Facebook group furnishes house for Brisbane family returning after living in Italy

When Gigi Mirto’s young family returned to Brisbane after out-running COVID-19 in Europe, they had nothing but their suitcases and an empty house but the generosity of the community changed that.

In 2018, Mr Mirto, originally from Naples, packed up his young family’s life and moved to Italy.

He and wife Jenny wanted to ensure their young daughter spent part of her life in Italy, connecting with her heritage and extended family.

“[Before we moved] we basically donated and sold everything we owned, even the cars,” Mr Mirto told ABC Radio Brisbane.

The family had been living in southern Italy, in a medieval village called Sant’Agata de’ Goti, when the pandemic took hold and landed them in a strict lockdown.