Born in Merlo, Italy to Antonio and Amabile Campana on September 30, 1932, he was one of five children along with Marino, Piero, Giovanna and Livio.

Following World War II, work was sparse in Italy and Carlo and Piero decided they would move to either Australia or Brazil.

Once accepted into Australia, Carlo Campana travelled by ship for three months, at a cost of £240, before landing at Melbourne and staying with relatives in Carlton.

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Six months later, he was joined by Piero, with Marino joining two years later followed by Livio and Amabile in 1956.

During his early years in Australia, Mr Campana worked nearly seven days a week as a concreter to pay off his trip to Australia.

It wasn't long before the Campanas decided to set up their own concreting business Campana Brothers Concrete and Terrazzo after borrowing £200 from a family friend to buy a truck, which they paid back with interest.

For two years, the business was based out of Colac before moving to Ballarat where members of the Campana family still live today.

Three months after their first date, Mr Campana married Betty McKay on February 23, 1957 and the couple went on to have four children, Peter, Andre, Tania and Lisa.

Mr Campana left the family business in 1968 and started work for the City of Ballarat's engineering department as a contractor supervisor. He remained employed at the City of Ballarat until retiring in 1993.

In retirement, Mr Campana moved to the Gold Coast where he and Betty would often spend their annual vacations.

Mr Campana had a passion for lawn bowls. After picking up the sport in 1970 with the Wendouree Bowling Club, he rose through the ranks, winning at club, district and state level.

His commitment to the sport followed him to Queensland, where he received certificates of appreciation from Bowls Queensland and the Queensland government before being awarded an OAM in 2019 for his service to the sport including as chairman of district and state selection committees.

Daughter Lisa Campana said her father was quietly spoken and humble but was always heard and well respected.

"He could be stubborn but he was loving. Family always came first and he always wanted to provide for his family," she said.

Mr Campana's brother Livio Campana still lives in Ballarat and remembered his brother as energetic and good natured.

"Carlo never got cross, never. He was a good husband and good family man. He was always calm and always nice, different than some of the other brothers," he said.

Carlo Campana died on Sunday, February 7 at 88 years old.

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