Antonio Bamonte traces the story of a bond with the Army that has never been broken from the first nucleus in the 1950s to the vitality of the present
In the fabric of the Italian community in Australia, few symbols evoke as strongly the sense of discipline, honor and belonging as the Carabinieri uniform. This is how the National Carabinieri Association (ANC) of Sydney was born, developed and still thrives today.
Its story begins in the 1950s, a period of intense emigration from Italy to Australia.
In those years, the desire to build a new life was intertwined with nostalgia for the land of origin and for the values that had shaped an entire generation. Among the first carabinieri on leave to land in Australia were Giovanni Cainero, who arrived in 1958, Giuseppe Castorina in 1960 and Giuseppe Caputo in 1962. These men, while fitting into the new Australian reality, felt the need to meet, speak their own language and remember their common experience in the force. Informal meetings, often organized in private homes or Italian clubs, were the spark that would give life to the Sydney ANC.
The turning point came in 1974, thanks to an episode that many of the protagonists remember as a true stroke of fate. One evening, Antonio Bamonte, a carabiniere on leave at the time, returned home late and found his wife Caterina visibly agitated: “A colonel called, he’s looking for you urgently – he told him – his name is Giuseppe Siracusano and he’s staying at the Sheraton Hotel in Sydney.”
That name wasn’t new to him. Siracusano had been his superior in Italy, and the call was not accidental. The colonel was in fact on a mission to Australia with a specific task: to promote the creation of a section of the National Carabinieri Association also on the southern continent. During a dinner at the APIA Club, Siracusano had asked if there were any carabinieri on leave in the city, and someone had directed him to Bamonte.
The two met that same evening, recalling years of service and talking about the project that the colonel was carrying out. Siracusano wanted to give an official form to those spontaneous bonds between ex-carabinieri emigrants, uniting in a single reality those who shared common values and memories.
A few weeks later, Bamonte managed to reunite around fifteen carabinieri on leave. That meeting, full of enthusiasm and a sense of belonging, marked the official foundation of the Sydney ANC Branch. Giovanni Cainero, the oldest of the group, was elected as leader, but he soon left the position, declaring himself “too old to be president”.
After Cainero, the presidency passed to Corrado Bernardone, followed by Captain Armando Funari, a highly prestigious figure and director of FIAT Australia. It was under his leadership that the association began to structure itself in a more organized way, participating in ceremonies and creating links with other arms associations and with the Italian community of Sydney.
But the longest and most significant season was that led by Antonio Bamonte, who assumed the presidency after Funari and held the position for twenty-five years. During this period, the ANC in Sydney became a point of reference for retired police officers and sympathizers of the force across the continent.
Under his leadership, the association expanded with the opening of new sections in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth, building a national network that still represents the official presence of the Carabinieri in Australia today.
In 1979 the association already had 78 active members, a considerable number for a group founded only a few years earlier. Over time, the generational turnover has reduced, but the enthusiasm and sense of belonging remain strong: today the Sydney section can count on a stable nucleus of active members, accompanied by their families and many supporters.
Over the years, the ANC of Sydney has organized and participated in countless events, from the commemoration of November 4th to the celebration of the Madonna Virgo Fidelis, patron saint of the Force, up to the ceremonies in honor of the hero Salvo D’Acquisto, symbol of sacrifice and altruism.
The moment of maximum visibility was the 2013 National Gathering, a historic event that took place in the heart of Sydney, in Martin Place, under the direction of Bamonte himself. “That day – he recalls – the rain was pouring down, but no one moved a step. We were determined to honor the Army and show the strength of our community.”
Hundreds of people took part in the demonstration, including retired carabinieri, civil and religious authorities, and representatives of Italian institutions.
The event was enriched by the presence of the Carabinieri musical band and the participation of the Apostolic Nuncio, representative of the Pope in Australia. The parade in the city center, followed by a touching moment of contemplation, was an opportunity for many Italian emigrants to reaffirm their bond with their distant homeland.
“Being a carabiniere is not a phase of life, it is an identity that lasts forever,” says Bamonte, adding how “even on leave, even abroad, we continue to serve. The force has taught us honor, duty and closeness to the citizen. These are values that do not fade with distance.”
And he continues, “the Association is our spiritual barracks,” explains Bamonte. “A garrison of values, a family that supports each other. It doesn’t matter where we live: every carabiniere remains a servant of the State and an ambassador of Italy.”
On Armed Forces Day, the Sydney ANC renews its commitment to cherishing the memory and honoring those who served bravely. “Our most sincere wishes go to all the soldiers, sailors, airmen and carabinieri, in service and on leave,” concludes Bamonte. “In Australia we feel your presence amplified by the heart, and we thank you for the dedication with which you continue to represent Italy in the world.”
And he adds, in a reflective tone: “Our history demonstrates that the oath of loyalty is not broken with distance or time. The Army is within us, and as long as we carry love for our country in our hearts, we will continue to serve, wherever we are.”
