'New Australians'

Osvaldo Tome was born in Maniago (Udine) Italy on the 12th October 1909.  A mosaic worker, he was arrested in Aberdeen, Scotland on the 11th June 1940.  He listed his father Basilio Tome as his next of kin, resident of Maniago, Italy.

The owner of Toffolo Jackson & Co. Mr H Toffolo wrote a letter of request to Australian authorities on the 15th February 1944. Osvaldo and his brother Giovanni 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.

Osvaldo boarded the SS Athlone Castle in Sydney on the 6th February 1945 bound for Liverpool, England. He disembarked on the 29th March 1945, and the ship’s register listed his address as 110 West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland.

Osvaldo married Lucia Narduzzo on the 15th May 1946 at St Joseph's Church Clarkston, Renfrewshire, Scotland. On the 6th December 1953 Osvaldo returned to Australia on the SS New Australia with his wife Lucy and daughter Anne Marie. They lived in Sydney and Osvaldo worked as a supervisor and in managerial roles.

Migrants in Employment - Aviation Industry - Italian firm specialises in marble and terrazzo in Sydney - Oswald Tome