Facsimile of the crest on the Portico Bonaretti in Novellara
Bonaretti
The family name of Bonaretti is widely spread throughout Northern Italy, predominantly in Reggio Emilia and Modena but also in Forlì-Cesena, Parma, Ferrara and Bologna.
Novellara, Reggio Emilia, Italy
Of the 20 administrative regions of Italy, Emilia-Romagna, situated in the northeast section of the country, is one of the wealthiest. Its capital is Bologna and Novellara is a large country town of about 13,700 Novellaresi and lies approximately 77 kms northwest of Bologna and 15 kms south of the Po river. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novellara)
The name Novellara comes from the medieval Nubilaria, which is from the Latin nebula, meaning ‘fog’ and was so called because the surrounding terrain was mostly covered by marshes, which favoured the formation of recurring fogs... and still does to this day even though the marshes are mostly gone.
From the 13th century, the town was the seat of the Gonzaga family. In the early 14th century Guido Gonzaga created an effectively independent lordship, which later evolved into the County of Novellara and Bagnolo, including largely what is now the communal territory of Novellara and the nearby Bagnolo in Piano.
After the Gonzaga dynasty’s end in 1728, the town passed to the Este family of the Duchy of Modena until 1859 when it was annexed to the newly unified Italy.
The name Novellara comes from the medieval Nubilaria, which is from the Latin nebula, meaning ‘fog’ and was so called because the surrounding terrain was mostly covered by marshes, which favoured the formation of recurring fogs... and still does to this day even though the marshes are mostly gone.
From the 13th century, the town was the seat of the Gonzaga family. In the early 14th century Guido Gonzaga created an effectively independent lordship, which later evolved into the County of Novellara and Bagnolo, including largely what is now the communal territory of Novellara and the nearby Bagnolo in Piano.
After the Gonzaga dynasty’s end in 1728, the town passed to the Este family of the Duchy of Modena until 1859 when it was annexed to the newly unified Italy.
The Bonaretti of Novellara
In the 1800s, the Bonaretti had been a wealthy and influential family in Novellara, building and occupying a colonnaded portico and palazzo, known as both "Palazzo Bonaretti" and ‘il portico di Bonaretti’ facing the main square of the town. The family crest can still be seen there above the columns. Gambling and horse racing took their toll on the family’s wealth and, by the end of the 19th century, those Bonaretti who remained in Novellara, were counted among the poorer citizens.
To read more about Palazzo Bonaretti click here
Nazzareno
It was there on 16th October, 1925 that Nazzareno Gallo Bonaretti was born to Maria Incerti and Argeo Bonaretti, the 5th of 7 children. Nazzareno’s siblings were Erna, Osanna, Giovanni and Adriano preceding him, and Mario and Assunta following. It must be said here, for clarification, that Erna was not the daughter of Argeo.
Maria had joined the Roman Catholic church as a novitiate nun and – as related by Erna’s own daughter – in 1910, Erna was born of a relationship between Maria and a priest. Of course, Maria had to leave the order and as soon as baby Erna was born, she was taken by the midwife to an orphanage where she remained for several years. During that time, Erna was fostered out to various families, some good, some not so good, but always being returned to the orphanage. Eventually, Maria presented herself at the orphanage and the young child Erna was entrusted to her. Maria never admitted to anyone that Erna was, indeed, her own daughter but it was an open secret in the small town of Novellara. Not long afterward, Maria married Argeo who was if anything, a caring man if not too bright.
While the widespread Bonaretti family, in general, seemed to have enjoyed good economic conditions, Argeo appears to have been estranged from them as there seems to be little connection between this strapped Bonaretti family in Novellara and the more affluent Bonaretti clans elsewhere.
The Incerti family, too, underwent a change. Although her headstone bears her true family name of Incerti, when she was a young woman, her brother applied for a change of surname. Incerti meant "of uncertain origins, or abandoned" so the surname of Monti was taken up by him and his sister, Maria. She was known as Maria Monti or “la Monti” by many in Novellara.
This Bonaretti family lived in another of the ancient porticos, this one coming off the north-east corner of the main square, Piazza Unità d'Italia, along what was colloquially known as via Cavour (via Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour) at number 14. Argeo was employed as sacristan of the small church, Beata Vergine del Popolo (Blessed Virgin of the People), which was literally next door. Via Cavour is a very narrow cobble-stoned street and the church is part of the portico and would easily be missed by passersby unless they walked in the middle of the street and looked skyward to see the towering building topped by a cross.
Here, too, was where Nazzareno served as altar boy, sang in the choir and helped his father with his duties. These Bonaretti were religious Roman Catholics, so much so, that one nephew of Nazzareno’s would later become a priest.
Maria had joined the Roman Catholic church as a novitiate nun and – as related by Erna’s own daughter – in 1910, Erna was born of a relationship between Maria and a priest. Of course, Maria had to leave the order and as soon as baby Erna was born, she was taken by the midwife to an orphanage where she remained for several years. During that time, Erna was fostered out to various families, some good, some not so good, but always being returned to the orphanage. Eventually, Maria presented herself at the orphanage and the young child Erna was entrusted to her. Maria never admitted to anyone that Erna was, indeed, her own daughter but it was an open secret in the small town of Novellara. Not long afterward, Maria married Argeo who was if anything, a caring man if not too bright.
While the widespread Bonaretti family, in general, seemed to have enjoyed good economic conditions, Argeo appears to have been estranged from them as there seems to be little connection between this strapped Bonaretti family in Novellara and the more affluent Bonaretti clans elsewhere.
The Incerti family, too, underwent a change. Although her headstone bears her true family name of Incerti, when she was a young woman, her brother applied for a change of surname. Incerti meant "of uncertain origins, or abandoned" so the surname of Monti was taken up by him and his sister, Maria. She was known as Maria Monti or “la Monti” by many in Novellara.
This Bonaretti family lived in another of the ancient porticos, this one coming off the north-east corner of the main square, Piazza Unità d'Italia, along what was colloquially known as via Cavour (via Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour) at number 14. Argeo was employed as sacristan of the small church, Beata Vergine del Popolo (Blessed Virgin of the People), which was literally next door. Via Cavour is a very narrow cobble-stoned street and the church is part of the portico and would easily be missed by passersby unless they walked in the middle of the street and looked skyward to see the towering building topped by a cross.
Here, too, was where Nazzareno served as altar boy, sang in the choir and helped his father with his duties. These Bonaretti were religious Roman Catholics, so much so, that one nephew of Nazzareno’s would later become a priest.
To read more about the Church of the Blessed Virgin of the People click here
Schooling
In 1923, when Benito Mussolini and his National Fascist Party were in power, the Italian education system adopted the Legge Gentile, an education system deemed fit for the fascist system. The compulsory age of education was raised to 14 years, and was somewhat based on a ladder system: after the first five years of primary education, one could choose the 'Scuola media', which would give further access to the ‘liceo’ and other secondary education, or the 'avviamento al lavoro' (work training), which was intended to give a quick entry into the low levels of the workforce.
Nazzareno attended school for the mandatory five years of primary education until he was eleven years of age then, whether it was out of financial necessity or lack of scholarly motivation, Nazzareno took the work training option (avviamento al lavoro) and began various apprenticeships with a gelato-maker among them. At some time, he also worked at the Cimitero di Novellara (Novellara Cemetery) assisting to remove bones from old graves and placing them in the ossuary.
It was also at 11 years of age that Nazzareno took up smoking cigarettes, something that would detrimentally affect his life.
Interesting sideline according to this The Guardian newspaper article: Documents reveal Italian dictator Benito Mussolini got his start in politics in 1917 with the help of £100 weekly wage from Britain's MI5 to keep Italy in the First World War - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/13/benito-mussolini-recruited-mi5-italy
Nazzareno attended school for the mandatory five years of primary education until he was eleven years of age then, whether it was out of financial necessity or lack of scholarly motivation, Nazzareno took the work training option (avviamento al lavoro) and began various apprenticeships with a gelato-maker among them. At some time, he also worked at the Cimitero di Novellara (Novellara Cemetery) assisting to remove bones from old graves and placing them in the ossuary.
It was also at 11 years of age that Nazzareno took up smoking cigarettes, something that would detrimentally affect his life.
Interesting sideline according to this The Guardian newspaper article: Documents reveal Italian dictator Benito Mussolini got his start in politics in 1917 with the help of £100 weekly wage from Britain's MI5 to keep Italy in the First World War - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/oct/13/benito-mussolini-recruited-mi5-italy
Nazzareno's Siblings
Erna (b.1910), the eldest sibling, met and married Pasquale Torchetti and had moved to Milan where Osanna (b.1920), who had graduated as a teacher, joined her half-sister and brother-in-law. In Milan, Osanna married Giovanni Avanti, son of a piano manufacturer and together had two children, Angelo and Assunta, neither of whom would marry.
Remaining in the family home in via Cavour with Maria and Argeo were Giovanni, the eldest male child, who assumed the role of paterfamilias, Adriano, Nazzareno, Mario and the youngest, Assunta, aunt to her sister Osanna's child of the same name.
