Paul Papalia

Paul with the United Nations Chemical Destruction Group, Al Muthanna, Iraq, 1992 – contributing to the critical mission of chemical weapon disarmament.
Credit: Hon. Paul Papalia MLA

Behind every decision to migrate, there is a story. Paul Papalia’s grandfather, Vincenzo, was born in 1897 in Delianuova, a picturesque town in Italy’s Aspromonte National Park. In the difficult years after the First World War, Italy was burdened by debt, political unrest, and a stagnating economy. Like many of his generation, Vincenzo longed for a better future. He first migrated to the United States before arriving alone in Western Australia in 1922, where he worked clearing forests in the south. Later he returned to Italy, married Maria, and brought her back to Australia to begin a family. For Maria, Western Australia seemed remote and strange, with unfamiliar food, language, and customs. The couple settled in North Perth and then Northbridge, where their children, including Paul’s father Francesco, were born. Unlike many Italian migrants who pursued farming, building, or mining, Vincenzo ran small businesses in Northbridge and, together with Maria, ensured that their children were immersed in the traditions of their Italian heritage.

As Italian migration grew, support networks flourished. Cafés serving traditional cuisine became social hubs, while cultural and religious festivals filled the streets with music, food, and dancing. These gatherings offered comfort and belonging, strengthening the ties that bound migrant families together. Just before the Second World War, the family moved to Brunswick, Melbourne, where Vincenzo supported his son Francesco to establish a milk run. Using a horse and cart, Francesco delivered milk house to house from the early hours of the morning, his earnings vital to the family’s survival.

Paul with a Clearance Diver and British Army Engineers during the Iraq War, 2003 – working together in a crucial, high-stakes mission.
Credit: Hon. Paul Papalia MLA

When Italy entered the war on the side of Germany, the Italian community in Australia fell under suspicion. Many were declared ‘enemy aliens’ and faced internment. Vincenzo, who had once fought for the Allies in the First World War, was interned twice—first in Harvey, Western Australia, and later at Loveday in South Australia, alongside other respected community figures such as Tommaso D’Orsogna and John Re. Families could only speak to loved ones through the wire fences of the camps.

During this time, Maria was left alone to raise three young boys. The eldest was ten years of age, and the youngest around six or seven years. Paul’s father Francesco was the middle child. There was no government support and many Italian families relied on each other to survive. Maria, like many other women, endured grief, racism, and economic hardship with determination. The close-knit community in Brunswick offered some solace, but prejudice was unrelenting. She worked tirelessly to hold her family together, drawing strength from her heritage and faith, and leaning on fellow migrant women who shared her struggles. Their kitchens became places of comfort and resilience, where recipes, stories, and hope were exchanged. Through perseverance and solidarity, Maria and her peers created a foundation of strength that sustained their families during the darkest of times.

Paul with his son, proudly standing beside HMAS Bunbury at Darwin Naval Base, 1999 – a symbol of service and family pride.
Credit: Hon. Paul Papalia MLA

The injustice of internment scarred many families. Businesses were lost and dignity was stripped away. Yet, within a decade, Vincenzo’s eldest son enlisted in the Australian Army and fought in Korea. Their story was not unique; many Italian Australians, despite prejudice, chose to serve and build lives of loyalty and contribution in their adopted country. For Paul’s father, memories of internment and discrimination endured. As a boy, he once returned from the barber with a swastika shaved into his hair—a cruel reminder of the hostility Italians faced.

Hon. Paul Papalia CSC, MLA – A pivotal moment in his political career, as he delivered his inaugural speech in the Legislative Assembly on 27 February 2007.
Credit: Hon. Paul Papalia MLA

Despite these traumas, the family endured. Vincenzo never fully recovered his business after the war, but he and Maria raised children who carried forward both resilience and pride in their heritage. Their legacy, and that of countless Italian migrants, is seen in the lasting contributions Italians have made to Western Australia. They established businesses, built communities, excelled in the arts, sport, and public life, and enriched the social fabric of the state with their food, music, and traditions. Festivals and cafés became symbols of belonging, while volunteer work and community service reflected enduring values of family and generosity.

Paul Papalia reflects that Western Australia is the place it is today because of the contributions of people like his grandparents—ordinary families who endured hardship, embraced resilience, and committed themselves to their new home. Their sacrifices and determination ensured opportunities for future generations, while their food, music, and traditions continue to be celebrated across the state. The story of Vincenzo and Maria is one of endurance, love, and cultural pride—a story that honours the courage of those who came before and shaped Western Australia for all who followed.

July 2025 – Paul formally welcoming UK Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, to Western Australia for a landmark diplomatic visit, strengthening international defence ties.
Credit: Hon. Paul Papalia MLA

Maria Papalia - Hon Paul Papalia’s Nonna

Vincenzo Papalia arrived in Melbourne on 28 December 1922 aboard Re D’Italia. In 1929 Vincenzo and Maria Papalia (nee Pezzimenti) were married in Delianuova, Italy. Maria Papalia immigrated to Western Australia with her husband Vincenzo on 15 April 1930 aboard Ormonde. Initially they lived in North Perth. At the beginning of World War II, they were living in Brunswick Junction with their four children, 3 sons and 1 daughter all born in WA. In 1940, Vincenzo was interned at Harvey, WA and then Loveday Internment Camp in South Australia. On the 6 December 1943 he was released from Loveday Internment Camp in South Australia and retuned to WA.