Sequalsesi mosaic worker
- Joanne Tapiolas
- Jul 20
- 2 min read
Sisto Andrea Ferrarin was born in Sequals (Pordeonone) Italy on the 28th November 1888. He was a mosaic worker living in Birmingham, England when he was arrested on the 10th June 1940. Sisto lived with his wife Olinda (née Lizier), son and daughter at 67 Dale End, Birmingham, England. Mrs. Sisto Ferrarin was listed in the Trade Directories as a shopkeeper, provision dealer and grocer.
In 1913, Sisto arrived in England worked as a mosaic worker with Giaconella and Co. Birmingham. Sisto’s home region of Friuli in the north-east of Italy was well known for its terrazzo and mosaic tradesmen who migrated to England and France.
In Tatura Camp, Sisto associated with friends Francesco Mattiussi from Friuli and Iginio Toffolo a terrazzo foreman also residing in Birmingham and worked in the camp cement party and camp improvements party. All men were quiet and industrious with no political leaning.
In 1939, he had visited Italy for an operation on his ears and it was noted in his Australia file that he was very hard of hearing. He had been approved by the Mixed Medical Commission to be repatriated to Italy but had stated that his only wish was to be reunited with his family in England.
His son Raffaele, born in England was called up to serve in the British Forces. Raffaele appealed his enlistment as a conscientious objector. Rather than be imprisoned, Raffaele was drafted to a non-combatant unit.
On the 15th June 1944, Sisto was released to Melbourne on parole for employment with De Marco Bros 118 Ferrars Street South Melbourne. The De Marco Bros. had migrated to Australia in the 1920s and were also terrazzo and mosaic tradesmen from the Friuli area of Italy.
On the 21st August 1945, Sisto with nine other UK Italian internees arrived in Liverpool, England on the Nieuw Amsterdam as a ‘released internee’. He returned to his family at 38 Ivor Road, Birmingham.
Sisto died in England in 1966.
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