Remaining in the family home in via Cavour with Maria and Argeo were Giovanni, the eldest male child, who assumed the role of paterfamilias, Adriano, Nazzareno, Mario and the youngest, Assunta, aunt to her sister Osanna's child of the same name.
World War II
1940
Italy joined the war as one of the Axis Powers on 10th June, 1940. Nazzareno was 15 years of age. According to a recent book on the subject, Italian Soldier in North Africa 1941-43 by Piero Crociani and Pier Paolo Battistelli, the first mobilisation of 1939-40 focused on men aged 21 to 30. The subsequent debacles in Greece and North Africa made it necessary to mobilise reinforcements, focussing on men aged 20 to 25.
The people of Italy met the announcement of war not with enthusiasm but despair. Italy had not been ready for an offensive war but dictator Benito Mussolini desperately wanted to conquer the Mediterranean and redraw the map of Europe to feed his burgeoning ego. Italy’s industrial power was a fraction of that of Britain, France or Germany and her troops had no faith in Mussolini’s hand-picked fawning commanders, nor had they the desire to fight.
Living in a dictatorship had been severely restrictive before but now, at war, Italians had to make further enormous sacrifices. Food, fuel and clothing were rationed. Metals were needed and citizens were asked to surrender anything made of iron, including gates and fences. Kitchenware and farm implements made of copper and tin were also solicited. (With thanks to: https://lifeinitaly.com/italy-second-world-war/)
In the north of Italy, 165 kms away from Novellara stood Milan, within easy reach of British bombers. And they didn’t wait. Their first air strike was on the night of 15th-16th June, five days after Italy entered the war. Bombings were renewed during August and continued sporadically to 18th-19th December.
In 1940, when Italy entered the war, Giovanni, Nazzareno’s oldest brother was 19 and Adriano, next born, was 17. They both would be conscripted in turn and both would become prisoners of war. Until then, Giovanni worked at Officine Fonderie Slanzi, a foundry established in 1919 manufacturing internal combustion engines. (History of Slanzi: with thanks to https://www.gamae.it/costruttori-slanzi.php)
Italy joined the war as one of the Axis Powers on 10th June, 1940. Nazzareno was 15 years of age. According to a recent book on the subject, Italian Soldier in North Africa 1941-43 by Piero Crociani and Pier Paolo Battistelli, the first mobilisation of 1939-40 focused on men aged 21 to 30. The subsequent debacles in Greece and North Africa made it necessary to mobilise reinforcements, focussing on men aged 20 to 25.
The people of Italy met the announcement of war not with enthusiasm but despair. Italy had not been ready for an offensive war but dictator Benito Mussolini desperately wanted to conquer the Mediterranean and redraw the map of Europe to feed his burgeoning ego. Italy’s industrial power was a fraction of that of Britain, France or Germany and her troops had no faith in Mussolini’s hand-picked fawning commanders, nor had they the desire to fight.
Living in a dictatorship had been severely restrictive before but now, at war, Italians had to make further enormous sacrifices. Food, fuel and clothing were rationed. Metals were needed and citizens were asked to surrender anything made of iron, including gates and fences. Kitchenware and farm implements made of copper and tin were also solicited. (With thanks to: https://lifeinitaly.com/italy-second-world-war/)
In the north of Italy, 165 kms away from Novellara stood Milan, within easy reach of British bombers. And they didn’t wait. Their first air strike was on the night of 15th-16th June, five days after Italy entered the war. Bombings were renewed during August and continued sporadically to 18th-19th December.
In 1940, when Italy entered the war, Giovanni, Nazzareno’s oldest brother was 19 and Adriano, next born, was 17. They both would be conscripted in turn and both would become prisoners of war. Until then, Giovanni worked at Officine Fonderie Slanzi, a foundry established in 1919 manufacturing internal combustion engines. (History of Slanzi: with thanks to https://www.gamae.it/costruttori-slanzi.php)
1941
On 22nd April, 1941, at age 15 years and 6 months, Nazzareno joined his brother at Officine Fonderie Slanzi as an apprentice, remunerated at (Lire) L.1.09 per hour, paid monthly. This rate of pay was for apprentices aged between 15 and 18 years.
(In 1939 one US dollar was equal to L.19.8, so Nazzareno was earning about USD 0.055 – or 5½ US cents per hour. One hundred US dollars in 1939 was equivalent in purchasing power to about USD 1,973.45 today; Nazzareno was earning USD 1.08 per hour in today’s money.)
The bombing raids on Milan that had ceased during 1941, resumed with increased ferocity in the autumn of 1942 and included Turin and Genoa to disrupt and destroy the “Industrial Triangle” of Italy.
In Milan, Erna and Pasquale had no option but to send their infant daughter, Maria Antonietta, born in August 1940, to the relative safety of Novellara to live with Erna’s parents Maria and Argeo.
When Italy sustained disastrous defeats in her Greek and North African campaigns, the Germans deployed troops there conquering Greece and Yugoslavia, and driving the British out of Libya. Novellara did its part converting the Secondary School into a hospital. Today, the faint red cross on its façade can still be discerned. And, around 1941, Giovanni was conscripted into the armed forces and by 1943 Adriano, too, had been inducted into the navy.
On 22nd April, 1941, at age 15 years and 6 months, Nazzareno joined his brother at Officine Fonderie Slanzi as an apprentice, remunerated at (Lire) L.1.09 per hour, paid monthly. This rate of pay was for apprentices aged between 15 and 18 years.
(In 1939 one US dollar was equal to L.19.8, so Nazzareno was earning about USD 0.055 – or 5½ US cents per hour. One hundred US dollars in 1939 was equivalent in purchasing power to about USD 1,973.45 today; Nazzareno was earning USD 1.08 per hour in today’s money.)
The bombing raids on Milan that had ceased during 1941, resumed with increased ferocity in the autumn of 1942 and included Turin and Genoa to disrupt and destroy the “Industrial Triangle” of Italy.
In Milan, Erna and Pasquale had no option but to send their infant daughter, Maria Antonietta, born in August 1940, to the relative safety of Novellara to live with Erna’s parents Maria and Argeo.
When Italy sustained disastrous defeats in her Greek and North African campaigns, the Germans deployed troops there conquering Greece and Yugoslavia, and driving the British out of Libya. Novellara did its part converting the Secondary School into a hospital. Today, the faint red cross on its façade can still be discerned. And, around 1941, Giovanni was conscripted into the armed forces and by 1943 Adriano, too, had been inducted into the navy.
Cover of Nazzareno Bonaretti's "Libretto di Lavoro" 1941
1943
July 1943 saw the collapse of the fascist government and Mussolini deposed. On September 8, 1943, General Dwight Eisenhower publicly announced the surrender of Italy to the Allies. Germany reacted with Operation Axis by invading northern Italy and the Allies countered with Operation Avalanche landing in Salerno in the south.
Novellara was now a German-occupied town. In October and November 1943, German authorities rounded up Jews in Rome, Milan, Genoa, Florence, Trieste, and other major cities in northern Italy. They established police transit camps at Fossoli di Carpi, approximately 12 miles north of Modena, at Bolzano in north-eastern Italy, and at Borgo San Dalmazzo, near the French border, to concentrate the Jews prior to deportation. (With thanks to https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/italy). One of the few Jews whose family had lived in the area for centuries, rather than being removed by the Germans, took his own life so that his gentile wife and children could retain their land and property.
While the tide of war was turning against Germany, the people of Italy were still suffering the depravation of food and fuel. Nazzareno would remember this time in his later, more affluent years in Australia. He refused to eat brown bread, remembering the ‘brown bread’ of the war – nothing like the wholegrain brown bread of today but bread made mostly of chaff and sometimes augmented with sawdust; white flour was scarce and kept for the elite, not the general populace. Nazzareno also developed an aversion to tomatoes and corn because of the war.
Now aged 18, Nazzareno was put on Novellara’s Liste di Leva – Lists of Military Recruitment, which was more or less notice that those on that list, Classe di 1925 – those born in the year 1925 – would be conscripted into the armed forces when they turned 20.
July 1943 saw the collapse of the fascist government and Mussolini deposed. On September 8, 1943, General Dwight Eisenhower publicly announced the surrender of Italy to the Allies. Germany reacted with Operation Axis by invading northern Italy and the Allies countered with Operation Avalanche landing in Salerno in the south.
Novellara was now a German-occupied town. In October and November 1943, German authorities rounded up Jews in Rome, Milan, Genoa, Florence, Trieste, and other major cities in northern Italy. They established police transit camps at Fossoli di Carpi, approximately 12 miles north of Modena, at Bolzano in north-eastern Italy, and at Borgo San Dalmazzo, near the French border, to concentrate the Jews prior to deportation. (With thanks to https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/italy). One of the few Jews whose family had lived in the area for centuries, rather than being removed by the Germans, took his own life so that his gentile wife and children could retain their land and property.
