For starters, they did not exchange presents on Christmas Day as the tradition.

In Italy, presents were given on the day of the Epiphany on the sixth day of January.

No Santa Claus, the giver of presents was "La Befana", a 12th night witch armed with a broomstick and associated with the giving of presents.

It was not until their children went to school that this tradition gradually changed, though it is still the practice in Italy.

Church was the main focus on Christmas Day and rarely was there a traditional at home family lunch or dinner.

Not being really into turkey or ham, the ladies would spend most of the previous days cooking chicken, Italian peas, potatoes, boiled eggs and plenty of fresh salads.

All types of salami and cheeses and fresh crusty bread.

Italian biscuits, crostoli and sweet, rockmelons, watermelons and other fruit, sometimes if we were lucky as bananas at that time were prohibited in Griffith we would stop at the Point and buy some.

Men got the drinks, beer when available, wine and soft drinks.

Two one hundred weight (50kgs.) blocks of ice purchased from Livanes Ice Works in Banna Lane, broken up and placed in two galvanised tubs to keep things cool.

All food was pre-cooked as they did not learn to barbecue until later, as Aussies learned about pasta and pizza.

Someone's truck was always available, everything was loaded on, including up to 20 people, sitting on Letona boxes (No OHS in these days.) Some who had cars would drive them.

Then off to Taylor's Beach on the other side of Darlington Point.

A stop at Mirrool Creek for a breather and a drink.

Once there, blankets on the ground, everything was unloaded, the men would play bocce and the women wold prepare the food and try to keep the kids from drowning.

With no swimming lessons in those days and with Italians being notoriously bad swimmers, quite often a human chain had to be formed to rescue people.

By mid-afternoon the men, charged with wine, would sing all the old traditional songs of their regions.

At around 5pm, the packing up would commence for the drive home, stop again at Mirrool Creek to rest and have another drink, arriving home tired but happy.

Finley Beach on the Carrathool road was another favoured beach and also Narrandera Lakes.