1954, Addio Trieste... the Triestine Community of Melbourne
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1954, Addio Trieste... The Triestine Community of Melbourne Adriana Nelli A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Victoria University November 2000 -^27 2->v<^, \U6IL THESIS 994.5100451 NEL 30001007178181 Ne 1 li, Adriana 1954, addio Trieste— the Triestine community of MeIbourne I DECLARATION I hereby declare that this thesis is the product of my original work, including all translations from Italian and Triestine. An earlier form of Chapter 5 appeared in Robert Pascoe and Jarlath Ronayne, eds, The passeggiata of Exile: The Italian Story in Australia (Victoria University, Melbourne, 1998). Parts of my argument also appeared in 'L'esperienza migratoria triestina: L'identita' culturale e i suoi cambiamenti' in Gianfranco Cresciani, ed., Giuliano-Dalmati in Australia: Contributi e testimonianze per una storia (Associazione Giuliani nel Mondo, Trieste, 1999). Adriana Nelli ABSTRACT Triestine migration to Australia is the direct consequence of numerous disputations over the city's political boundaries in the immediate post- World War II period. As such the triestini themselves are not simply part of an overall migratory movement of Italians who took advantage of Australia's post-war immigration program, but their migration is also the reflection of an important period in the history of what today is known as the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.. 1954 marked the beginning of a brief but intense migratory flow from the city of Trieste towards Australia. Following a prolonged period of Anglo-American administration, the city had been returned to Italian jurisdiction once more; and with the dismantling of the Allied caretaker government and the subsequent economic integration of Trieste into the Italian State, a climate of uncertainty and precariousness had left the Triestines psychologically disenchanted and discouraged. Although historically Trieste did not have a tradition of migration, many chose to emigrate during this period. Among those who left were former employees of the Allied Military Government who were concerned for their future, but there were also others with stable employment. Importantly, Triestine migration displays many atypical characteristics when compared to Italian migration in general. Unlike many other Italian migrants, most Triestines came to Australia as part of complete nuclear family units, many were assisted passage migrants and a significant number of these were in possession of trade qualifications on their arrival. Importantly, furthermore, the Triestines are the only immigrants of Italian origin to have mass migrated from an urban environment. And, as this study highlights, this factor has impacted on the migratory experiences and the identity and community making process of this group. The Triestines who immigrated to Australia during this period were particularly aware of themselves as Triestines. Political and economic forces had historically fostered the development of a Triestine identity and during the post war period, when many of these immigrants had experienced a sense of betrayal, the act of migration served to strengthen a feeling of circumscribed Triestine identity once more. By narrating and analysing the immigrant experiences of this group, this research reveals that this identity was also reinforced by the migration experience and process as the urban mind-set of the Triestines initially set them apart as 'strangers' within both the Anglo-Saxon reality and the Italo-Australian one. By negotiating both similarities and difference in the context of a shared immigrant experience, the Triestines were, however, successfully able to become part of the Italo-Australian community, but they continued to maintain a distinct sense of their own identity as Triestines. What emerges from this study is that this enduring sense of identity can be seen to be tied, not to essentialist notions of identity, but to a continued and dynamic process of negotiation which allowed the triestini to adopt various 'positionalities' which became part of a dialectical process of identity construction. By examining the migrant experience of both first and subsequent generations of Triestines in the Australian city of Melbourne in a historical context, this study thus highlights the importance of both the past and the present experience in the process of migrant settlement and identity construction. The study is based on archival and field research, including interviews with 75 informants. It holds in balance a story of group formation (how the Triestines evolved as a group within Melbourne) with an account of group identity (who they were as Triestines). