Introducing Alessia Mancini

Together with Angelo, Alessia built a business alongside being a parent of four. PICTURE: Wix

It doesn’t take long after meeting Alessia Mancini to realise that she loves her family unconditionally. She has created a warm and homely space at Rathdowne Place with walls covered in family photographs and keepsakes neatly placed around the apartment.

As I enter the cosy apartment on the third floor at Rathdowne Place, a woman dressed in a bright, red sweater and a shining, gold necklace greets me with a big smile and a glint of warmth in her eye. “Come on in and have a seat. I am Alessia,” she says. A few seconds after arriving, she offers me coffee and biscuits and she instantly makes me feel at home. As we sit in her living room surrounded by pictures of her family, keepsakes filled with memories and her newest knitting creations, she quickly takes the reins of the conversation and starts telling me a life story built around family.

Alessia’s journey started in 1931, where she was born and raised in Vairano-Patenora in the Caserta province of Italy, nearly 60 kilometres north of Napoles. She grew up in a caring home with her parents, four brothers and four sisters. In her childhood home, all family members were treated equally, which is a quality she had carried on to her own family. As Alessia tells about her young adulthood in Italy, she continuously mentions her husband, Angelo, who passed away in 2009. “This ring used to be his,” she says while looking down at the pendant on her gold necklace. “I always wear it because it makes me feel like he is still with me.” As we talk about him, Alessia touches his ring and sends me a heartfelt smile. “I was very lucky to have Angelo as my husband. He was a hardworking and loving husband. He often got me flowers.” The happy couple got married and had their firstborn child, Filippo, in the 1950s before moving from Italy a few years later, where they began many happy years to come.

Angelo migrated to Australia in 1956, and shortly after 24-years old Alessia and 18-months old Filippo followed. The little family found a new home in Mt Gambier, where Alessia lived until she moved into Rathdowne Place last year. In the following years, the happy family expanded, as two daughters, Ines and Milana, and youngest son, Tino, was born. Alessia took care of the home and kids, while Angelo worked in the construction industry. Together they also started a construction company in the family’s name, Mancini. With pride in her voice, she tells about the time, where Angelo built a hotel containing 52 rooms in Mt Gambier. They named it Southgate Motel and at some point, all her kids have worked at the hotel. It is still possible to stay at the hotel, but it is now run by Best Western, who leases it from Alessia’s family.

“Have one more,” Alessia demands in a friendly tone while pointing at the biscuits. It is not difficult to imagine her being a loving and caring mother to her four kids. She continues her story by telling how proud she is of her sons and daughters and their achievements. Filippo, Ines and Tino still live in or around Melbourne, while Milana lives in New Zealand. Alessia has a close bond with all of her children, who often come by Rathdowne Place to visit their mother. Today, Alessia is blessed with six grandsons, one great grandson and one great granddaughter. She loves to get visits from her family and she always makes sure to have some sweets to offer her guests when they stop by.

In between her visits, Alessia tries to keep herself busy by attending different events at Rathdowne Place. “Monday, I play Bingo. Thursday, I knit and play Bingo, too. Friday, I go to the gym. It is really important for me to stay active.” The book stack on her dining table reveals her desire for reading and the big, light green basil plant on her balcony is an evidence of her love for the Italian kitchen. “I don’t cook that much anymore, but I did when I lived in Mt Gambier. Sometimes my kids bring some Italian food here, and then we have a nice family dinner at my place.” As Alessia talks about her hobbies, she shows me some of her latest creations. She swings a light blue scarf around her neck and lets me feel it.

Since moving to Australia, Alessia has stayed in contact with family still living in Italy. She has been back to Italy several times, however, the last time was some years ago in 2010. Her home country has not been Alessia’s only holiday destination. She and her family travelled regularly, and she especially remembers a vacation to Darwin in the Northern Territory. “We were together, the whole family. I remember that we were on a boat trip where we saw many big crocodiles. It was a lovely vacation.” As Alessia retells the story, she looks at all the framed pictures portraying her big family. The pleasure of these sweet memories spreads across her face: “I feel lucky. I am really happy with my life,” she says while taking a sip of her coffee and offering me more biscuits.

Artiklen skrev jeg i forbindelse med et stort kommunikationsprojekt i samarbejde med Australian Unitys ældrecenter Rathdowne Place i Melbourne. Alle navne i artiklen er ændret, da de involverede ønsker at være anonyme. Jeg er bekendt med deres korrekte navne.