While the tide of war was turning against Germany, the people of Italy were still suffering the depravation of food and fuel. Nazzareno would remember this time in his later, more affluent years in Australia. He refused to eat brown bread, remembering the ‘brown bread’ of the war – nothing like the wholegrain brown bread of today but bread made mostly of chaff and sometimes augmented with sawdust; white flour was scarce and kept for the elite, not the general populace. Nazzareno also developed an aversion to tomatoes and corn because of the war.
Now aged 18, Nazzareno was put on Novellara’s Liste di Leva – Lists of Military Recruitment, which was more or less notice that those on that list, Classe di 1925 – those born in the year 1925 – would be conscripted into the armed forces when they turned 20.
Antonietta's happy memories of Novellara
Antonietta in Maria's courtyard at the rabbit hutch c1943
Antonietta in kindergarten with her friends c1944 (on the right with a ribbon)
Antonietta in Maria's courtyard in front of the chicken coop c1943
1944
Turmoil and upheaval were everywhere affecting everyone’s lives. Both Giovanni and Adriano were prisoners of war – Giovanni in England and Adriano in Germany – and Nazzareno’s youngest sister, Assunta, had died of (possibly) tuberculosis. But, at 4 years of age, Erna and Pasquale’s little girl Antonietta remembers with fondness the time she spent with her grandparents, uncles and aunt in Novellara until she was 6.
Nearing the end of the Second World War, Nazzareno had continued his employment with Slanzi, still as an apprentice and, at 19 years of age, his wages had increased to L.6.95 per hour. Despite the reliance war had on heavy industries such as iron foundries, Slanzi was forced to reduce its workforce. On 30th December 1944 Nazzareno was laid off.
He immediately applied to the Instituto Nationale Fascista della Previdenza Sociale (National Fascist Institute of Social Security) - Assicurazione per la Disoccupazione (Unemployment Insurance) and was paid L.333.60 for 6 days to 5th January, 1945.
Turmoil and upheaval were everywhere affecting everyone’s lives. Both Giovanni and Adriano were prisoners of war – Giovanni in England and Adriano in Germany – and Nazzareno’s youngest sister, Assunta, had died of (possibly) tuberculosis. But, at 4 years of age, Erna and Pasquale’s little girl Antonietta remembers with fondness the time she spent with her grandparents, uncles and aunt in Novellara until she was 6.
Nearing the end of the Second World War, Nazzareno had continued his employment with Slanzi, still as an apprentice and, at 19 years of age, his wages had increased to L.6.95 per hour. Despite the reliance war had on heavy industries such as iron foundries, Slanzi was forced to reduce its workforce. On 30th December 1944 Nazzareno was laid off.
He immediately applied to the Instituto Nationale Fascista della Previdenza Sociale (National Fascist Institute of Social Security) - Assicurazione per la Disoccupazione (Unemployment Insurance) and was paid L.333.60 for 6 days to 5th January, 1945.
Conscription notice
Termination notices
1945
It was during this period of unemployment that Nazzareno went to work for himself, at age 20, in the shop at via Cavour, 10, making wooden toys and selling them in the various markets. It may have been fortuitous that his younger brother, Mario, worked at a joinery, Carretta, and may have been able to procure timber offcuts to make these toys.
It was also during this period that little Antonietta recalls with clarity and much affection how her uncle Nazzareno made for her a carousel, furniture for her dolls and many other wooden playthings. She remembers her uncle as being passionate about working with timber.
Allied forces occupied most of Germany by the end of April 1945. German forces fighting in Italy were the first to surrender unconditionally to the Allies. Representatives of the German command in Italy signed the surrender on April 29, and it became effective on May 2, 1945. Five days later, on May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered unconditionally to the western Allies, ending the war in Europe. (https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/italy)
Regardless, Nazzareno duly received his conscription papers having been included “in the sea draft lists of the Maritime Compartment of La Spezia” (as translated). He was to present himself at La Spezia to serve for 28 months.
The war was over and Christmas approaching and Antonietta recalls how sad she felt when her parents wanted her to return to Milan. For her, despite the war, living with her grandparents and uncles was paradise; everyone cuddled her. This was the only family she had known. Her uncles Nazzareno and Mario were fun-loving despite the hardships of the war and she would feel the loss of their companionship deeply.
The Bonaretti family was becoming fragmented and the matriarch was fearful. Erna and Osanna were married and making a life for themselves in Milan; Giovanni and Adriano were interned somewhere and awaiting repatriation, Assunta had succumbed to a dreadful disease, and of her two remaining children, one was being conscripted. Now her only grandchild was being removed.
For whatever the reason, Maria did not want to release her granddaughter back to her mother, Erna. It may have been fear of being left alone that drove Maria to fall out with Erna, but they were never to speak again. This was to be an omen for Nazzareno who would suffer the same emotional rend.
More happily for Antonietta, Nazzareno and Mario would go to Milan and visit their little niece. Before long, Maria would later suffer another loss when her youngest son Mario moved to Milan, met and married Nella (Ornella Tumiati) and had two children Tiziana and Franco. Franco unfortunately would die very young. But that was in the future.
It was during this period of unemployment that Nazzareno went to work for himself, at age 20, in the shop at via Cavour, 10, making wooden toys and selling them in the various markets. It may have been fortuitous that his younger brother, Mario, worked at a joinery, Carretta, and may have been able to procure timber offcuts to make these toys.
It was also during this period that little Antonietta recalls with clarity and much affection how her uncle Nazzareno made for her a carousel, furniture for her dolls and many other wooden playthings. She remembers her uncle as being passionate about working with timber.
Allied forces occupied most of Germany by the end of April 1945. German forces fighting in Italy were the first to surrender unconditionally to the Allies. Representatives of the German command in Italy signed the surrender on April 29, and it became effective on May 2, 1945. Five days later, on May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered unconditionally to the western Allies, ending the war in Europe. (https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/italy)
Regardless, Nazzareno duly received his conscription papers having been included “in the sea draft lists of the Maritime Compartment of La Spezia” (as translated). He was to present himself at La Spezia to serve for 28 months.
The war was over and Christmas approaching and Antonietta recalls how sad she felt when her parents wanted her to return to Milan. For her, despite the war, living with her grandparents and uncles was paradise; everyone cuddled her. This was the only family she had known. Her uncles Nazzareno and Mario were fun-loving despite the hardships of the war and she would feel the loss of their companionship deeply.
The Bonaretti family was becoming fragmented and the matriarch was fearful. Erna and Osanna were married and making a life for themselves in Milan; Giovanni and Adriano were interned somewhere and awaiting repatriation, Assunta had succumbed to a dreadful disease, and of her two remaining children, one was being conscripted. Now her only grandchild was being removed.
For whatever the reason, Maria did not want to release her granddaughter back to her mother, Erna. It may have been fear of being left alone that drove Maria to fall out with Erna, but they were never to speak again. This was to be an omen for Nazzareno who would suffer the same emotional rend.
More happily for Antonietta, Nazzareno and Mario would go to Milan and visit their little niece. Before long, Maria would later suffer another loss when her youngest son Mario moved to Milan, met and married Nella (Ornella Tumiati) and had two children Tiziana and Franco. Franco unfortunately would die very young. But that was in the future.
Post-war Italy
1946
While records are scant, Nazzareno’s Libretto di Lavoro (Work Book) shows that he returned to Slanzi and was re-employed on 29th July, 1946 as Manovale (an ordinary labourer) earning L.14.70 per hour. The following book entry increased his wages to L.24.80 per hour as Manovale specialista (specialist labourer) and, finally, on 2nd September, 1948 as Operaio comune (common worker) at L.39.90 per hour.
On 4th September, 1948, Nazzareno’s employment with Officine Fonderie Slanzi was once again terminated, ending his career with this foundry as modellista (model maker) creating the wooden models from which casting dies were made - precision work that kept him in good stead during his lifetime.
While being fully employed by Slanzi, Nazzareno continued his passion for making wooden toys and selling them at markets. During that time and until the end of the decade, Nazzareno took on commissions to make suites of furniture and other made-to-specification household furnishings.
On one occasion, to commemorate a milestone, he was commissioned to make a full-size statue of Garibaldi in wood. He later recalled how gluing on the statue's hair made him physically sick causing him to dry retch. On another occasion, Nazzareno was commissioned to make a bedroom suite - wardrobe, bed and bedside cabinets - but it was needed to be finished in very short time: 48 hours! He accomplished this miracle of determination by not sleeping one wink until his mission was accomplished. There were other times Nazzareno was asked to 'antique' relatively new furniture. Apart from time-worn surfaces - easy to replicate, another sign of antique furniture was the presence of woodworm. To create this illusion, tiny holes would be drilled into the surface of the item being 'antiqued'. Of course, knowing that this was a trick of the trade meant that Nazzareno was able to detect fraudulent antique furniture simply by inserting a fine needle into the worm hole. If it went in straight, that piece of furniture was bogus. Woodworms don't follow a straight path.
While records are scant, Nazzareno’s Libretto di Lavoro (Work Book) shows that he returned to Slanzi and was re-employed on 29th July, 1946 as Manovale (an ordinary labourer) earning L.14.70 per hour. The following book entry increased his wages to L.24.80 per hour as Manovale specialista (specialist labourer) and, finally, on 2nd September, 1948 as Operaio comune (common worker) at L.39.90 per hour.
