ITALIANS OF WOLLONGONG: THE MENEGAZZO FAMILY PART ONE

Marcello Angelo Menegazzo was born in 1895 in Cavaso Del Tomba, Province of Treviso. He came to Australia in 1912 at the age of 17. Travelling on the ship Zieten he arrived December 7. He was the eldest of many siblings. It is said that he was one 20. Of those only 13 survived into adulthood. Marcello was listed as a labourer. He came from a farming background and was also a Goldsmith as was his father Pietro. Marcello went to Broken Hill where he stayed with two Uncles who came to Australia years before. At Broken Hill he worked in the mines for BHP. Broken Hill had quite a few Italians at the time. Marcello was working hard and sending money back home to help the family.

1915 saw the commencement of WW1 and Marcello along with his friends joined the first A.I.F. It took him to Italy where he was fighting in the north near his home town. At the end of the war Marcello went back home to Cavaso and got a job in a silk worm factory. It was there that he met a young woman named Giuseppina Bugno. They would soon marry.

In 1922 their first child Pietro Giovanni was born, who was named after Marcello`s father. Post war Italy wasn’t prosperous so the family decided to immigrate to America or Australia. They applied to both countries and agreed whichever released the necessary papers first was where they would go. The paper work for Australia came through first and in 1922 Marcello returned to Australia on the Ormonde Oct 5. He settled in Tarrawanna where there was a growing Italian community. February 6, 1924 aboard the Ormuz, wife Giuseppina and son Pietro arrived to join Marcello.

Marcello found work as a wood machinist for W.Waters and Sons in Wollongong, as well as doing watch making and repairs on the side. After a short while Marcello purchased an old house and section of land on the corner of Short Street and Balmoral Street, Balgownie. (Short Street later became Foothills Road). Marcello and Giuseppina worked hard to make their house a home. They established fruit trees and a large vegetable garden. Marcello even grew his own tobacco. In 1924 they welcomed their second child Anna into their family. The Menegazzo family was well known in the area.

In 1927 Marcello applied for his citizenship and on December 22nd he received his naturalisation. Marcello spoke English quiet well and this also helped with his standing in the community. He was often called upon to help with disputes or misunderstandings if language was a barrier. Marcello also understood local laws and was able to help his local Italian community with legal matters.

In 1929 saw the beginning of the great depression and unfortunately Marcello was let go from his job as a machinist. Not one to sit and wait Marcello did what he knew best and farmed his land, not only for himself and his family but also for the community.

He started off selling some of his home grown produce. Marcello would often peddle up and down the local streets with his son Pietro to sell and trade his fruits and vegetables. As the demand grew Marcello began to grow chickens and turned his property into a poultry farm.

Marcello and his wife Giuseppina now were running the poultry farm and added large sheds to accomodate. They not only sold poultry they also used the barter system as the times were hard for many. They grew more fruits and vegetables in their extensive garden that helped the community. Giuseppina was an excellent cook and they were self sufficient. They also had a cow on the property that produced milk and butter. The farm did well and serviced many, suppling many local businesses as well with eggs and chickens.

Marcello offered accommodation and meals for people who had no where to go. In return they would help out on the farm. Marcello converted some of the poultry sheds making them habitable and a safe place to stay. At the peak of the poultry farm Marcello had almost 2000 chickens.

At the end of the depression the timber yard re-opened and Marcello returned to his job as a wood machinist and was still running the poultry farm. Young Pietro (who was now 15 years old) was growing up and in 1937 he got an apprenticeship as a boiler maker. He worked for Garnock Engineering and David Brothers. With the onset of WW2 Pietro was completing his apprenticeship as a boiler maker. By the end of WW2 Pietro was working at B & W Steel, Fairy Meadow.

After the war the economy began to recover and by this time Marcello slowly wound down the poultry farm. Pietro noticed a small fabrication business for sale. In 1947 Pietro purchased the plant and equipment and started a business on his father’s property called Illawarra Gate Manufacturers. With the existing sheds from the Poultry farm he converted them into work sheds and an administration office. They started producing gates, railings and small coal skips.

The business was doing well and soon Marcello was now a part of it. Marcello`s role was in administration. He was very good at it and he did a lot of the day to day operations while Pietro was busy creating the gates and railings. Pietro was very hands on and incredibly creative. They were very busy and they were constantly reconfiguring the sheds and buildings on the property to accomodate for their ever growing demand.

In 1949 daughter Anna married. She hadn’t been well for some time but was getting over her illness. Anna married Aurelio Spagnolo. Unfortunately, her illness returned and Anna was admitted into Balmain Hospital. Anna passed away on June 13, 1950. She was only 24 years old. It devastated the family and Marcello struggled to cope. This would also affect his health. He would be found at Anna`s grave site sitting for hours on end. This went on for quite some time. Pietro had to step in and bring him home as it was all too consuming for Marcello who was grief stricken and heart broken.

Marcello was a member of the RSL Wollongong and on the 28th of August 1953, he was nominated and gazetted as a Justice of the peace for his outstanding work in the community. It was a proud moment for him and his family, especially after the death of Anna. Sadly he never got to hold the position as he passed away October 9, 1953, before the offical notification came through. Marcello die from emphysema. Giuseppina passed away in 1980 on December 14. She was 78 years old. Aurelio Spagnolo, (who never remarried) passed away August 23, 2003. He was 80.

Marcello Menegazzo was well known and respected in the community. Arriving in 1922 in Tarrawanna, the growing Italian population were making their mark in the area, including the surrounding suburbs of Balgownie and Fairy Meadow. We owe these Italians much credit for how they created their community through their businesses and contributions, hard work and the bonded friendships that helped them endure and sustain.