The importance of keeping family traditions alive

For most 16-year-olds, moving across the world is a daunting feat but for Gus Aguilar, moving from his motherland of El Salvador to Tasmania was a chance to open the new doors of excitement and adventure. It was this desire to seek out the unknown and explore the world around him that ultimately led Gus to his destiny. 

After a short stint in Tasmania, Gus’ intrigue for adventure once again kicked in, as the “big city life” of Melbourne beckoned. Not too long after settling in as a new Melbournian, Gus met his wife Olga, and the two began their journey through life together.

Now happily settled in Woodlea, paying homage to his wife’s Italian heritage and his own, Gus ensures their family legacy is celebrated, coming together with their children, relatives and wider community to share their wonderful culinary traditions. 

An honored tradition of the Aguilar family is getting together for their annual days of making homemade pasta sauce, wine and salami – stocking their houses with such delicacies that will last the whole year.

“It’s not something that you learn at school,” says Gus. “My kids love getting together, getting messy and learning in the process.” 

Following the passing of Gus’ father in law, Gus along with his extended family take pride in getting together each year to keep such traditions alive.

In honor of his love for El Salvador and before children came into the picture, Gus took his wife to his homeland to ‘show her his country.’ Gus is proud to say his children regularly ask about El Salvador and they hope one day they will be able to travel as a family to Italy and El Salvador as a means of exploring the ancestry of Mum and Dad. 

Gus’ story inspires a way of modern life. Despite the importance of traditions and honoring heritage, it is evident through conversation with Gus that his building blocks to happiness are quite simple. 

“Europeans, Italians and Latin background: food, family, what else do you need?” he smiles. “Both my wife and I come from big families… it can be hectic at times, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.’ 

Gus’ story is part of Humans of Woodlea, an initiative by the fully integrated master planned community as a means of highlighting the unique stories of its residents whilst showing its diversity and spirit.