THOSE closest to Ignazio Mondello best describe him as a hard worker and committed family man.

The well-known Cooma figure has dedicated most of his life to providing for his family. From as young as nine, Ignazio has been working full time to help put food on the table and a roof over the head of his family.

Growing up in Sicily on a farm, the Mondello family lived a humble existence. Growing up with the bare necessities, instilled into Ignazio a drive and work ethic second to none.

This appetite for work has stayed with Ignazio is whole life. It has led to the construction and upgrading of many homes and retail spaces throughout the Snowy Mountains.

Ignazio is responsible for developing large sections of Cooma’s shopping precinct, Polo Flat industrial area and Cooma East area.

He has worked on projects in Khancoban, building bridges throughout the South East of NSW and homes in Canberra.

With a little more time on his hands these days, Ignazio said he is proud of his achievements.

“There has been lots of hard work, many long days but it’s all worth it,” Ignazio said.

“I came to Australia with very little and have worked hard to make a life for me and my family.”

From Sicily to Sydney and onto Cooma, Ignazio arrived in the Snowy Mountains. He moved to Australia in 1967 at the age of 21.

He secured building work in Sydney and reunited with another Sicilian family, who lived across the road from his family back home in Sicily. This family happened to be that of his wife, Paula.

“Ignazio was living in Cooma before we were married and he would come to Sydney a lot to visit. We married when I turned 18 and I then moved to Cooma,” Paula said.

Ignazio started working in Cooma as a painter for Elido Fachin. He moved into running a café before moving back into the construction industry.

“He has always been working. He was never out of work. He has worked very hard for his family, seven days a week,” a proud Paula said.