Born in Ballarat in 1895 to parents from the Aeolian Islands, Lena Santospirito (née Virgona), dedicated her life to serving ...
A treasure chest of memories: Lena Santospirito, the “mother of the Italians”
Photos from the collection of the CO.AS.IT. Italian Historical Society (IHS).
Members of the Archbishop’s Committee for Italian Relief inspecting bales of clothing collected in Melbourne for dispatching to Italy. The clothing was sent to the needy in Italy immediately after World War II in 1945. Left to right: Frank Conti, unidentified, Lena Santospirito (née Virgona), unidentified, Maria Rodriquez (née Virgona) and Lina Tizio. Names of male workers unknown
Auxiliary of the Archbishop’s Committee for Italian Relief meeting at Mario’s Restaurant 198 Exhibition Street. Included in the photograph are: Celestina Sartori, Mrs Vincenzotti, Ada Sartori, Mrs Serafini, Lena Santospirito, Maria Sartori, Mrs Di Mattina, Regina Gobbo, Mrs Mardegan, Mrs Calandra, Bruna Borghesi, Maria Santospirito, Elsie Valmorbida, Fanni Borsari, Mrs Ermacora and Maria Boffa
A reception at the Oriental Hotel in Collins Street to welcome the members of the Italian Opera who gave several fundraising concerts for the Archbishop’s Committee for Italian Relief in 1948
1958. Lena Santospirito (left) and Lena Cincotta being presented with the Italian Star of Solidarity award by the Consul General of Italy, Marchese Giorgio Serafini
Sisters Maria Virgona (later Rodriquez) and Lena Virgona (later Santospirito) on Christmas Day 1922
Members of the Archbishop’s Committee for Italian Relief inspecting bales of clothing collected in Melbourne for dispatching to Italy. The clothing was sent to the needy in Italy immediately after World War II in 1945. Left to right: Frank Conti, unidentified, Lena Santospirito (née Virgona), unidentified, Maria Rodriquez (née Virgona) and Lina Tizio. Names of male workers unknown
Lena Santospirito (right) with her mother, Bartolina Virgona, in 1945
