Family farewells gangland boss Nicola Ciconte at Wonthaggi funeral

MAFIA boss Nicola Ciconte - part of a worldwide drug-trafficking syndicate - was farewelled in a small town funeral by family.

MAFIA boss Nicola Ciconte - part of a worldwide drug-trafficking syndicate - was farewelled in a small town funeral by family who had missed him during his years on the run.

Ciconte, who grew up in Wonthaggi, was laid to rest there after dying in Cambodia a fortnight ago, unable to return to Australia for fear he would be extradited to Italy to serve a 25-year jail term.

Family mourners, some pictured left, heard Ciconte's early life was typical of many children of post-war migrants in 1950s Australia.

To help make ends meet, "Nick" worked the land on days off while boys his age went to the beach.

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His daughter, Rachel, said after meeting Michael Hutchence and the members of his band INXS, her father began managing bands in the rock scene.

Those gathered did not hear about Ciconte's criminal career, which was centred in the Calabrian mafia's global drug importation syndicate. His daughters spoke of a man who loved to cook and talk.

But it was acknowledged he had made "mistakes".