Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Josie with some of her loving family. Photo credit: Victoria Velton
By Victoria Velton
Josie Pisano celebrated her 100th birthday on Thursday 8th October surrounded by family, friends and the community of the Palms nursing home.
Born on October 8th 1926, in Piedmonte Etneo, Sicily, in the shadow of Mount Etna, Josie travelled to Australia at just three years old with her mother and baby sister to join her father in the cane fields of Innisfail.
She grew up in North Queensland, where she was educated and began her working life, studying dressmaking during the war years. After the war, she married Mick Pisano, a returned soldier who had also emigrated to Australia from Italy.
In 1949, the couple relocated to Ingham through the Returned Soldiers’ Settlement Scheme, establishing a farm at Braemeadows that remains in the family today, now farmed by a third-generation descendant.
Together, Josie and Mick raised four children, and Josie went on to become the family matriarch as grandmother to nine and great-grandmother to 14.
Her youngest son, Frank, described his mother as “a woman of great courage, incredible resilience” and a woman blessed with a “massive amount of love”.
Liking her wisdom to that of Solomon, Frank shared one lesson that had stayed with him.
“One of the things that my mum taught me was to always believe the best in people,” he said.
“She said, if they turn out that they weren't good, that's their problem. But she said that's much better than thinking the worst of someone and then finding out that you're wrong.”
A century on, that generous and wise spirit remains at the heart of the Pisano family.
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes. Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Life Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Life Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2026 Life Publishing Group Ltd.
.jpg)
