Salutations from the King
A FAR North Queensland couple preparing to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary are among the first in the country to receive a congratulatory letter from King Charles.
Originally hailing from Sicily, Giovanni and Caterina Farina – known affectionately as John and Tina – have called Australia home for more than 50 years.
But it wasn’t until July 2022 that their youngest son, Sam Farina, contacted the Prime Minister’s office to get a letter for their anniversary on January 19.
“At that time, the Queen was alive so I asked if the letter could be sent to her as well,” Mr Farina said.
When Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, Mr Farina thought his letter would go unanswered.
“When she died, I didn’t think they’d be organising letters or that my letter wouldn’t matter but then my parents rang me up and said they’d had a letter from the King, so I was pretty chuffed for them,” Mr Farina said.
The couple also received congratulatory letters from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Australian Governer-General David Hurley, the Queensland Governor-General, Jeannette Young, and Queensland Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk.
John and Tina met in her home town of Giarre in Italy in 1961 where John worked as a carpenter and builder.
The couple ran away together in 1962 and were married in 1963 before welcoming their first son, Tony.
After working in Switzerland and Germany, they decided on a new adventure when their travel agent suggested Australia.
“John had no idea where Australia was at the time but decided to go for it,” Mr Farina said.
“So he bought a one-way ticket, landed in Sydney and made his way to Innisfail. Tina and their young son Tony joined him in 1968. Their son Sam was born in 1969.
“The couple still live in Innisfail but have since retired, spending their golden years gardening, having smoko together and dancing every night at the local RSL. They have two sons and two granddaughters.”