The annual Granny Smith Festival draws big crowds each October and this year was no different.
2024 l marked the 39th year with over 1,000 participants in the grand street parade.
Italian migrant settlement in the area commenced around mid 1800’s with its peak migration in 1950. The Italians predominantly operated market gardens and were instrumental in pioneering the districts. They bought with them new food varieties which included, olive trees, garlic, artichokes, fig trees, and Mediterranean vegetables such as eggplants and chillies to name a few.
Italian migrants of Ryde are proud to once again be included in the annual parade celebrating heritage and multiculturalism in the districts.
This year we saw them participate in a vintage 1927 Convertible Chrysler owned by local George Circosta with his daughter Josie driving whilst George and son Phillip along with Cosimo Martinis played the drums. Nonna Maria and Granny Smith characters joined in as did Italian migrant descendants remembering their origins and the agricultural past of the City of Ryde proudly waving the tre-colori flag.
In 2023 a first time publication was launched titled A One-Way Ticket, Italian Migrants of Ryde which has not only been successful and receipient of the prestigious National Trust Heritage award but on many other levels, bringing the community together and honouring our ancestors.
The publication is being used as a valuable resource in school history lessons educating the next generation on the local area’s history and development. Even Ryde Historical Society is using the publication as a resource of local history of which this publication is the first-time documentation of Italian settlement in the area.
To purchase a copy of the book, visit Ladyofgracefraternity website and/or follow Italian Migrants of Ryde Facebook page for updates.
