Lenzo Family

Giuseppe, the oldest of 8 children, arrived with dreams of making his fortune and returning home. However, the Australian way of life soon won him over, and he decided to settle in Perth.

Back in Sicily, Antonino Manganaro was a Fisherman and continued this profession in Fremantle. Antonino Manganaro had arrived in Fremantle the year prior to Giuseppe and his family soon followed. In 1954, Giuseppe met Carmela, Antonino's daughter, upon her arrival to Fremantle with her Mother Giovanna and siblings. They married in 1956 and had two children (named after the parents), Rosetta and Basil.

Before coming to Australia, Giuseppe had worked as a fruit trader in Sicily for his uncles. In Fremantle, he initially took up a job constructing the BP Kwinana refinery with Brickworks, working tirelessly for two years before buying an orchard in Pickering Brook. Despite his lack of swimming skills and tendency to get seasick, Giuseppe would assist Antonino on his fishing trips whenever a deckhand was needed. Over time, he overcame his seasickness, developed a deep love for the ocean, and a passion for fishing, though he never learned to swim!

Inspired by the opportunities in Perth, Giuseppe sponsored two brothers and two sisters to join him in Perth.

In 1960, Giuseppe and his brother sold the 28-acre orchard and moved to Fremantle to partner with his father-in-law and brother in-law Sam Manganaro in a new Marco Sambrailo built 44-foot plank boat, the San Giuseppe. The boat was constructed on the Swan River in East Fremantle with a 110hp Gardener pulling a top speed of 8-knots (or 9.5 with the sail up). After earning his Skipper's ticket at night school, Giuseppe then purchased his first boat, naming it the Tindari, embarking on a career that would span four decades. His brother, Antonino (Nino), followed in his footsteps, becoming a fisherman and owning his own boat called Sicilia.

For over twenty years, Giuseppe and his brother Nino made beehive craypots during the offseason, not just for themselves but for many other fishermen. In 1997, he was approached by his former deckhand, Antonio Guarino, with a proposal to co-invest in another boat. Giuseppe agreed, very proud to help his friend start a new business with his two sons, Bart and Max.

Giuseppe's hard work and dedication paid off; a lifetime spent growing his businesses! This all achieved through his own efforts, supportive bank managers, confidence in his abilities and the unwavering love of his wife and family. Despite his personal challenges, he never complained, always wearing a smile, and maintaining his modest, loyal demeanour.

Tragically, Giuseppe passed away in March 1999, but his legacy lives on. He is remembered as a quiet, modest, and extremely hard-working man who brought joy to those around him with his generosity and unwavering dedication to his family and friends. His son Basil and grandson David continues to run the family business, honouring the memory of a man whose life was defined by love, ethics, resilience, and an unbreakable bond with the sea. Hi son Basil is also the Chairman of the Geraldton’s Fishermen’s Co-operative, having served on the board since 2007.