Elisa: People, Places & Stories

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Rainbow Beach, QLD
Elisa: People, Places & Stories

Educational Speaker, Cultural Advocate, Storyteller. I lead projects that engage arts & culture to inspire growth & connection.
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As a creative Italian-Australian, I facilitate heritage & diversity knowledge, exploring stories that bridge people and places.

07/11/2024

It seems my letter to the editor didn't just ruffle feathers. 🗞 It cracked open the conversation. Which was my intention because there is a shared sentiment.
As I am writing the follow-up article for the December edition, KEEP SHARING YOUR INPUT. Send me a private message or stop me when you see me.

Huge thanks to Rainbow Beach Community News for publishing 📰 Grab your November copy if you haven't already!

Stay respectful and widen your horizon.

06/11/2024

Oh, s**t indeed!
There's been one consistent shared shock that has been coming up during my interviews: the old Dunny 🚽.

When Italian migrants arrived in Australia, till the 60s, they had to adjust to many things: the language barrier, the weather, the 🐍🦘🪲🐛🕷🕷🐜🪳🪳🪳🦗🦟🦟🦟, the racism and discrimination... but they all had an untold hero, the "Nightsoil Man".

Outdoor toilets were mandatory from the late 1800s till the 1960s, and it remained prevalent in the cities outer areas. Before the broader movement to installing sewarage systems and indoor plumbing across Australia.

So, you might ask, what's the deal about this Dunny? Also called Thunder Box 💨 oops, sorry!

The Dunny was a striking and vivid part of the Australian experience.
I want to highlight the intense cultural and sensory shock migrants felt when adapting to the new lives.
The dunny's smell, the oppressive heat, the maggots (g'day mate!), and the pungent phenyl acid used for sanitation and kill 7 days of family c***a load, can paint you a harsh picture.
"Just add a little bit of sawdust, she'll be right!"

The weekly visit from the heroic Nightsoil Man to take it all away, who wore protective gear like a bookkeeper must have been an unforgettable sight and symbolises the rough, unpolished reality of early living in Queensland.

Still one of the s**tt!est jobs, ever.

In this photo, there's pictured the gap between expectations and reality in their promised new land.

01/11/2024

Writing isn’t just about words flowing onto paper. It’s also about reading ➡️ for learning, verification, and inspiration. Holding "Sotto a un altro cielo " (Under a different sky) feels like holding a piece of living history. Meeting Mr. Carmelo Caruso, a true legend at 95 years old, was an honour. Sixty-five years in Queensland, yet still radiating pure Italian spirit, with so much cultural pride.

His story, like those of my grandparents and great-grandparents, carries the reality that life is what we make of it. So much pain, hope, suffering, starvation against moments of self realisation, and ambitions. History, politics, economic cycles: these forces will always be beyond our control.
Yet,
it’s our reactions, our choices, and our courage that shape our destiny.

To the remarkable souls who endured and built our world: Grazie! Thank you, your strength continues to inspire hope for the future.

29/10/2024

Writing is a Love and Hate Game ✍️

Creating a story, especially one that aims to connect with young readers (and the young at heart) is a rollercoaster.
Draft after draft,
version after version,
it's messy, full of doubt, and challenging.
I feel it is a true test of patience and passion.

Here I am, sharing a look of the 5th (or maybe 7th?) draft of my second story.
It’s still in its gestational stage, I am experimenting with new ideas that push my boundaries.
The struggle between wanting it 'done and out' and the need to 'refine and find' the right words is real!

But isn’t this the beauty of storytelling?
The process of creating something that one day will hopefully 🤞🏼 touch someone’s heart.

25/10/2024

I've always been someone with strong opinions and a passion for speaking up when something feels wrong. In Italy, I’ve never hesitated to voice my thoughts, even political ones, but here in Australia, I find myself holding back, especially when it comes to local issues.

Maybe it’s the fear of consequences, the uncertainty of what will follow as I’m seen as outsider, or the small-town dynamics that make it feel riskier. But deep down, I know that staying silent when you have something important to say doesn’t create the change you want to see.

It’s easy to feel like your voice is just one in a sea of opinions, but I’ve realised that every voice matters, especially when it comes from a place of care and community. It’s not just about being opinionated—it’s about standing up for something that could benefit everyone.

I’m learning that speaking from the heart, even when it’s hard, is how we create connection and open up the possibility for others to feel empowered too. What we fear might hold us back could actually be what moves us forward, together.

Do you ever feel the same way? Have you held back from speaking up, and if so, what’s made you step forward? Let’s talk about the power and the fear of using our voice, especially when it’s for something that matters.