On 4th September, 1948, Nazzareno’s employment with Officine Fonderie Slanzi was once again terminated, ending his career with this foundry as modellista (model maker) creating the wooden models from which casting dies were made - precision work that kept him in good stead during his lifetime.
While being fully employed by Slanzi, Nazzareno continued his passion for making wooden toys and selling them at markets. During that time and until the end of the decade, Nazzareno took on commissions to make suites of furniture and other made-to-specification household furnishings.
On one occasion, to commemorate a milestone, he was commissioned to make a full-size statue of Garibaldi in wood. He later recalled how gluing on the statue's hair made him physically sick causing him to dry retch. On another occasion, Nazzareno was commissioned to make a bedroom suite - wardrobe, bed and bedside cabinets - but it was needed to be finished in very short time: 48 hours! He accomplished this miracle of determination by not sleeping one wink until his mission was accomplished. There were other times Nazzareno was asked to 'antique' relatively new furniture. Apart from time-worn surfaces - easy to replicate, another sign of antique furniture was the presence of woodworm. To create this illusion, tiny holes would be drilled into the surface of the item being 'antiqued'. Of course, knowing that this was a trick of the trade meant that Nazzareno was able to detect fraudulent antique furniture simply by inserting a fine needle into the worm hole. If it went in straight, that piece of furniture was bogus. Woodworms don't follow a straight path.
Nazzareno and unknown friend with his market stall selling his hand-made toys and nursery furniture. Dated 4th May, 1946
1947
Nazzareno received notification dated 21st April, 1947, that he would not be called up for military service and would be considered “on enlightened leave” effectively excusing him from military service. (See Conscription Notice PDF above.)
1948
By 1948 both Giovanni and Adriano had been repatriated, returning to the family home in via Cavour but not to the same situation they had left behind, or returning in the same physical state they had left.
Adriano had contracted tuberculosis in the German prisoner-of-war camp and could no longer work and Giovanni wanted to resume his position as paterfamilias but Nazzareno objected to being relegated. It had been he and Mario who had supported the family while his two brothers were absent. He resented being forced to hand over his income and wages to his eldest brother; he had managed the family’s welfare competently without Giovanni’s supervision then, and would continue to do so now. Mario remained ambivalent. This was the beginning of a long and bitter feud that would never be resolved with Giovanni, and only in 1978 with Adriano.
Adding to the turmoil was that Nazzareno, now 23, had met and fallen in love with a young woman, the sister of his best friend, Ivo Saltini.
Maria was utterly opposed to any marriage for Nazzareno – it would take income away from the family – but especially to a Saltini, one of the poorest families in Novellara, poorer than they themselves. And they were not, in Maria’s opinion, good Roman Catholics. The family was leaning toward Communism.
The girl Nazzareno had fallen in love with was Ebe, the 7th of 9 children born to Orsola Parmiggiani and Demetrio Saltini who lived in an old, decommissioned convent with several other families. This was a type of condominium with each family in separate living quarters. It was a tight squeeze for a family of 11 but they were happy and, despite the recent war, reasonably healthy.
Ebe Teresa was born 16th July, 1927 and had received a better formal education than Nazzareno by attending both primary and secondary school until 14 years of age. She also attended embroidery and homemaking classes run by the nuns and was fairly athletic, joining the emerging local women's basketball team. Nazzareno himself was sporty playing soccer— ‘calcio’—at the nearby playing field.
Like almost every teenager throughout time, Ebe in company of her best friend and peers, would wander the surrounding vineyards and orchards scaling fences and stealing grapes and fruit. One such adventure led to a mishap. Climbing over a barbed wire fence Ebe lost her grip and fell to the other side tearing a long gash to the inside of her upper arm, leaving a scar that would remind her of this minor calamity for the rest of her life.
As she matured, Ebe became more sedate but without losing her playfulness, enjoying the latest American films at the local cinema or going to dances in Novellara or nearby towns, or listening to the radio at home. She had a fine singing voice and songs from that era would remain in her repertoire for the rest of her life.
Nazzareno received notification dated 21st April, 1947, that he would not be called up for military service and would be considered “on enlightened leave” effectively excusing him from military service. (See Conscription Notice PDF above.)
1948
By 1948 both Giovanni and Adriano had been repatriated, returning to the family home in via Cavour but not to the same situation they had left behind, or returning in the same physical state they had left.
Adriano had contracted tuberculosis in the German prisoner-of-war camp and could no longer work and Giovanni wanted to resume his position as paterfamilias but Nazzareno objected to being relegated. It had been he and Mario who had supported the family while his two brothers were absent. He resented being forced to hand over his income and wages to his eldest brother; he had managed the family’s welfare competently without Giovanni’s supervision then, and would continue to do so now. Mario remained ambivalent. This was the beginning of a long and bitter feud that would never be resolved with Giovanni, and only in 1978 with Adriano.
Adding to the turmoil was that Nazzareno, now 23, had met and fallen in love with a young woman, the sister of his best friend, Ivo Saltini.
Maria was utterly opposed to any marriage for Nazzareno – it would take income away from the family – but especially to a Saltini, one of the poorest families in Novellara, poorer than they themselves. And they were not, in Maria’s opinion, good Roman Catholics. The family was leaning toward Communism.
The girl Nazzareno had fallen in love with was Ebe, the 7th of 9 children born to Orsola Parmiggiani and Demetrio Saltini who lived in an old, decommissioned convent with several other families. This was a type of condominium with each family in separate living quarters. It was a tight squeeze for a family of 11 but they were happy and, despite the recent war, reasonably healthy.
Ebe Teresa was born 16th July, 1927 and had received a better formal education than Nazzareno by attending both primary and secondary school until 14 years of age. She also attended embroidery and homemaking classes run by the nuns and was fairly athletic, joining the emerging local women's basketball team. Nazzareno himself was sporty playing soccer— ‘calcio’—at the nearby playing field.
Like almost every teenager throughout time, Ebe in company of her best friend and peers, would wander the surrounding vineyards and orchards scaling fences and stealing grapes and fruit. One such adventure led to a mishap. Climbing over a barbed wire fence Ebe lost her grip and fell to the other side tearing a long gash to the inside of her upper arm, leaving a scar that would remind her of this minor calamity for the rest of her life.
As she matured, Ebe became more sedate but without losing her playfulness, enjoying the latest American films at the local cinema or going to dances in Novellara or nearby towns, or listening to the radio at home. She had a fine singing voice and songs from that era would remain in her repertoire for the rest of her life.
(In fact, one of those songs – much to the amusement and sometimes embarrassment of Nazzareno – was Bandiera Rossa (Red Flag) – the Communist anthem of 1908.
Hear a stirring choral rendition here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s2lMSX65vs
Hear a stirring choral rendition here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s2lMSX65vs
... or read the history of the Communist anthem here: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandiera_Rossa)
More Communist links...
This undated photograph was published in an unknown Italian newspaper. Ebe is sitting with friends in a local cafe in Novellara. The chap behind the group is holding up a copy of "L'Unità", the official newspaper of the Italian Communist Party (PCI), the "newspaper of workers and peasants". This photo was taken after June, 1944 and possibly in 1945 when Ebe would have been 18 years of age.
Read more about "L'Unità" here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Unit%C3%A0
This undated photograph was published in an unknown Italian newspaper. Ebe is sitting with friends in a local cafe in Novellara. The chap behind the group is holding up a copy of "L'Unità", the official newspaper of the Italian Communist Party (PCI), the "newspaper of workers and peasants". This photo was taken after June, 1944 and possibly in 1945 when Ebe would have been 18 years of age.
Read more about "L'Unità" here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Unit%C3%A0
But Ebe's best times were with her best friend, Genoveffa—"la Neffa".
1949
Ebe and la Neffa, together with Ivo her brother and his best friend Nazzareno, would meet and spend time together as a foursome, enjoying the freedom that peace had brought and the happiness they brought to each other. Nazzareno’s good looks, self-confidence and waggish humour attracted Ebe.
1949
Ebe and la Neffa, together with Ivo her brother and his best friend Nazzareno, would meet and spend time together as a foursome, enjoying the freedom that peace had brought and the happiness they brought to each other. Nazzareno’s good looks, self-confidence and waggish humour attracted Ebe.
