Made Australia Home

Giuseppe Antonio Rossi was born on the 16th July 1916 at Bardi (Parma) Italy. At the time of his arrest on the 10th June 1940, he was living with his mother Fortunata and brother Mario at 13 Union Street, Swansea, South Wales.

His father had established a café and confectionery business at 13 Union Street, which at the time of Giuseppe’s arrest, was run by himself, his mother, sister and brothers. 

Giuseppe had arrived in Wales in 1919 and was educated at Swansea.  He worked for his father in the family business.  After his military service in the Italian Army serving with the 66 Fanteria in Sicily in 1938, he returned to Swansea in 1939.

While Giuseppe and his brother Luigi were arrested, his younger brother Mario, born in Wales was not.  Giuseppe and Luigi boarded the Arandora Star and Giuseppe and Luigi were together in the water waiting for rescue. Despite Giuseppe’s efforts which kept Luigi afloat, at the time of rescue Giuseppe was told to let go of Luigi.

Giuseppe was a constant worker in the camp garden party and he had not come under the notice of Intelligence Office.  On the 16th May 1944, Giuseppe was released for parole to work with the Civil Aliens Corps in forestry. He was assigned to Peechelba and Scarsdale camps but on the 2nd May 1945 he was medically discharged from the CAC.

He then worked as a kitchen hand at the Alexander Hotel, Spencer Street, Melbourne.  In 1946 Giuseppe married Ivana Josephine Padovan in Melbourne, Australia.

Known as Joe, he was a friend to Marco Gazzi who also made Australia his home. Both men were bestowed the honour of Cavaliere al Merito della Repubblica Italiana on 16th June 1990.

Giuseppe died on the 8th February 2005 at South Morang, Victoria.