Made Australia Home

Giovanni Tome was born in Maniago (Udine) Italy on the 12th December 1917.  He was arrested in Aberdeen, Scotland on the 11th June 1940. He  listed his mother Rachel Tome as his next of kin who was resident at Via Colle, Maniago.

From the 1st February to the 24th February 1943, Giovanni was admitted to the 28 Australian Camp Hospital, Waranga, the hospital serving the Tatura and Murchison Camps.

Giovanni found the mundane aspects of camp life bothersome.  He wrote to Basilio Tome in Maniago, Italy on the 16th July 1943: You cannot imagine the trouble I have writing a letter. Here there is never anything new. The life is always the same – work, eating and sleeping without amusement, without the cinema to pass an hour. We have a few books to read- that is our pastime.  I hope it finishes soon, so I can return to our beautiful country. (NAA:MP70/1 37/101/185 Tatura 2) In camp he kept company with his brother older Osvaldo, Sisto Beschizza and Iginio Toffolo.

The owner of Toffolo Jackson & Co. Mr H Toffolo wrote a letter of request to Australian authorities on the 15th February 1944. Giovanni and Osvaldo were mosaic workers and Toffolo Jackson & Co. was one of the leading terrazzo and mosaic companies in the UK.  He wrote: We desire to state that should it be decided to release from internment in Australia, Osvald Tome and Giovanni Tome, we would be in a position to employ them in the building trade through the office of the Ministry of Labour and National Service. (NAA:MP70/1 37/101/185 Tatura 4) Despite this job offer, Giovanni instead was ‘released on parole’ to the Civil Aliens Corps in Australia to work in forestry on the 16th May 1944.

In 1945 Giovanni married Annie Madeline Parolo, her family was from Oven’s River District, Victoria. Giovanni Tome was awarded his Certificate of Naturalisation on the 14th April 1948 when he was living at Bundalong, Victoria.

Tatura, Australia. January 1943. Group of Italian internees from overseas now interned at Tatura Internment Camp. Back row, left to right: G. Tome; S. Corna; U. Ugolini; E. Sampietro; G. Costan; A. Cima. Front row: L. Strola; O. Tome; G. Consoli; N. Bertoia; R. Chiocconi.