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This research has been a long time in the making, in many ways a lifetime. My principal thanks go to Professor Robert Pascoe, my supervisor. I am indebted to him for his guidance, encouragement and assistance, and for his belief that I could complete this task. Due thanks must also go to my family, who saw me through emotionally difficult times. Without their support, completing this dissertation would have been an impossibility. I feel particularly indebted to my husband, Dario, who gave me the space, the time, and the encouragement I needed. Finally, a debt of gratitude to all those who agreed to be interviewed and who shared their experiences and thoughts, and willingly lent their photographs for use in this dissertation. I hope this piece of work is a fitting thanks. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 The narratives of Italian migration to Australia 9 ITALIAN MIGRATION TO AUSTRALIA THE TRIESTINE EXAMPLE REGIONAL TIES AND THE ITALO-AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY RESEARCH AIMS CHAPTER 2 19 Methodology CHAPTER 3 25 Trieste and its emigrants A HISTORY OF TRIESTE AN ECONOMIC PROFILE TRIESTINE, CUTLURE, SOCIAL STRUCTURE, AND IDENTITY THE EMIGRATION YEARS PERSONAL REFLECTIONS OF '1954' AUSTRALIA AND THE IMMIGRATION PROGRAM QUANTIFICATION OF THE EMIGRATION PHENOMENON CHAPTER 4 87 The theory of migration SOME THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS THE OBJECTIVE/SUBJECTIVE DICHOTOMY CONCEPTUALISING ETHNIC IDENTITY EMOTION, PLACE AND IDENTITY NEGOTIATING IDENTITY: CONTINUITY AND CHANGE CHAPTER 5 108 The migration experience BONEGILLA AND THE EARLY YEARS DISAPPOINTMENT AND THE BUILDING OF COMMUNITY A PARADOXICAL EXPERIENCE THEATRE AND THE EXPRESSION OF A TRIESTINE IDENTITY CHAPTER 6 147 Earning a living in postwar Australia RECRUITMENT AND EXPECTATIONS TRIESTINE SKILLED LABOUR TRIESTINE WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE TRIESTINES IN BUSINESS WORK, IDENTITY, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY CHAPTER 7 181 The clubs and associations THE FORMALISATION OF NETWORKS CLUBS AND THE FABRIC OF SETTLEMENT THE POLITICS OF CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS THE ROLE OF CLUBS IN IDENTITY FORMATION CHAPTER 8 205 The survival of Triestine identity SETTLEMENT AND THE EXPERIENCE OF ETHNICITY CHANGE AS A PROCESS OF NEGOTIATION BELONGING AND PARTICIPATING IN ITALO-AUSTRALIAN LIFE TRIESTE REVISITED THE SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT GENERATIONS CONCLUSION 250 APPENDIX 260 Interview Schedule BIBLIOGRAPHY 270 LIST OF RGURES 1. The proposed borders after World War 11 (Valussi 1972: 202) 2. The Free Territory of Trieste (Valussi 1972: 198) 3. Australian migration to and from the Province of Trieste, 1955 to 1977 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS (keyed by page number) 11. Anna Cecchi's identity card, 1956 12. Farewelling family and friends, Trieste, c.1955 16. Grison family and friends, social club, Melbourne, late 1960s 20. Oral culture: Robert De Rose' performing with Angelo Cecchi 28. The urban character of Trieste, 1950s 31. A member of the Venezia Giulia police force in Trieste, early 1950s 40. Valerio Borghese speaking at political meeting, Trieste, mid-1950s 58. The Crescini couple depart Trieste, c.1955 66. Ticket for two on Lloyd Triestino ship Toscanelli, September 1955 68. Triestini on ship coming to Australia, c.1955 77. Pregnant Yolanda Grison with hand on husband's shoulders and friends, Trieste, 1951 80. 'What Does The Future Hold?' for 4-year-old Fulvia Fortuna, asked The Age on its front cover for Friday, 6 January 1956 90. Young married Crescini couple, Melbourne, c.1960 96. The Grison family newly arrived in Melbourne (Emilio, Yolanda, Germana, Valerio) 101. Political meeting, Trieste, mid-1950s 105. Triestine women enjoying the sunmier sun, Trieste, August 1956 118. Triestine family on verandah of Melbourne home, late 1950s 124. Guido Franchi and fellow comedian Angelo Cecchi relaxing on a park bench, Melbourne, 1970s Triestini d Australia 126. Anna Cecchi and Anita Zabotto serving at the Legend, Bourke Street, Melbourne 133. Tug of war during an outing, Melbourne, 1960s 140. Birthday party for an eight-year-old 142. Dodger for Teatro La Scala, March 1962 143. Comedian Roberto De Rose' with Triestine friends in Australia 144. Dancers part of the De Rose' theatre group in Melbourne 146. Guido Franchi performing in a comic sketch, probably at the Triestina Soccer Club, 1970s. Here Franchi portrays the Trietine immigrant as a 'tourist', complete with safari hat and binoculars Triestini dAustralia 147. Angelo Framalico, bus driver on the WiUiamstown-Moonee Ponds route 152. Bookbinders from Trieste, 1968 Angelo Cecchi 159. Angelo Cecchi gets wage justice, May 1960 166. Yolanda Grison in her Ascot Vale shop, 1971 168. Signora Crescini in her camera shop, Brunswick, c.1970 171. Rino the butcher appeared on popular Australian TV program. In Melbourne Tonight, early 1960s 176. Silvio Fantoma, printer, April 1982 179. Sales docket, Grison Baby Wear shop, Ascot Vale, early 1970s 185. Athletics team of young Triestines 186.