and fear of Nazi raids. But above he remembers a particularly loving mother ("good and pious" specifies Pietro) who was widowed at 42, with 7 children.
In the second part of his life story, the journalist who pens the "Italiani brava gente" column for La Fiamma and Il Globo, talks about how Australia has changed since his arrival - 48 years ago, about the political situation in Italy and histhree children: Riccardo, Lorenzo and Michela.
Pietro Schirru Source: Supplied