Ebe Saltini and her best friend in February, 1949
Ivo Saltini, Ebe and Nazzareno Bonaretti in February, 1949
Emilia-Romagna
Crest of the town of Novellara, RE
Coat-of-arms of the Gonzaga
Bonaretti
Nazzareno's mother, Maria Incerti in Bonaretti (1888-1967)
Nazzareno's father Argeo Bonaretti (22nd May, 1879-3rd July 1961)
Erna Bonaretti and Pasquale Torchetti on their wedding day in 1939
Osanna Bonaretti in Avanti (1920-1952)
Giovanni Bonaretti (20th April 1921 - 24th July 1991)
Adriano Bonaretti c1943 (30th November 1923 - 13th January 1992)
Nazzareno Bonaretti c1951 (16th October, 1925 - 29th June, 1996)
Assunta Bonaretti (1930-1944)
Adriano Bonaretti - 1992
Saltini
Demetrio (Ettore) Saltini (5th January 1886 - 14th July 1960)
Orsolina Parmiggiani in Saltini (21st March 1887 - 4th October, 1960)
The Saltini Family 1952 Back row: Ivo (6th May, 1921 - 15th June, 1995), Marisa (25th February, 1932 - ) Zoraide (Gilda) (22nd May, 1913 - 20th November, 2010), Ebe (16th July, 1927 - 9th August, 2005), Ada (Ottorina) (22nd January, 1916 - 3rd June, 2006), Azio Front row: Demetrio (Ettore) (5th January, 1886 - 14th July, 1960), Nanda, Valentina (22nd July, 1911 - 31st Match, 2007), Susanna, Umberto, Orsolina (21st March, 1887 - 4th October, 1960)
Ivo Saltini - 1995 (6th May, 1921 - 15th June, 1995)
Ebe Teresa Saltini photographed in 1943 (16th July, 1927 - 9th August, 2005)
Nanda Saltini - 1929-1940
Ebe Saltini 1944
Ebe Saltini and older sister Anna - 29th August, 1944
Three generations: Orsola, with daughter, Anna, with daughter Nanda (named after her dec. aunt, Nanda) - 15th August, 1954
Nazzareno and Ebe on their wedding day 31st July, 1949
Chiesa Beata Vergine della Fossetta where Nazzareno and Ebe secretly married on 31st July, 1949 (Photo 2006)
"Novellara 31/07/49 Pensierosa per il si mattutino" Translates to "Thoughtful for the morning yes". Photograph of Ebe Saltini taken after her marriage to Nazzareno Bonaretti. The caption was written by Nazzareno.
"Novellara 31/07/49 ... a bocca aperta si respira meglio" translates "with open mouth you breathe better". Ebe Saltini with her nephew Umberto on her wedding day. Caption written by Nazzareno, with a touch of playfulness
"Novellara 31/07/49 Questa pura bellezza mia moglie Nazzareno" translates to "This pure beauty my wife Nazzareno". Photograph was taken on their wedding day. Caption written by Nazzareno
Ebe Saltini - early 1949
Ebe Saltini between two friends and her brother Ivo - early 1949
Ebe Saltini and her best friend - early 1949
Ebe Saltini and her brother Ivo and two friends - early 949
Ebe Saltini between her two friends - early 1949
Ebe Saltini and her two friends - early 1949
Nazzareno’s affection for Ebe grew and became evident that they would marry but Maria was determined that any marriage would not happen. She was convinced that Nazzareno would live with the Saltini family if they did. Her remonstrations were very vocal and very public, screaming at Ebe whenever Maria saw her in the streets, even verbally attacking Ebe’s mother, Orsolina.
Why Maria would do this is unknowable; she still had two other sons living in Novellara although they, too, were married but they, or their wives, had not been subjected to such humiliation. She would never forgive him if he married Ebe.
Nazzareno was equally stubborn and would not capitulate to his mother’s unfair demands and, at 6 a.m. on Sunday, 31st July, 1949, he and Ebe secretly married in la Chiesa della Fossetta with only Ivo and Genoveffa in attendance.
Why Maria would do this is unknowable; she still had two other sons living in Novellara although they, too, were married but they, or their wives, had not been subjected to such humiliation. She would never forgive him if he married Ebe.
Nazzareno was equally stubborn and would not capitulate to his mother’s unfair demands and, at 6 a.m. on Sunday, 31st July, 1949, he and Ebe secretly married in la Chiesa della Fossetta with only Ivo and Genoveffa in attendance.
Chiesa della Fossetta approach (2006)
Chiesa della Fossetta (2006)
Chiesa della Fossetta from the back (2006)
Immediately, Nazzareno moved into the Saltini household with his meagre possessions and his income.
Despite the familial breakdown, he continued working in his neggozio at via Cavour, 10, making toys and bespoke furniture, no doubt plagued by his mother’s rants.
Despite the familial breakdown, he continued working in his neggozio at via Cavour, 10, making toys and bespoke furniture, no doubt plagued by his mother’s rants.
1950
Life for the newlyweds was happy. Nazzareno was accepted as part of the Saltini family; he was closer to Ivo, Ebe’s older brother, than he had been to his own brothers except, perhaps, Mario, Nazzareno’s younger brother. He got along well with Ebe’s other siblings and with his parents-in-law. Before long, in April, a daughter was born to Ebe and Nazzareno and was doted on by all of the family. She was christened Susanna after her mother’s favourite film actress, Susan Hayward. Susanna was the third grandchild of Orsolina and Demetrio following Nanda, born to Ebe’s older sister, Anna, and Umberto, son of Ottorina (Ada) and Giovanni. A year later would follow Ivo’s own daughter with Gina, Luciana.
Life for the newlyweds was happy. Nazzareno was accepted as part of the Saltini family; he was closer to Ivo, Ebe’s older brother, than he had been to his own brothers except, perhaps, Mario, Nazzareno’s younger brother. He got along well with Ebe’s other siblings and with his parents-in-law. Before long, in April, a daughter was born to Ebe and Nazzareno and was doted on by all of the family. She was christened Susanna after her mother’s favourite film actress, Susan Hayward. Susanna was the third grandchild of Orsolina and Demetrio following Nanda, born to Ebe’s older sister, Anna, and Umberto, son of Ottorina (Ada) and Giovanni. A year later would follow Ivo’s own daughter with Gina, Luciana.
A joyous Ebe Bonaretti with her newborn, Susanna c June, 1950
Ebe with baby Susanna with Susanna's cousins, Umberto and Nanda looking on circa June 1950
Ebe with baby Susanna with Susanna's disinterested cousins, Umberto and Nanda circa June 1950
Ebe with her new baby, Susanna circa June 1950
As much as the family life with the Saltini clan was happy, it was the opposite with Nazzareno’s own family. The ongoing disruption to his and Ebe’s life by his own mother Maria caused them all no end of grief; his continuing feud with his two elder brothers, Giovanni and Adriano, seemed unresolvable and working next door to where these protagonists resided was taking a toll on his own mental wellbeing. He had to get away from them, as far away as he could but to where? And how? His business was good but saving was difficult. Nazzareno was no spendthrift nor was he miserly but caring for a wife and child, even in a large household in which everyone contributed, left him with little to save.
Rice Fields
Italy was, and still is, Europe’s largest rice producer and northern Italy was where most of it was grown. Northern Italians love rice—think risotto and its myriad varieties—and the region surrounding Novellara, being low and swampy, was a natural environment for rice to be grown. Wanting to help their respective spouses, Ebe and her sister-in-law Gina decided to earn extra money by working in the not-too-distant rice fields. When Nazzareno knew of this, he was angry but more so, his pride was insulted that others would perceive that he was unable to support his wife and child. He forbade Ebe from returning to the rice fields or from any paid work in general. His role was to provide for his family; her role was to look after him and their child. This directive would be quietly ignored in later years when times would be even harsher.
Northern Italian rice fields c1940s
Northern Italian rice field workers c1940s
EMIGRATION
When a missionary priest arrived in Novellara, it was as though God had listened to Nazzareno and answered his prayers. Offering sponsorships to young men wanting to make a new start, the Capuchin Franciscan Friar was from the parish of St Fiacre’s and he could not extol highly enough the opportunities waiting for them in “the Lucky Country”. For a two-year contract, employment and accommodation would be guaranteed by the Italian government, giving all those who participated the chance to earn a decent wage and better themselves.
Nazzareno grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He would go abroad and return in a few years’ time with enough to set up his young family away from his mother and brothers.
But Australia? Sydney?
He didn’t even know where that was; it was literally the other side of the world and so big. If the illustrations were to scale, his Europe could easily fit inside Australia! And English? The only English he knew was what had been shouted at him by the liberating Americans a few years earlier. But it was as far as he could go and it was an opportunity that showed immense promise. He was not afraid of hard work or difficult challenges – they built character.
It would have been distressing for Ebe to part from her husband after being married for less than two years but she saw the necessity of his getting away from his own family as well as his determination to succeed… and it wouldn’t be forever. Two years was not that long and they had their whole lives ahead of them. Nazzareno was confident leaving his wife and their newborn daughter in the care of her own family; they would be loved and well looked after and he would send back as much money as he could.
Contracts were signed and arrangements were made. Nazzareno and the other conscripts would be met in Sydney by a delegate of the Capuchin’s and help them start their new lives.
Nazzareno grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He would go abroad and return in a few years’ time with enough to set up his young family away from his mother and brothers.
But Australia? Sydney?
He didn’t even know where that was; it was literally the other side of the world and so big. If the illustrations were to scale, his Europe could easily fit inside Australia! And English? The only English he knew was what had been shouted at him by the liberating Americans a few years earlier. But it was as far as he could go and it was an opportunity that showed immense promise. He was not afraid of hard work or difficult challenges – they built character.
