While working at Base backpackers over the summer, I met many people with different stories. One of the many people I met, was a lone traveler by the name of Brozzi Lunetta. At first he seemed like just another traveler, working for his accommodation by cleaning. All I knew about him was that he was from Los Angeles. But as we were cleaning the kitchen one day, I got an inside to his story. As a qualified documentary maker, we had a bit of a celebrity amongst us.
He told me about a documentary he had made as part of the search for his daughter, Reya. As soon as I got a hold of that documentary, and watched it, I was amazed. I had never met anyone in my life with such hope. And so I relate this inspiring story, a real life tragedy that still doesn’t have an ending.
He met a Norwegian singer by the name of Camilla Ellefsen starting in her career. The two married, so she could stay in America. This marriage did not last very long at all, and they would have gone their own separate ways, had it not been for the arrival of Reya Lunetta on 19 June 2001.
There was a bond between father and child from the beginning. Between a messy process between the parents, and a custodial battle, Reya was born in a extremely chaotic time. Camilla Ellefsen made it difficult for Brozzi, attempting to get the court to let her leave America with Reya. But not getting her way, tipped her over the edge.
The last day Brozzi saw his daughter, was on the day of her first birthday. They spent the day at the zoo. The next day, his life was ripped apart. Camilla left the country with his beautiful daughter. Brozzi has been looking for his daughter ever since. She recently turned 7, and the search continues.
Brozzi’s journey led him all around the world, lead after lead, but he failed to catch up with his daughter and his ex wife. This could not have been easy for him, yet six years later, he refuses to give up until he finds the daughter he loved so much for such a short time.
Reaching a point in his life where the helplessness was starting to affect him in more ways then one, Brozzi headed down a self-destructive path. I saw this side of him, an alarming anger, frightening and worrying at the same time. I was inspired to meet such a person holding on to such hope, but sooner or later one’s hope begins to wither. So what will happen first? Will Brozzi find his daughter? Or will he give up hope and go home? If that happens, what kind of life can he live after six years of hell?
Brozzi’s story was well known amongst the other travelers. As an experienced yoga instructor, Brozzi gave lessons to a small handful of backpackers, for an apple, or a couple of carrots. Working for his accommodation, he had no income, and no way to support his cause, let alone himself. Wanting to do something, I asked around, and sure enough, one of my friends had a job opening. Soon Brozzi was working as a gardener, still working for accommodation and giving yoga lessons. This was only just enough to feed himself, nowhere near enough to fund the search for his daughter. Just before Christmas, Brozzi headed home to see his family. The trail that lead him to New Zealand had gone cold.
Currently living in Norway, Brozzi still searches for his daughter. He still relies on the kindness of complete strangers, and of friends. Yet broke, and homeless, it’s all he can do to keep looking. So on his behalf, I am asking for your kindness to help this six year search continue. If everyone who attends Victoria University makes a small contribution, Brozzi will have the resources to carry on, and hopefully, reunite with his daughter.
For contributions, head into National Bank, and deposit a donation of your choice into the following account, all funds will be forwarded to Brozzi. 06 0869 0288151 01