Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met recently with Western Australian parliamentarian, Dr Antonia De Paulo Buti MLA, to discuss genealogical resources available at Church family history centres and on FamilySearch.org.
The meeting took place at the Church’s Southern River meetinghouse in Thornlie.
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Dr Buti shared with the group his gratitude for his own Italian heritage.
The Buti family's story is one that will resonate with many other Australians, especially those who are children of immigrants. Like many Italian immigrants, they left their homeland primarily because of better work opportunities in Australia at the time.
Dr Buti’s maternal grandfather, Giuseppe Bertoni, left his home town of Delianuova in Reggio di Calabria in 1922 because the region had not recovered from the massive destruction caused by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake.
He left behind his wife, Francesca, and infant son, Francesco, and it was ten years before they could join him in Australia.
Dr Buti’s father worked hard to support his family, mainly as a labourer in the timber, mining and construction industries.
After university, Dr Buti has had two successful careers, in sport and justice, before being elected as Member for Armadale in the Western Australian Parliament in 2010.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides resources and volunteer support at its more than 4,600 family history centres worldwide, available to all, free of charge.
The Church also maintains FamilySearch.org, a genealogical website that helps beginners and experts alike to find more information about their family members.
Watch a short video about family history research.