By Kath Gannaway
TINO Gianforte was proud to carry the Italian flag in Marysville on Australia Day.
It’s a tradition for the 85-year-old who came to Australia in 1952.
His mate Harry Whiteley marched with him carrying the Welsh flag. His grandfather came from Wales.
The display of the flags of many nations is a much-loved feature of the town’s Australia Day parade which is organised each year by the Lions Club of Marysville and District.
Among a sea of Australian flags waving as the 2012 procession made its way along Murchison Street to Gallipoli Park, the international display reflected the diversity of Australia as it is today.
This year’s theme Year of the Farmer was right up Tino’s alley.
He worked cutting timber and growing spuds before buying the Marysville dairy.
He and his wife Elsa raised their two boys, Lewis and Leslie, in the town and in 2006 Tino received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the community.
Like so many, he lost his house and all his worldly possessions, including his medal, on Black Saturday, but there are some things, like the flag procession that can survive anything.
The couple became Australian citizens not long after arriving here and are proud of their new nationality but Tino still loves to carry the flag of his home country.
In Elsa’s words “We’re very Aus’ …. but when you see that flag, it still means something.”
Tino has represented Italy in all but one parade. “A kid beat me to it,” he recalls laughing. But it hasn’t happened since!
This year’s parade was the biggest for years and the crowd loved every bit of it, from the alpacas and vintage cars, tractors and steam machines, to community and business floats, the fantastic Pans on Fire steel pan band and more.
As always, the most enthusiastic flag-waving and biggest applause was saved for the emergency services – CFA, DSE, SES and police.
Lions Club Australia Day organisers Jan Emblin and Graham Alman said the day was a great success.
Mr Alman said both the number of entries in the parade and the number of people attending were increasing each year. “We even had to send out for more sausages for the barbecue,” he said.
Ms Emblin said along with daytrippers, more people were also staying on in the area.
“There seem to be a lot more people coming up and staying so it’s good for the community and a great day for visitors,” she said.
