Unveiling of the Catani family grave headstone

On Tuesday, December 11 2018 a head stone was unveiled on the grave of Carlo and Catherine Catani at the Brighton cemetery. Surprisingly for a man who had given so much to Victoria  the grave did not have a head stone, so a small working party was formed to remedy this and the result is this wonderful tribute to Carlo and his family. Around twenty five people attended the ceremony, including Greg, Nima and  their daughter Katherine Catani, who had come all the way from the United States. Greg is the great, grand nephew of Carlo Catani.

The unveiling was presided over by the Reverend Kathryn Watt, vicar of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Balaclava and Elwood. There were a number of guest speakers - Cr Dick Gross, Mayor of the City of Port Phillip; Jen Stone, President of the St Kilda Historical Society; Cr David Brand of the City of Port Phillip who is also an architect; Daniela (nee Volpe) Riachi who is the author of From Tuscany to Victoria: the life and work of Pietro Baracchi, Carlo Catani and Ettore Checchi (Italian Australian Institute, 2005) and Greg Catani who gave  a talk on behalf of the family.  I also did  a little talk. 

This is the elegant headstone designed by Isaac Hermann and created by North Eastern Memorials. The head stone was sponsored by donations from the City of Port Phillip, the St Kilda Historcal Society, the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society and private donations. The bridge is Catani archway built in 1916 on the St Kilda foreshore and the palm trees are also a feature of the foreshore.

Reverend Kathryn Watt, of Holy Trinity Anglican Church Balaclava and Elwood, presided over the unveiling.  She did a lovely job and looked just like an angel, it was so special having her at the unveiling. Carlo and Catherine used to worship at the Anglican Church so it was a wonderful connection.  The headstone was covered by a black cloth and had a blue ribbon tied around it, which is draped over Kathryn's arm in this photo - the blue ribbon was in honour of Carlo's signature look - his 'sac suit of navy serge', you can read about this here. 

Left to right - Nima, Katherine and Greg Catani, Daniela Riachi, Isaac Hermann and Reverend  Kathryn Watt. 

Greg did the unveiling, but my photos of that were really ordinary, so I can't show you that. Isaac was the driving force behind this whole project and he should be commended and admired for all the work he put into honouring the Catani family by erecting a headstone on the grave. Isaac was helped and encouraged in this project, by many people, but especially Lois Comeadow, of the Brighton Cemetorians.  It was a lovely occasion and, as Carlo and Catherine have no living descendants, it was just wonderful that Greg, Nima and Katherine could be there.