Entry 29: Seven Pairs of 'Zzoccoli' and a Photograph - Setti Para di Zzoccoli e na Futografia

Location: Calabria, Italy

Date: Late 1952

Concetta Trimboli and her eight children left their home at Contrada Monaco and started walking along the dirt track leading to the coastal town of Siderno Marina. Her husband Salvatore Moschilla had emigrated from Calabria and was currently working in Western Australia. The risks of travelling so far away from home had been worthwhile, but he was missing his wife, missing his children and all that was familiar to him back in Italy. His recent letter contained some much needed money and a simple request – send me a photograph of my family.

‘Mandami na futografia cu tutta a famigghia.’

As they walked the four kilometres towards their destination of the photography studio, Concetta reflected on her hectic life as a single parent and the considerable efforts she had put into preparing for this day. She had arranged ‘u sartu’ to make her son’s first suit, purchased and delivered fabric to ‘a maistra’ to sew a custom-made jacket and skirt for one daughter and a dress in green velvet for another. A kind ‘cummari’ (close family friend) who lived nearby had been very helpful by providing a couple of other dresses - one checkered and one pleated. And then, there was the unexpected, but timely good fortune of a parcel arriving from America, containing a new coat for her youngest daughter – a gift from her godmother.

Consideration to footwear had also been planned in advance. For the walk into town, Concetta and the girls wore their wooden clogs - ‘zzoccoli di ligniu’, and carried their polished, clean shoes to prevent them from getting muddy on the track. The two boys didn’t have spare shoes for this outing, so they took extra care to avoid puddles and mushy patches of soil. Always humble, Concetta was quietly pleased to see her family all neatly dressed in fine clothing, wearing an eclectic collection of: things they already had; some things brand new; and other things borrowed.

“Figghioli, caminati prestu,” she urged her children. With words of encouragement to walk quickly, she set a steady pace until they reached the outskirts of town where the track ended and the sealed road began. She located a suitable place on the side of the road for them to change their footwear. Here, they put on their clean socks and shoes and secretly hid seven pairs of ‘zzoccoli’ out of sight behind a thick hedge - ready to be picked up and worn again for the return journey home.

When they arrived at the studio, the photographer positioned Concetta on a chair surrounded by all her children, but despite reaching their destination without any mishaps, she didn't feel any relief. Instead, she sat there, thinking of the unwelcome changes happening in a few months – when eldest son Giovanni would leave home to join her husband in Australia. It was going to be difficult to lose another member of her family, to say goodbye, without knowing when she would see him again. Deeply unsettled by these whispering thoughts running through her mind, she gazed into the lens of the camera. The resulting photo captured a distressing period of major transition, compounded by an uncertain future and a family divided across two distant continents.

The original black and white photo was carefully packed in Giovanni’s luggage and, upon arrival, handed over to his father as requested in the letter. In Perth, modifications were made - an image of Salvatore was inserted to complete the family portrait. The updated, colour version, is the earliest photograph featuring all ten members, making it perfect for introducing the family of Salvatore Moschilla and Concetta Trimboli.

Left to Right:

• Cecilia

• Salvatore

• Rosa (girl with blue bow in hair)

• Angelina

• Giuseppina (girl with Concetta’s hand on her shoulder)

• Concetta (sitting)

• Giovanni

• Andrea

• Maria

• Girolama

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EXTRA INFORMATION

Girolama Moschilla was first introduced in Entry 1. She is the same individual referred to as Genny Moschilla. However, “Genny” became her preferred name only after migrating to Australia. Therefore, in posts set in Calabria, she will be identified by either her birth name “Girolama” or nickname "Momma". (Even though she wasn't keen on either!)