It would have been distressing for Ebe to part from her husband after being married for less than two years but she saw the necessity of his getting away from his own family as well as his determination to succeed… and it wouldn’t be forever. Two years was not that long and they had their whole lives ahead of them. Nazzareno was confident leaving his wife and their newborn daughter in the care of her own family; they would be loved and well looked after and he would send back as much money as he could.
Contracts were signed and arrangements were made. Nazzareno and the other conscripts would be met in Sydney by a delegate of the Capuchin’s and help them start their new lives.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL IN NOVELLARA - 1951
Competitive men’s basketball had been taken up in Italy before the beginning of World War II but come to an abrupt halt when war broke out. After the war, it was quickly resumed with a call to young women to take up the sport as well.
In their comprehensive book “La Pallacanestro a Novellara – Tante storie dietro ad un pallone” (“Basketball in Novellara – Many stories behind a ball”) by Maria Gabriella Barilli and Giordano Lusuardi, Ebe Saltini is mentioned at the beginning of the section titled “Pallacanestro femminile” (“Female Basketball”) together with a photograph, which is dated 1951. [This date may or may not be accurate as Ebe would have been 24 years of age at the time and with a one-year-old baby so may not have participated then in the sport; it may have been earlier.]
In their comprehensive book “La Pallacanestro a Novellara – Tante storie dietro ad un pallone” (“Basketball in Novellara – Many stories behind a ball”) by Maria Gabriella Barilli and Giordano Lusuardi, Ebe Saltini is mentioned at the beginning of the section titled “Pallacanestro femminile” (“Female Basketball”) together with a photograph, which is dated 1951. [This date may or may not be accurate as Ebe would have been 24 years of age at the time and with a one-year-old baby so may not have participated then in the sport; it may have been earlier.]
“La Pallacanestro a Novellara – Tante storie dietro ad un pallone” by Maria Gabriella Barilli and Giordano Lusuardi, Ebe Saltini is mentioned
Photograph of Ebe with members of the women's basketball team in Novellara - c1951
1951
Preparations commenced.
Nazzareno intended to work as a carpenter in the “lucky country” and needed every piece of equipment he had acquired in the fifteen years since he left school to take up the avviamento al lavoro option at eleven years of age. He packed all his woodworking and carpentry tools in a huge barrel-lidded steamer-trunk made of plywood and reinforced with steel strapping and a sturdy lock. With the very few material goods he left behind was also a burdensome load of emotional pain from his parents and brothers. Contrarily, it must have been a heartbreaking wrench for him to leave his wife and child for a country so far away and a future so unpredictable. But it would be only for two years…
So it was that in August of 1951 Nazzareno boarded the train for Genoa with all his belongings and hopes for a better life for him and his new family.
FLOTTA LAURO and TURBONAVE ROMA
The “Roma”, like her sister ship “Sydney”, was originally laid down in the United States as C3 class cargo ship but was completed as an auxiliary aircraft carrier launched in 1942 and commissioned by the Royal Navy in 1943. [A comprehensive history of these two ships can be found here: http://ssmaritime.com/roma-sydney.htm with obliging thanks to Mr. Reuben Goossens]
With his baule (trunk) stowed in the hold and his two suitcases in hand, he boarded the luxury liner and settled into his tourist-class berth on the lower deck sharing the cabin with other young men. While the ship set a new luxury standard for migrant transports, the cheapest of fares was all that was on offer to him; first class beyond his reach.
The TN Roma departed on her maiden voyage from Genoa for Fremantle, Australia in August 1951 under Ship's Master Angelo Carnincich. The journey was scheduled to take around 24 days calling in to Naples, Messina, Port Said and Aden to embark other passengers before arriving in Fremantle then continuing to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. It would then return home via Singapore, Bombay, Port Said, Messina and Genoa. Of the 830 travelers on board, only 9 were listed as first-class, the remaining 821 were tourist-class and many of those most likely sponsored migrants. Most of the passengers were Italians and some of those—quite a few—were sponsored by the A.J.W.S. of 146 Darlinghurst Road, Sydney. The Australian Jewish Welfare Society (AJWS) coordinated the migration processes of Italians and others wanting to escape the horrors of the war. Sadly, one was not to survive the journey: the infant child of Mrs. Caterina Ierano, Giuseppe, who died during the crossing.
On this voyage, only Nazzareno was sponsored by the Capuchins.
A few days after the ship had set sail from Genoa, an odour permeated the tourist class cabin. It was an offensive smell of decaying flesh that became more offensive by the hour. A search of the cabin revealed the source of the foul smell: Nazzareno’s suitcase within which was, literally, a fowl. The accompanying note was from Nazzareno’s mother, Maria, who, as a parting gift, had roasted a chicken and secreted it in his case as a tasty surprise. As much as the chicken would have been welcomed a few days earlier, it was quickly sent to Davy Jones’ locker without ceremony.
Four days out of Genoa the newly commissioned liner developed problems and limped into Port Said. The ship had lost a propeller and could not proceed until a new one was delivered and installed.
August is the warmest month of the year in this part of Egypt with average temperatures ranging between 24°C and 30°C. It was stifling hot onboard—no air-conditioning. Bored and broiling, the young Italian men in Nazzareno’s company kept themselves busy on shore seeing the sights of the port.
Preparations commenced.
Nazzareno intended to work as a carpenter in the “lucky country” and needed every piece of equipment he had acquired in the fifteen years since he left school to take up the avviamento al lavoro option at eleven years of age. He packed all his woodworking and carpentry tools in a huge barrel-lidded steamer-trunk made of plywood and reinforced with steel strapping and a sturdy lock. With the very few material goods he left behind was also a burdensome load of emotional pain from his parents and brothers. Contrarily, it must have been a heartbreaking wrench for him to leave his wife and child for a country so far away and a future so unpredictable. But it would be only for two years…
So it was that in August of 1951 Nazzareno boarded the train for Genoa with all his belongings and hopes for a better life for him and his new family.
FLOTTA LAURO and TURBONAVE ROMA
The “Roma”, like her sister ship “Sydney”, was originally laid down in the United States as C3 class cargo ship but was completed as an auxiliary aircraft carrier launched in 1942 and commissioned by the Royal Navy in 1943. [A comprehensive history of these two ships can be found here: http://ssmaritime.com/roma-sydney.htm with obliging thanks to Mr. Reuben Goossens]
With his baule (trunk) stowed in the hold and his two suitcases in hand, he boarded the luxury liner and settled into his tourist-class berth on the lower deck sharing the cabin with other young men. While the ship set a new luxury standard for migrant transports, the cheapest of fares was all that was on offer to him; first class beyond his reach.
The TN Roma departed on her maiden voyage from Genoa for Fremantle, Australia in August 1951 under Ship's Master Angelo Carnincich. The journey was scheduled to take around 24 days calling in to Naples, Messina, Port Said and Aden to embark other passengers before arriving in Fremantle then continuing to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. It would then return home via Singapore, Bombay, Port Said, Messina and Genoa. Of the 830 travelers on board, only 9 were listed as first-class, the remaining 821 were tourist-class and many of those most likely sponsored migrants. Most of the passengers were Italians and some of those—quite a few—were sponsored by the A.J.W.S. of 146 Darlinghurst Road, Sydney. The Australian Jewish Welfare Society (AJWS) coordinated the migration processes of Italians and others wanting to escape the horrors of the war. Sadly, one was not to survive the journey: the infant child of Mrs. Caterina Ierano, Giuseppe, who died during the crossing.
On this voyage, only Nazzareno was sponsored by the Capuchins.
A few days after the ship had set sail from Genoa, an odour permeated the tourist class cabin. It was an offensive smell of decaying flesh that became more offensive by the hour. A search of the cabin revealed the source of the foul smell: Nazzareno’s suitcase within which was, literally, a fowl. The accompanying note was from Nazzareno’s mother, Maria, who, as a parting gift, had roasted a chicken and secreted it in his case as a tasty surprise. As much as the chicken would have been welcomed a few days earlier, it was quickly sent to Davy Jones’ locker without ceremony.
Four days out of Genoa the newly commissioned liner developed problems and limped into Port Said. The ship had lost a propeller and could not proceed until a new one was delivered and installed.
August is the warmest month of the year in this part of Egypt with average temperatures ranging between 24°C and 30°C. It was stifling hot onboard—no air-conditioning. Bored and broiling, the young Italian men in Nazzareno’s company kept themselves busy on shore seeing the sights of the port.
These two photographs were taken during the layover in Port Said and sent to Ebe with captions written by Nazzareno showing both his sense of humour and his loneliness
Port Said - 27th August, 1951 - Nazzareno and friend on a friendly camel
The inscription reads, "La lontananza divide ma non dimentica, amandoti caramente tuo Nazzareno" translates to, "The distance divides but does not forget, loving you dearly, your Nazzareno"
Port Said - 30th August, 1951 - Nazzareno and friends. Nazzareno is the SECOND from the left and the arrow, clearly pointing to the man THIRD from the left, shows Nazzareno's sense of humour captioned on the back...