Photo credit Rainbow Beach Wedding Photography

24/10/2024

The Man Behind the Flyer: Aurelio Paolo Demontis.

In choosing the image for the flyer of my local history cultural project, I didn’t want to use a stock image. Instead, I chose a photograph that holds deep personal meaning-> my nonno, Aurelio Paolo Demontis, a man who still remains somewhat of a mystery to me.

I only met him in the last 14 years of his life, but his story carried the weight of a lifetime. He served in Russia during WWII, surviving seven harrowing years in the military. The war took a toll on his body, and his kidneys failed due to the unbearable conditions he endured. He did 20 years of dialysis (3 times a week, attached to those machines, for 2 decades).

To me, he was the face of suffering, of quiet strength, of a man who got by despite it all.
He was physically frail when we shared life together, devoted to God, but he feared the German soldiers even more.

His story is one of countless others, untold and often forgotten in the broader narratives of history.
This project is a tribute not only to him but to all Italian migrants who carried their pain, their resilience, and their culture with them to Australia.

Let’s keep their stories alive and reshared.

24/10/2024

For too long, Australia's history has been told through a predominantly British lens, leaving so many important voices and stories in the shadows.
Italian migration to Australia, dating as far back as the 19th century, is one of those stories. It's rich with hardship, resourcefulness and contributions that deserve to be shared.

As part of my ongoing work, I’m dedicated to contributing, even "in my piccolo", to bring these Italian migration stories into the spotlight.
These histories shaped Australia as much as any other, and it's time they receive the recognition they deserve.

Why is this important?
There are a lot of untold, unrecorded pieces of history, that we need to talk about so we can better the future and personal growth.
It brings us closer as a community, reminding us where we come from and how much further we can go together.

👉🏼I'm going all in with Cultural Awareness and consciousness.

qldnt

24/10/2024

Share Your Story, Share Your Strength 🌍❤️

Migration is a journey full of challenges and triumphs. It influences who we are and how we connect to both our heritage and our new home.

Do you want to share your migration story with me?

Tell me about the moments that shaped you: the lows and the highs. Your story is important, and I'd love to listen.

DM me to share your journey. Let’s keep these stories alive together. ✨

22/10/2024

Today, I was reminded of this Butchulla lore by Fred Leone Butchulla Man, Artist and Cultural Ambassador. We often think of sharing in terms of material things, but of course, it also means sharing our knowledge.

Watching the young generation of Australians' absorb 🧽 Fred's stories, music, and knowledge with curiosity and respect: it was powerful.
The beauty of that moment is in how children can see beyond labels and are drawn to the stories, wisdom, and heart of the person in front of them. It has been incredible to witness them embracing Fred's insights with curiosity and respect.

It's often in these moments, when we realise the depth of what we have to offer, that we understand the true meaning of sharing beyond the material—our experiences, culture, and learnings are just as valuable, if not more so.

It’s also a responsibility to contribute positively to others’ growth.

Sharing what we know is how we keep the stories alive and grow together.
So, don’t hold back, share your gifts and your knowledge, and watch how it ripples through others. 🌿

Fred Leone

21/10/2024

Please tag and share this project and help me find as many participants as possible.
𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝟏𝟎𝟎% 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞.
🗣
This project aims to uncover the often-overlooked nuances of migration; 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧’𝐬 𝐈𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧-𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲.
By highlighting the traditions that have been both preserved and transformed, I hope to offer a deeper understanding of how cultural identity evolves and adapts across generations, creating a legacy that is both rooted in the past and flourishing in the present.

🇮🇹
Here is a brief ice breaking questionnaire to get in touch with me:
https://forms.gle/4AhvENbHeKrvahxa7

This project is supported by the Gympie Regional Council via Regional Arts Development Funding

02/10/2024

Oh Lordy ♧ Lordy 😍🤩😊🤣 Since I hit the 40s, I aim to be even less shy. Apologies in advance to whoever won't be equipped to bear my life force

🇮🇹❤️

28/09/2024

An immersion in art and boundless creativity! 💃
Yesterday, I visited the Iris Van Herpen exhibition in Brisbane, and I was left in awe.
Her ability to shape fabrics and materials as if they were an extension of the human body left me speechless.
Her futuristic vision and the courage to experiment so freely deeply inspired me.

Sometimes, I wonder what holds us back from fully expressing ourselves... Perhaps it’s the fear of not being understood or stepping out of the conventional boundaries. But seeing Iris’s work reminded me how essential it is to dare, to find our voice, and to let it resonate, no matter what others may think.

