Passion project

“Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can’t remember who we are or why we’re here.” They are the words of author Sue Monk Kidd, shared by newly unveiled author Rosangela Crispino’s dear friend Toni Vorenas, who helped launch Rosangela’s debut children’s book last week. Those words encapsulate one of the key motivations for Rosangela in what has been a labour of love, a project officially starting 14 years ago but really dating back to her Calabrian heritage across multiple generations.

It was fitting that Rosangela’s debut book ‘ALiNA PiCCOLiNA and her adventures with Zietta’ was introduced by Toni, the former English teacher turned café owner, as both women are so connected to their Italian heritage. “If you know Rozzi (Rosangela) you know she has always been deeply connected to her Calabrian heritage, to her culture – it was inevitable that she would do something that would capture and celebrate it,” Toni said at the launch. “If you know Rozzi then you know she is a storyteller – it was inevitable that she would give her voice to her family and cultural stories.”

The long standing friendship between Toni and Rosangela was built on the foundation of storytelling – the tales each heard from their mothers.

“We had such admiration for these women, our matriarchs,” Toni said. “Through their stories they kept their culture alive – and through their stories we inherited an intense love of our culture – and through their stories we learned the power of storytelling. I remember Rozzi saying that keeping these stories alive is our obligation to the next generation.”

And in the end, it was the next generation that inspired Rosangela to start the long road from concept to completion – her niece Alina – she is, the chief protagonist in what Rosangela plans to be a series of books.

Rosangela’s own experience as a child making her way in Australia has also been a huge factor. “When I started school, I spoke Calabrese, my native Southern Italian dialect,” Rosangela said. “I didn’t understand them, they didn’t understand me. I didn’t belong.” But a trip a few years later with her father to Italy and meeting her Nonna Caterina struck a chord. “They understood me and I understood them – I felt that I belonged,” Rosangela said and she began corresponding with her Nonna regularly. “The passion for my Italian heritage was born.” Rosangela has always proudly shared that heritage but it was her niece Alina’s obsession, as a two year old, with Dora the Explorer, that finally kickstarted this passion project.

As she questioned why wasn’t there an Italian version of Dora – Rosangela realised the challenge that was starting her in the face.

“My philosophy is when we understood our culture & heritage, we gain an understanding of ‘who’ we are, laying the foundation to our intrinsic sense of identity and sense of belonging,” she said. “The ALiNA PiCCOLiNA series endeavours to encourage the reader to ‘enquire’ and discover their own heritage and develop their sense of belonging. The ALiNA PiCCOLiNA series will educate readers of the Italian language, traditions, culture, history and geography “However, unlike its competitors of the same genre, ALiNA PiCCOLiNA is different because it’s based on real people, real places and real stories, again, creating the sense of belonging.”

So that was the kick off point, 14 years ago and then it was four years ago when Rosangela and her culture sharing project were part of the 2018 New Venture Institute – a Flinders University program for local entrepreneurs – that Rosangela, the children’s book author, went into overdrive and she truly believed her vision could become a reality. Winning the People’s Choice Award in the class of 2018 also helped motivate and inspire Rosangela.

It was at this point that Rosangela started to build her team, starting with finance guru Jason Seidel and spurred on by the support of Sue Charlton and the Stand Like Stone Foundation.

“To align with our ‘keeping it local’, we are pledging $2 of each book to the Stand Like Stone Foundation to fund scholarships for Limestone Coast students of language, music, art, media studies and cultural studies,” Rosangela said.

Then arguably her most critical recruitment to the ALiNA PiCCOLiNA was young graphic designer and illustrator Tahlee Chant, who has brought ALiNA PiCCOLiNA and all its characters to life.

“She’s become a very close friend and partner in both business and adventures – thank God for Tahlee and her brilliant illustrating and graphic design talents,” Rosangela said. “If it weren’t for Tahlee, the books may have been stuck with my stick drawings,” And for Tahlee the ALiNA PiCCOLiNA opportunity has been incredible.

“I have always loved my art but always through if I ever wanted to pursue it would be in the city,” she said. “My parents have always been really supportive of my art but to have someone else love my work and want to use me as an illustrator has been amazing.”

Tahlee, in fact, while completing a Diploma in Graphic Design illustrated a children’s book as part of her studies.

And, in keeping with Rosangela’s focus on that sense of belonging, Tahlee’s family are historically liked to Kongorong, the place where Rosangela’s grandfather ended up living and working when he moved to Australia.

And so the unlikely duo have been working side by side for four years to nail the ALiNA PiCCOLiNA characters and the finished product is now in print.

Rosangela has also rounded up a social media and website team as she sets out on this adventure of her own, including an already recorded theme song courtesy of Bo Manser, with Rosangela not only planning a series of ALiNA PiCCOLiNA books but also animating each of her deeply personal stories.

This personal project is also dedicated to her Papa – her father passing away in 2018, just before the ALiNA PiCCOLiNA really took flight.

“Papa never walked me down the aisle but I am eternally grateful that he walked me down the path of our Italian heritage,” Rosangela said. “My adventures with Papa have ended but for all existing and future students of all things Italian around the world and to all you here tonight, remember, your journey to belonging is just beginning.”

PASSION PROJECT: (Below from left) Rosangela & Alina’s first meeting; reading Dora together, at the 2018 New Ventrure Insitute Awards & test driving the book with Tahlee Chant at Tenison Woods College earlier this year and (above inset) how the book would have looked without Tahlee’s stunning illustrations.