Santaromita Family

On his arrival from Italy, he spent a week with his father before he was sent off to Geraldton to fish out of the Abrolhos Islands. Between himself and his father, it wasn’t long before they had saved enough to bring out his Mother Rosaria, and sisters Carmella and Nunziata to Fremantle. They settled in Norfolk Street, Fremantle.

At the age of 14, he bought a partnership in his first boat, the Stella fishing for fish and crayfish out of Fremantle. During the war, fishing for the Italians was suspended. Most of them were interned to Harvey. Luigi was naturalised in 1937, and he avoided being interned. He worked on his brother-in-law’s market garden in Spearwood during the War.

The Camarda family also lived in Norfolk Street where he met and courted Concetta Camarda (better known as Marie), the love of his life. They married in 1944 and had five sons who followed him into the fishing industry. Luigi worked tirelessly, fishing the coast from Fremantle to the Abrolhos Islands. He was part owner of the fishing boat A. Buongiorno. He eventually bought out his partner and renamed the boat MareeLou. A newer version of the MareeLou, skippered by his Grandson still fishes to this day.

Luigi served on the Committee of the Fremantle Blessing of the Fleet, and at one stage was Vice President. He also served on the board of the Fremantle Fishermen’s Co-Operative. He retired from fishing in 1991. Luigi was very proud of his Italian heritage but also embraced the Australian way of life. He loved watching test cricket and followed Old Easts and later on, Fremantle in Australian Rules Football. He passed away in 2002 at the age of 80 and his family continue to fish the waters off Fremantle to this day.