They're A Weird Mob: Nino Culotta

Nino, a journalist, is sent to Australia to write articles for an Italian newspaper and he sets sail without any preconceived notions of what he will find when he gets there, but is comforted by the knowledge he can speak English. Having caused a disturbance on the ship with another Italian and attracted the attention of the police, Nino finally gets to Sydney and discovers that while he can speak English, he cannot speak Australian.  He becomes a builder's labourer so he will meet real Australians and learn to be like them. After a time he begins to understand the strange and colourful language, and Australian ways - but there's a series of hilarious cultural dilemmas and predicaments first! Illustrated by 'Wep'. Made into a film starring Walter Chiari as Nino.