👗 What do you think? Have you ever seen a work or exhibition that made you want to break the mould? Let me know in the comments! ⬇️

12/09/2024

Ciao, exciting things are happening!
I'm deep into meaningful projects that celebrate culture, connection, and storytelling.

Stay tuned for more — big things are on the way!

05/09/2024

The spirit of Sardinia’s 🔵 Blue Zone.
Today, on the 5th of September, a remarkable woman would have been 121 years old. My great-grandmother, born in 1903, lived an extraordinary 104 years.
🖼On the far right, her presence remains timeless, a black-and-white echo of resilience & grace.
🖼In the centre is my grandmother, 94 years strong, a living testament to our lineage, beyond sacrifices, loss, challenges.
🖼And here I am, at 40 years, carrying forward our heritage, dressed in the traditional attire that binds us through generations. I might have moved to Australia and I became a citizen here... which makes my stubborn wish to keep culture alive even more challenging and extraordinary.

In Sardinia, we say to people "A chent'annus!" — to a hundred years. We honour the past, embrace the present, and look to the future, rooted in strength, tradition, and care.

***As I have been asked: no, we are not Muslim. We are in fact catholics (well more than that), traditionally women needed to keep their hair clean and tidy, protected from weather, due to the basic standard of living 😎

03/09/2024

My mum's birthday is today, too many thousands of miles between us.

1 egg, 75 gr of butter, 75gr of yoghurt, 300gr flour, 90gr of sugar, mixed together and baked with jam for 25 minutes to celebrate from a far the woman who gave me this life.

She picked my name.
My father wanted to call me Sofia, like his grandmother.

The moment I was near the door of life, my mother felt it: Annalisa, Adalgisa, Elisa.

She made my name feel so sacred because of the matriarcal lineage. Her mum mother's name, in rhyme with her own name, generated mine. As they generated, this life of mine, one womb at the time.

So, behind this pie there's a lot more. As usual, which is what I love about life 😎 and cooking.

Address

Rainbow Beach, QLD

Website

http://www.arainbowstory.com/

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Do you have stories of Italian heritage waiting to be told? Do you live in the Gympie Region? If you or someone you know has Italian roots, we want to hear from you! *Contact us: [email protected] We're collecting: -Personal Stories -Cultural Artifacts -Historical Insights https://forms.gle/s4D6xPB95Q12kSut5

Thunder box

Oh, sh!t indeed! There's been one consistent shared shock that has been coming up during my interviews: the old Dunny 🚽. When Italian migrants arrived in Australia, till the 60s, they had to adjust to many things: the language barrier, the weather, the 🐍🦘🪲🐛🕷🕷🐜🪳🪳🪳🦗🦟🦟🦟, the racism and discrimination... but they all had an untold hero, the "Nightsoil Man". Outdoor toilets were mandatory from the late 1800s till the 1960s, and it remained prevalent in the cities outer areas. Before the broader movement to installing sewarage systems and indoor plumbing across Australia. So, you might ask, what's the deal about this Dunny? Also called Thunder Box 💨 oops, sorry! The Dunny was a striking and vivid part of the Australian experience. I want to highlight the intense cultural and sensory shock migrants felt when adapting to the new lives. The dunny's smell, the oppressive heat, the maggots (g'day mate!), and the pungent phenyl acid used for sanitation and kill 7 days of family cacca load, can paint you a harsh picture. "Just add a little bit of sawdust, she'll be right!" The weekly visit from the heroic Nightsoil Man to take it all away, who wore protective gear like a bookkeeper must have been an unforgettable sight and symbolises the rough, unpolished reality of early living in Queensland. Still one of the sh!tt!est jobs, ever. In this photo, there's pictured the gap between expectations and reality in their promised new land. #migrantsstories #dunnybox #DunnyLife #Australia #heritage #publichealth

Writing is a Love and Hate Game ✍️ Creating a story, especially one that aims to connect with young readers (and the young at heart) is a rollercoaster. Draft after draft, version after version, it's messy, full of doubt, and challenging. I feel it is a true test of patience and passion. Here I am, sharing a look of the 5th (or maybe 7th?) draft of my second story. It’s still in its gestational stage, I am experimenting with new ideas that push my boundaries. The struggle between wanting it 'done and out' and the need to 'refine and find' the right words is real! But isn’t this the beauty of storytelling? The process of creating something that one day will hopefully 🤞🏼 touch someone’s heart. . . . #italiandownunder #author #authoRise #writersbeyondborders #EnglishBooks #storytelling #staytune #creatingadream

Ciao, exciting things are happening! I'm deep into meaningful projects that celebrate culture, connection, and storytelling. Stay tuned for more — big things are on the way!