On the back, Nazzareno inscribed, "Port Said 30/8/51 - a Ebe e Susi per essere sempre ricordato Nazzareno" which translates as "To Ebe and Susi to always be remembered Nazzareno"
Journey resumed
It would be two weeks before the ship was repaired and resumed its passage. What was to have been a four-week sea voyage was pushed out to six because of the unscheduled layover.
After Aden, on 1st October, 1951, Fremantle was the first Australian port of call and the first place where English was the only language spoken. But Nazzareno was in the company of other young Italian men and between them could work out anything. Many passengers disembarked in Fremantle.
The next stop, Melbourne, was five sailing days away—the same time it had taken to sail from Port Said to Aden! This Australia was, indeed, a very large country!
After disembarking its Melbourne-bound passengers, the ship sailed to Sydney and, according to Nazzareno Bonaretti’s Certificate of Registration, the TN Roma arrived in Sydney on Wednesday 10th October, 1951. [Other sources indicate that the arrival was at 2.35 p.m. on Thursday 11 October 1951, or Wednesday 17th October, 1951.]
After Aden, on 1st October, 1951, Fremantle was the first Australian port of call and the first place where English was the only language spoken. But Nazzareno was in the company of other young Italian men and between them could work out anything. Many passengers disembarked in Fremantle.
The next stop, Melbourne, was five sailing days away—the same time it had taken to sail from Port Said to Aden! This Australia was, indeed, a very large country!
After disembarking its Melbourne-bound passengers, the ship sailed to Sydney and, according to Nazzareno Bonaretti’s Certificate of Registration, the TN Roma arrived in Sydney on Wednesday 10th October, 1951. [Other sources indicate that the arrival was at 2.35 p.m. on Thursday 11 October 1951, or Wednesday 17th October, 1951.]
See this very interesting account of fellow-travellers on the very same voyage here…
Whatever the true date of Nazzareno’s arrival in Sydney, he was would have been met at the overseas terminal in Circular Quay by his nominated sponsor, Ercole Bazzoli and escorted to his new temporary home at 98 Catherine Street, Leichhardt.
98 Catherine Street, Leichhardt in 2020
Vintage photograph of St Fiacre, Leichhardt
[To read the parish history of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars in Leichhardt, click here: https://www.stfiacreparish.com/parish-history/ and SAINT FIACRE AND IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH]
Click here to read an excellent article by Anne Reynolds A THEMATIC HISTORY OF ITALIANS IN LEICHHARDT, 2012, from which some details have been included below with sincere appreciation.
October, 1951 - A New Life in a New Country
Nazzareno was a sensible young man, intrepid but cautious, serious yet not averse to boyish pranks, stable however, given the right provocation, volatile.
He had been formally educated to the minimum legal requirement of the day but was always in search of knowledge. He was trained in woodcraft, from carving to precise measurements for die-making to designing and making suites of furniture and, of course, making toys for children. His handwriting was as orderly as his personal presentation and his gift for drawing had already been established by the decorations he applied to the toys he made. With these abilities and qualities he was determined to make a success of himself in this new country and new life.
The following passages have been taken directly from Anne Reynolds’ A THEMATIC HISTORY OF ITALIANS IN LEICHHARDT:
“St Fiacre's was initially staffed principally by Capuchins who, like Fr Anastasio, had strong links with Italian immigrant communities in the United States. Fr Anastasio was born in Philadelphia of Italian immigrant parents. Capuchin Friars began to arrive in Australia directly from Italy soon after 1948. The first Capuchin Friars at St Fiacre's included Henry Kusnerick (a German American), Adalberto Salerno, Silvio Spighi, who arrived in Australia from India, Samuel Rodomonti, and Anastasio Paoletti, who was first parish priest at St Fiacre's and later, from 1948, Superior of the Australian Province at the new Capuchin House in Sydney. Among the Capuchins who followed were Frs Alfonso Panciroli, Atanasio Gonelli and Romano Franchini, as well as Frs Paolo, Filippo, Claudio and Carlo (Bosi 125).”
It was Father Paolo (Padre Paolo) with whom Nazzareno had the closest contact and who supervised Nazzareno from the beginning, helping him find work and living quarters, and introducing him to the Australian way of life as a “New Australian” albeit, to Nazzareno’s mind, a temporary, two-year one.
Unlike many of his company, Nazzareno was married and was most likely allotted accommodation with the single Italian men as his wife did not accompany him. Most of these young men were from the southern regions of Italy and while Italy had been ‘unified’ eighty years earlier, there still existed a wide ethnical divide that separated the Italians from the north and those from the south. The distrust and antagonism toward each other in Italy were imported into the microcosm of “Little Italy” that was Leichhardt.
A VIOLENT EXCHANGE
It is unclear what sparked the potentially deadly altercation between Nazzareno and one of his co-residents on that particular day, but that incident could have ended in the death of either. The argument may have begun over ownership or politics or background, but it escalated dramatically when Nazzareno’s adversary brandished a knife. Without flinching, Nazzareno grabbed the knife-wielding hand of his assailant and, with his other hand, the young man’s throat squeezing so tightly that circulation was cut off. The other young men in the domicile stood by bewildered by the violent exchange. Nazzareno roared for him to let go of the knife. The seconds dragged on until the young Southerner, in a state of near-collapse, relented and released the knife.
Incidents such as these, had the general Australian public known, would have only deepened the distrust they held for these non-Anglo-Saxon “wogs” and “dagoes”.
Another, more public riotous event would take place in October 1952 which caused further antagonism against young Italian men:
He had been formally educated to the minimum legal requirement of the day but was always in search of knowledge. He was trained in woodcraft, from carving to precise measurements for die-making to designing and making suites of furniture and, of course, making toys for children. His handwriting was as orderly as his personal presentation and his gift for drawing had already been established by the decorations he applied to the toys he made. With these abilities and qualities he was determined to make a success of himself in this new country and new life.
The following passages have been taken directly from Anne Reynolds’ A THEMATIC HISTORY OF ITALIANS IN LEICHHARDT:
“St Fiacre's was initially staffed principally by Capuchins who, like Fr Anastasio, had strong links with Italian immigrant communities in the United States. Fr Anastasio was born in Philadelphia of Italian immigrant parents. Capuchin Friars began to arrive in Australia directly from Italy soon after 1948. The first Capuchin Friars at St Fiacre's included Henry Kusnerick (a German American), Adalberto Salerno, Silvio Spighi, who arrived in Australia from India, Samuel Rodomonti, and Anastasio Paoletti, who was first parish priest at St Fiacre's and later, from 1948, Superior of the Australian Province at the new Capuchin House in Sydney. Among the Capuchins who followed were Frs Alfonso Panciroli, Atanasio Gonelli and Romano Franchini, as well as Frs Paolo, Filippo, Claudio and Carlo (Bosi 125).”
It was Father Paolo (Padre Paolo) with whom Nazzareno had the closest contact and who supervised Nazzareno from the beginning, helping him find work and living quarters, and introducing him to the Australian way of life as a “New Australian” albeit, to Nazzareno’s mind, a temporary, two-year one.
Unlike many of his company, Nazzareno was married and was most likely allotted accommodation with the single Italian men as his wife did not accompany him. Most of these young men were from the southern regions of Italy and while Italy had been ‘unified’ eighty years earlier, there still existed a wide ethnical divide that separated the Italians from the north and those from the south. The distrust and antagonism toward each other in Italy were imported into the microcosm of “Little Italy” that was Leichhardt.
A VIOLENT EXCHANGE
It is unclear what sparked the potentially deadly altercation between Nazzareno and one of his co-residents on that particular day, but that incident could have ended in the death of either. The argument may have begun over ownership or politics or background, but it escalated dramatically when Nazzareno’s adversary brandished a knife. Without flinching, Nazzareno grabbed the knife-wielding hand of his assailant and, with his other hand, the young man’s throat squeezing so tightly that circulation was cut off. The other young men in the domicile stood by bewildered by the violent exchange. Nazzareno roared for him to let go of the knife. The seconds dragged on until the young Southerner, in a state of near-collapse, relented and released the knife.
Incidents such as these, had the general Australian public known, would have only deepened the distrust they held for these non-Anglo-Saxon “wogs” and “dagoes”.
Another, more public riotous event would take place in October 1952 which caused further antagonism against young Italian men:
Newspaper article of Sydney "Riot" 30th October, 1952
Transcription of newspaper article
Rawson Place, Sydney, 1949
Daking House, Rawson Place, Sydney c1954
It would take years of trust-building for the Old Australians to take into their homes the New Australians and integrate Italian culture within their own.
1952
As he had been in Novellara, Nazzareno was religious and practised his Roman Catholic faith by attending Mass on Sundays, observing the holy days and abstaining from eating meat on Fridays. Sunday was the day of rest and the church – and government of the day – forbade any work to be carried out on the Sabbath. Shops could not trade and pubs had to remain closed [According to the Australian Hotels Association, Sunday trading was introduced in 1979.]
