By XAVIER SMERDON
FOR 70 years Vito and Gregoria Musarra have created more than a lifetime of memories together, and they still find it difficult to spend more than five minutes apart.
The couple grew up together in Vizzini in Italy, playing in the streets as children and Vito worked for his future wife’s father as a farmhand.
When Gregoria was just 18 and Vito was 19, the couple eloped and became husband and wife on 11 November 1943.
On 27 March 1956 Vito arrived in Australia after a 33 day boat ride on board the Flamingo.
He worked at a Werribee South market garden and lived in a small fibro cement shed with two other men.
About 18 months later he had finally saved up enough money to pay for his wife and two children to join him in Australia.
They eventually bought a house in Werribee and after a lot of hard work Vito officially owned the house outright in just four years.
At the age of 64 Vito retired from his job as a wool grader to spend more time with his adoring wife.
Gregoria said she could not put her finger on what had attracted her to Vito in the beginning.
“It wasn’t looks, it wasn’t wealth, we just grew up together and we were meant for each other,” Gregoria said.
“The best part of my life is still meeting him.”
The loving couple have two children, three grandchildren five great grandchildren, with two more on the way.
Vito, who is 89-years-old, said he was looking forward to spending more time with the family he had worked so hard for over the years.
“With the few years we’ve got left we want to enjoy life with our friends, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren,” Vito said.
Their son Sam said he was inspired by his parent’s love for each other.
“I couldn’t have asked for better parents, in more ways than one,” Sam said.
The couple celebrated their special anniversary with around 120 family and friends at the Italian Social Club.
