Interview with Adelaide (Aida) Valentini (nee Recchi) [sound recording] / Interviewer : Madeleine Regan

Interview with Aida Valentini for the Italian Market Gardeners oral history project. Aida was born on 14 September 1938 and begins by speaking about her family background: her father's arrival in 1927 and work in Paradise, in the eastern suburbs of Adelaide; her parents' proxy marriage in 1937; six members of her mother's family who migrated to Adelaide. She also describes the move across the city of the Recchi family to 'Lockleys' area on the eastern side of Findon Road (then River Road), between Grange Road and the bridge; the family home which was initially a tin shed; and what is was like in the surrounding area when she was growing up. Other areas covered: names of other families in the area including market gardeners; features of the area surrounding her parents' land; nine-acre market garden on which her parents grew potatoes, celery and tomatoes in five glasshouses; workings lives of her parents and their employment of other Italians who helped with planting and picking; Aida's tasks in the market garden as she was growing up, including planting potatoes and later, preparing food for the employees; description of the use of the land - house and packing shed and a small asbestos home that was rented to new Italian migrants, use of bore water; other Italian market gardeners who lived in neighbourhood and explanation that most were from the Veneto and the good relationships between all the families; tradition of families celebrating New Years Day at Glenelg; special food eaten at Easter and Christmas; incident when her father wrestled a bull; additional land leased on Valetta Road for potatoes and celery; Aida's life after she left school when she turned 15 and her relationship with Amadio who had arrived in 1951 and their outings chaperoned by her mother; new house completed in September 1956 at 18 years; Amadio's working life from his early ears after migrating, market gardening and buying a truck to work with Readymix; description of her wedding with 1,000 guests; family traditions, eg processes of making tomato sauce and tomato paste, wine, killing the pig; shopping for food, ordering groceries and buying fish and drapery from travelling salesmen; parents finishing up in the market garden around 1965/1966 and their activities in retirement and two visitis to Italy; Aida's visits to Italy; Aida's strong sense of being Italian and pride in her heritage.

No restrictions on copying or publication except acknowledging State Library of South Australia OH 872/38 if published.