Euphemia Tinetti
1859-1933
Born: Biasca, Ticino, Switzerland
Died: Bentleigh, Victoria
|
1859-1933
Born: Biasca, Ticino, Switzerland
Died: Bentleigh, Victoria
<p> <!-- SN:TREESUI06 --> <strong><font face="Arial" color="#333333">ITALIAN SPEAKERS IN AUSTRALASIA<br></font></strong><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#333333">By Clare Gervasoni (from Ballarat Heritage Services Website)<br><br></font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#333333">Italian speaking pioneers arrived in Australia and New Zealand in large numbers from the 1850s. Upon arrival the language, culture and laws were so different to the homeland that most new arrivals were bewilderded. To overcome this disadvantage the Italian speaking community tended to settle together for company, reassurance, but more importantly to assist with the complexities of living and working under an English speaking system. After arriving in Australasia a large number of Italian speakers lost contact with their families in Italy and Switzerland because of illiteracy and isolation. Even those who could read and write in Italian initially had difficulty with English. The great benefit of living in close proximity to other Italian speakers was the ability to communicate with fellow countrymen. The impact of the Italian speaking communities on Australian society is remarkable when considering these humble beginnings.(See A Confusion of Tongues: overcoming language difficulties on the Jim Crow Goldfield in <em>Deaper Leads" New Approaches to Victorian Goldfields History.)</em><br><br></font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#333333">There are many and varied reasons the Northern Italians and Italian speaking Swiss left their country of birth. Including: * Unemployment - closure of the Swiss and Italian border, made it difficult for itinerant workers to find work in Switzerland, or obtain workers from Switzerland;<br>* Hunger;<br>* Small properties made it difficult to earn a living from the land, and backward farming techniques and tools increased the problem;<br>* Political or religious expulsion, including increased taxes in order to pay for the Italian Risorgimento wars which added to the difficulties;<br>* Fear of conscription. The Austrian invaders of Italy had a system of conscription which involved Contadino from the villages being forced to serve in a foreign army, on foreign soil.<br>* Crimean war (involved Italy's Kingdom of Sardenia)<br>* Word of success of fellow countrymen on the goldfields of America and Australia gave impetus for others to emigrate (chain migration). They sought a quick fortune to "save" their family.<br>* With the lure of gold as an incentive Swiss shipping companies offered loans to Swiss and Italians to enable them to travel to the Australian Goldfields.</font></p><p><font color="#333333"><font face="Arial"><strong>Emigration from Ticino</strong> The Ticinese are ethnic Lombard Italians of Swiss citizenship. Many of the Ticinese were married with families, and intended returning to Ticino after success on the Goldfields. Many Ticinese were trained carpenters of stonemasons because of their traditional jobs in and around Milano, and the rocky contryside in areas such as Biasca. </font></font><br><font color="#333333"><font face="Arial"><strong> </strong></font></font></p><p><font color="#333333"><font face="Arial"><strong>Hepburn Springs, Victoria</strong> (formerly Spring Creek on the Jim Crow Goldfields)<br><br>The Italian speakers of early Hepburn Springs were escaping political the turmoil of Garibaldi's wars of Italian independence, huge taxes enforced on the Italians by the ruling Austrians, famine, and a shortage of work due to the closure of the Swiss and Italian border. This resulted in numerous itinerant workers being unable to move across borders to areas offering work. With the lure of gold as an incentive Swiss shipping companies offered a solution making loans available to Swiss and Italians to enable them to travel to the Australian Goldfields.<br><br></font></font><font face="Arial" size="2" color="#333333">It is not known why so many Swiss/Italian settlers chose to settle in and around Hepburn Springs. Certainly there are similarities to the Northern Italian and Swiss mountainous regions, and of course language barriers made it important to congregate together. Some Swiss/Italians made their fortune on the goldfields, but the less lucky saw a future in agricultural pursuits, such as wine-making and dairying, as well using other skills such as stone-masonry. Many agricultural and social activities still survive in today's community, along with many names of Swiss and Italian origin. It is thanks to the Swiss (mainly French speaking from Neuchatel) that we have such a wonderful wine industry in Victoria today. One of the earliest vignerons being Hubert De Castella, an ancestor of marathon runner Robert. Australian Rules footballer Ron Barassi's family also have their Australian roots in the Swiss and Italian migration of the 1850s.<br><br></font><font color="#333333"><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2"><em>Mineral Water</em><br>Italy is rich in mineral and thermal waters. The word they give spa is terme. Since the Roman times thermal waters and baths became a typical feature of urban life. Since the 1800s hotels with extensive facilities Have grown up around spas, which in turn have received international reputations, attracting millions of visitors each year. In north-eastern Italy many spas have developed on the slopes of the Euganei Hills, which are of volcanic origin. This area features hot water springs, and is known for mud therapy. Abano Terme alone has over 2 million visitors a year, half of whom are from abroad. Another spa region is found in Tuscany, where the high concentration of spas have been in use since the Roman era, including Saturnia, Roselle, Chianciano and Chiusi. The spa resorts in Lazio are linked to the volcanic activity of the region. Of special interest in this region are the waters of Fiuggi which are solely taken as a form of drink. In southern Italy there are numerous spas around the Gulf of Naples. Located in one of the most active volcanic regions of Italy.<br><br></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2">Local Swiss and Italian legacies in the Hepburn Springs area include</font></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2" color="#333333"> architecture such as the Macaroni Factory (where Australia's first pasta was made) and Villa Parma; the Italian sausage known locally as Bullboar, with recipes handed down through the generations and known locally as the bullboar (with local families jealously guarding secret family recipes); and who could forget the beautiful Hepburn Mineral Springs? The Hepburn Springs Reserve was set aside in 1865 after being placed in danger due to mining activity. The Swiss and Italians knew the importance of mineral water from their homeland and banded together with the local medical community to ensure the future of the springs at Hepburn. Vincenzo Perini spent many years as caretaker of the Hepburn Springs Reserve, and the Locarno Spring is named after his guest house, which in turn was named after the lake in his native homeland.<br></font><font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2" color="#333333">The vibrant Spa Country township of Hepburn Springs recognises these special origins during the annual Swiss/Italian Festa and invites visitors to share in the celebration. The area abounds with energy from a rich gold rush history. The Hepburn Springs Swiss/Italian Festa is held annually.<br><br></font></p>