From Nonna With Love: School Visits

Explore the stories of Italian migrant women – cherished Nonnas – and how they created new lives in Western Australia. ​

From Nonna with Love: Stories of Tradition and Triumph brings to life the remarkable journeys of 18 Italian women who made Western Australia their home. After leaving Italy with hopes for a better future, discover the significant contributions these beloved women made to Western Australia’s food scene and community life. ​

​Experience powerful personal stories shared through treasured photographs, significant objects, and heartfelt memories. Explore early migration journeys, the strength of community ties, and the enduring role of faith, music and food in preserving cultural identity. ​

Take a seat at the table in Nonna’s kitchen—an immersive experience where the sights and sounds of traditional home-cooked meals bring the Italian family table to life. ​Students will sit and experience an immersive soundscape and digital illumination that brings Nonna's delicious cooking to plates in front of the viewer, unfolding over several courses of a shared meal.

From Nonna with Love is more than a tribute to the past—it’s a celebration of legacy, resilience, and the deep intergenerational bonds that continue to shape our communities today. 

---

At the Museum

What your class will experience

Nonnas tell the story

• Each Nonna featured in the exhibition will be profiled through a cameo (an overview of their life story), first person perspectives and 1-3 meaningful objects, images, text, and a basic family tree.​

• The exhibition has seven thematic sections, each featuring several Nonna cameos — with a total of 24 cameos, including 18 Nonnas, and six descendants with their Nonna or mother. These stories are situated in a celebration and appreciation of the Nonna/mother, and her impact on her family and community.

• Each Nonna/family member is associated with a theme. A selection of objects and stories highlight this connection, and their overarching story. The key themed areas included are Journey & Arrival; Support Networks & Community; Arts & Culture; Food & Wine; Work; Hardships; and Shaping WA.​

• An extended biography for each Nonna is provided via the Experience Plus digital Museum guide. These digital resources are available both during your visit (via smartphone or tablet with internet connectivity) and also for further exploration upon your return to the classroom at school. 

• Students will love the featured digital interactive Nonna's Table. This fun experience recreates the heart of Nonnas kitchen and the shared heritage of Italian food central to the mythical status of the Nonna as keeper of the family recipes. Favourite recipes from each Nonna will be part of the gifts that are shared with love in the form of recipe cards that can be taken away as a class set.  

Booking Instructions

---

Self-Guided Visit

Explore From Nonna With Love at your own pace. School groups are welcome to book into the exhibition at any time, for the duration of one-hour per class session. 

Supervised student groups can use the Self-Guided Nonna’s Treasures Trail (Years 3-6) or the From Nonna With Love: Self-Guided Exploration Sheet (Years 6-10) to support their viewing of the exhibition. 

Groups are also encouraged to explore the rest of the Maritime Museum, using the digital guide Experience Plus: From Nonna With Love. A device such as a tablet or mobile phone is required for each group. QR codes throughout the Museum will reveal more information on objects which link to the stories of Nonnas in Fremantle. 

Teachers and parent assistants can attend free of charge at a 1:6 ratio, with additional adult tickets at standard Museum ticket prices. 

To book your visit, click the ‘Book Now’ button. (Note that deferred payment is not available online for this option). 

For bookings requiring an invoice or for larger groups, please contact us directly with your group size, preferred date, and preferred time via education@museum.wa.gov.au or 1300 134 081. 

Book a self-guided visit now

---

Facilitated Programs

Year 6 Groups  - Immigration Stories 

You may be interested in a facilitated tour experience as part of your group visit to the From Nonna With Love exhibition. Our highly popular HASS program for Year 6 students, Immigration Stories, has strong links to the From Nonna With Love exhibition and the stories of local Italian and other post-war migrants. 

For the duration of the exhibition, we are offering a special edition of Immigration Stories where we shine a spotlight on Italian migrant Maria Iannello and her husband Giacomo Iannello, exploring their challenges, achievements and contributions to the cultural landscape of Fremantle. Our regular program will be offered with a fresh perspective as we explore family life through the eyes of Maria, a devoted wife, friend, and Nonna. 

For Year 6 students: The three-part, 180 minute Immigration Stories program will include two facilitated sessions, and a self-guided tour through the From Nonna With Love exhibition. This program is curriculum-linked and designed to extend your students' knowledge and understanding of WA migration histories. The first facilitated session explores the Iannello story as Italian migrants through an interactive tour; the second facilitated session challenges students to focus on other selected migrant stories and curate a presentation outcome centred on their chosen migrant's life journey.

For bookings and more information please visit Immigration Stories: From Nonna With Love     

---

General Visits/Other Year Groups 

A 60 minute interactive tour, featuring the life stories of Maria and Giacomo Iannello (as outlined above), offers students of many ages a valuable opportunity to extend their visit to — and engagement with — the From Nonna With Love exhibition. Combined with a 60 minute visit to the exhibition, this is a delightful way of activating student learning with the themes and stories at the heart of the From Nonna With Love exhibition. For bookings and more information, please visit

Optional Interactive Gallery Tour (Ground floor of the WA Maritime Museum)

The From Nonna With Love exhibition visit, plus Maria's Journey - interactive tour.

Students participating in the two-part 120min program (one or two classes) will: 

• Take part in an interactive gallery tour that follows the life of the Ianello family and their migration from Italy to Fremantle in the early 1900s
• Recreate some of the challenges and achievements of Maria and Giacomo Ianello in the context of migration to Western Australia
• Discuss how the roles of men and women who migrated to Fremantle shaped the cultural and economic landscape with their many contributions through industry and family legacy
• This part is led by a Museum Educator
• We can accommodate from 1 - 4 classes per day – all starting at 10am (start time can be adjusted on request). Before you book, it is important that you create a proposed rotation for your visit so that you are clear on what time each class group is participating in the different parts of the program
• This interactive tour program costs $240 per class group (32 students maximum)

When booking the From Nonna With Love exhibition visit plus Maria's Journey interactive tour option, please email education@museum.wa.gov.au with the following details and we will begin processing your booking.

1. Program choice: From Nonna With Love exhibition visit plus Maria's Journey
2. Preferred visit dates and session times
3. Number of classes & student numbers in each class, as well as class year level
4. Number of attending adults per class
5. Contact Teacher name, email and mobile number
6. School

For general information about bringing your class to the WA Maritime Museum please check the Excursion Management Resources available to support your visit.

 

**This self-guided activity sheet can be used for students in Year 6 and above, to explore From Nonna With Love exhibition by focusing on a specific Nonna. It is suggested that each student or small group of students selects a different Nonna from the exhibition (there are 18 in total). Please print out sheets for each student and provide clipboards and pencils as these items are not available at the Museum. Information that is not completed during the visit can be found from the Nonna biography profiles on the WA Museum Experience Plus digital guide after your visit.