The Family of ANTONIO (Tony) ALTINIER
Last updated 2010

1913
Antonio ALTINIER was born in Cologne in the Province of Treviso, VENICE.

1930
Antonio (Tony) ALTINIER arrived in Western Australia at the tender age of 17. 
His first job after arriving in Western Australia was at a market garden in Wanneroo – he worked
there very hard for a number of years.

1934
In this year, Tony heard that land was being sold through the Agricultural Bank (now Bankwest)
in a hills settlement called Pickering Brook. He was very quick to purchase his own piece of dirt in Bracken
Road. The land was still a bush block then and in the years that followed he worked tirelessly hard by hand
and trusty horse to clear his land. 

He commenced planting his fruit trees as a beginning to his orchard dream – but before the trees could bear
fruit and support his life and future, he diversified into market gardening where he grew many varieties of
vegetables. He put the knowledge that he had acquired in his first job after arriving in Western Australia
to good use in his market garden venture.

1939
Tony’s life and future needed a lovely lady beside his side. He had known a young girl back in his village
named Regina CODOGNOTTO who had caught his young eye before he left for Australia and the dream – so he wrote
letters and sent photos to her – their ‘long distance’ relationship ended with a proposal of marriage.
They were married by proxy in 1939. Tony’s brother-in-law and Regina’s father stood as proxies.
They renewed their wedding vows on Rina’s arriving in Western Australia.

1940
Regina (Rina), which she preferred, arrived in Western Australia. On arriving at Pickering Brook
she found life was hard, but worked tirelessly alongside her husband. Rina’s jobs consisted of milking
their cow and making butter and cheese. Rina also helped with growing and picking of vegetables. Washing
was done at the creek with homemade soap. There was tap water in their house but Rina preferred the creek
as she felt that it cleaned the clothes better.

1941
In this year the newly wedded couple were blessed with the safe arrival of their first son, Lois

1947
6 years after the birth of Louis, Tony and Rina were again blessed with a second son, Robert.

1952
Tony sponsored Emilio and Giovanna FANTUZ with their children Corrado (Peter) and Angela (Gina) to come to
Western Australia to start a new life just as Tony and Rina had done.
The Fantuz family purchased a property in Merrivale Road, Pickering Brook.

The Altinier’s interests:
Tony loved his game of bocce and on Sunday afternoons one would find him with other locals in the
bushy area of Charlie Della Franca’s property playing bocce. Tony’s love of bocce led him to transfer his
interest in the direction of lawn bowls at the Pickering Brook Sports Club. He mastered the game to the
heights of a champion player.
Rina loved and excelled in cooking and the couple shared this love with family and friends.

1964
In this year their eldest son Louis married Angela(Gina) FANTUZ at Lourdes Monastery in Lesmurdie.
They have 3 children: Sylvia, Danny and Adrian.
Sylvia – married Terry VAN FRONGEN and they now have two children, Brett and Jodi.
Adrian – married Danielle JENKINS and they have four children.

1980
Sadly, Gina’s mother Giovanna  CODOGNOTTO passed away.

1988
Another sad year was endured this year
Both sides of the ALTINIER family suffered a loss with the death of a loved ones.
Gina lost her father Emilio CODOGNOTTO and her beloved husband Tony.

1997
Rina ALTINIER passed away in this year.

2021
Louis and Robert together with Danny (Louis’s son) continue to run the original family property in
Pickering Brook.