Nazzareno would later recall the pivotal point on which not only his faith came into question but the sanctity of priests – perhaps even of God.
The Sydney suburbs of Leichhardt and Stanmore are separated by Parramatta Road and St Fiacre’s in Catherine Street is only about half a kilometre’s distance from 230 Parramatta Road in Stanmore. In 1948 that address was occupied by a stationer, CE White who, by 1950, had changed his business enterprise from selling stationery to selling toys, keeping the same telephone number, LM 2505.
Known as “Chas”, Charles E White and his wife were very energetic in this venture and, over the years, would acquire the adjoining property, number 232, and build up a very large and successful business as “Toyland”. Before then, however, in 1951 or 1952, the Whites required a garage to be built at the rear of their premises on Corunna Lane. It may have been that they were Catholics and attended St Fiacre’s that they approached the friars for an able young man to assist in doing this. Nazzareno, with his known woodworking skills, was engaged, possibly with the assistance of others, and began the work. When Sunday came around, work stopped. There was apparent urgency to complete the garage, so Padre Paolo gently insisted that Nazzareno continue to work through Sunday. Nazzareno baulked at this, not understanding why a Catholic priest would go against church doctrine. Padre Paolo explained that it would not be a sin to work on the Sabbath if a priest gave special dispensation to do so. It was at this point that Nazzareno came to realise that the priests, at least those there in Sydney, were motivated by profit not piety. This soured his relationship with the Catholic church for the rest of his life to the point of atheism.
The work on the garage was duly completed and, as a ‘thank you’, Mrs. White invited Nazzareno to dinner with Padre Paolo preparing a special Italian meal in honour of her guests: spaghetti Bolognese. While Nazzareno appreciated the gesture, he would later recall that the meal was so far removed from the spaghetti Bolognese he knew from Italy that it should have been called something else.
It may have been this close contact with the Whites and the toy shop they owned that gave Nazzareno insight into the state of the toy making industry in Australia – at least, in Sydney.
Nazzareno would later recall the pivotal point on which not only his faith came into question but the sanctity of priests – perhaps even of God.
The Sydney suburbs of Leichhardt and Stanmore are separated by Parramatta Road and St Fiacre’s in Catherine Street is only about half a kilometre’s distance from 230 Parramatta Road in Stanmore. In 1948 that address was occupied by a stationer, CE White who, by 1950, had changed his business enterprise from selling stationery to selling toys, keeping the same telephone number, LM 2505.
Known as “Chas”, Charles E White and his wife were very energetic in this venture and, over the years, would acquire the adjoining property, number 232, and build up a very large and successful business as “Toyland”. Before then, however, in 1951 or 1952, the Whites required a garage to be built at the rear of their premises on Corunna Lane. It may have been that they were Catholics and attended St Fiacre’s that they approached the friars for an able young man to assist in doing this. Nazzareno, with his known woodworking skills, was engaged, possibly with the assistance of others, and began the work. When Sunday came around, work stopped. There was apparent urgency to complete the garage, so Padre Paolo gently insisted that Nazzareno continue to work through Sunday. Nazzareno baulked at this, not understanding why a Catholic priest would go against church doctrine. Padre Paolo explained that it would not be a sin to work on the Sabbath if a priest gave special dispensation to do so. It was at this point that Nazzareno came to realise that the priests, at least those there in Sydney, were motivated by profit not piety. This soured his relationship with the Catholic church for the rest of his life to the point of atheism.
The work on the garage was duly completed and, as a ‘thank you’, Mrs. White invited Nazzareno to dinner with Padre Paolo preparing a special Italian meal in honour of her guests: spaghetti Bolognese. While Nazzareno appreciated the gesture, he would later recall that the meal was so far removed from the spaghetti Bolognese he knew from Italy that it should have been called something else.
It may have been this close contact with the Whites and the toy shop they owned that gave Nazzareno insight into the state of the toy making industry in Australia – at least, in Sydney.
The Toy listings in the Sydney White/Pink Pages telephone directory of November, 1952
CONTINUOUS WORK
Many young Italian men, aged between 19 and 26 years, had taken up the call from the Italian government to emigrate, with the promise of employment. Padre Paolo found work for Nazzareno in various factories in the local area and was continuously employed. One of his first jobs was helping to make sausages in a smallgoods factory. This put him off sausages for life knowing that, literally – according to Nazzareno – floor-sweepings were included in the mix. A stint in a cabinet-making factory only confirmed his observations that the woodworking industry in Australia was far inferior to that he left behind in Italy. While those occupations gave him income, they did not utilise the skills he acquired as an apprentice or his love of toy-making.
He saved every penny he was able to. Even though he was quite proficient in mathematics, he found the English currency system of pounds, shillings and pence confusing. Twelve pence made up a shilling and twenty shillings made up a pound. Adding further to the confusion, there was the guinea: one pound and one shilling – or twenty-one shillings or two hundred and fifty-two pence! Why couldn’t this Australian currency be like the Italian Lire and be based on the decimal system? [That was remedied on 14th February, 1966 when Australia converted to the decimal-based dollars and cents.]
Many young Italian men, aged between 19 and 26 years, had taken up the call from the Italian government to emigrate, with the promise of employment. Padre Paolo found work for Nazzareno in various factories in the local area and was continuously employed. One of his first jobs was helping to make sausages in a smallgoods factory. This put him off sausages for life knowing that, literally – according to Nazzareno – floor-sweepings were included in the mix. A stint in a cabinet-making factory only confirmed his observations that the woodworking industry in Australia was far inferior to that he left behind in Italy. While those occupations gave him income, they did not utilise the skills he acquired as an apprentice or his love of toy-making.
He saved every penny he was able to. Even though he was quite proficient in mathematics, he found the English currency system of pounds, shillings and pence confusing. Twelve pence made up a shilling and twenty shillings made up a pound. Adding further to the confusion, there was the guinea: one pound and one shilling – or twenty-one shillings or two hundred and fifty-two pence! Why couldn’t this Australian currency be like the Italian Lire and be based on the decimal system? [That was remedied on 14th February, 1966 when Australia converted to the decimal-based dollars and cents.]
Above images from https://shieldsstamps.com.au/products/1952-australian-pre-decimal-6-coin-set-ideal-birthday-gift with thanks
Australian pre-decimal bank notes from between 1953 and 1961. From https://www.downies.com/complete-1953-61-last-predecimal-4-note-type-set-fine-very-fine?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=D-19-8010-Smart-Shopping&utm_content=smart-shopping-adgroup1&gclid=CjwKCAjwseSoBhBXEiwA9iZtxvAH88Iq-MP2supJIKhU7mNbgvy1brr8DwkRetWT-nB8prUbzjP9FhoC_U4QAvD_BwE - with thanks
The ₤1 Australian bank note in the possession of Susanna
Nazzareno corresponded frequently with Ebe, as well as his mother and father, sending back details of his life in Sydney and photos of himself. In his letters, he would have expressed his desire to be with his wife and child once more as well as detailing the life and opportunities to be had in Australia that were not available to him in Italy. The war had not affected this new country as it had Italy which was left devastated and in political turmoil. He contemplated a new plan to stay in Australia for five to ten years then return to Italy by which time both he and Italy would be in much better order… but only if he could convince Ebe to join him with their daughter.
It would have taken some convincing for Ebe to leave her hometown, her parents and siblings, and all her relatives for a foreign country so far away for, perhaps, up to ten years. But he did succeed.
Now he needed to secure a loan.
BIANCHINI AND A LOAN
In 1949, a newly established wine and spirit merchant was listed in the Sydney White Pages, V. Bianchini at 26 Irvine Street, Kingsford – telephone FJ 1134. Bianchini's business would later expand to groceries at this address with wines and spirits moving to 686 Anzac Parade, Kingsford – telephone FJ 1162. These were listed in the Sydney telephone directory of November, 1954. (Until 2024 wine and spirit merchants still traded at the Anzac Parade address.)
Bianchini was known in the Italian community as a generous and philanthropic benefactor of young Italian migrants. Many had been assisted by him including Silvio Dell'Anna whom Bianchini had helped to marry, via proxy, Andreina and provided the necessary backing to unite the couple in Australia. (Andreina and Silvio Dell'Anna would later own the sandwich shop and delicatessen in Botany where they would meet the Bonaretti family and form a long-lasting friendship.)
Through Padre Paolo’s connections, Nazzareno met Signore Bianchini and arranged a monetary loan to enable him to bring out his wife and daughter. He did not want to subject them to the same arduous sea voyage he had endured so made sure the loan would cover passage by aeroplane from Rome to Sydney.
This would have been a very expensive indulgence as, in 1947 (five years earlier), a return aeroplane fare from Sydney to London would have cost ₤585. In September, 1951, the Acting Commonwealth Statistician, Mr. Carder, released details of the average weekly earnings: for males £13/16/10; for females £7/16/1 - in itself, a notable imbalance. The average was slightly higher in manufacturing industries, being £13/19/1 for males and £7/19/1 for females. These statistics imply that it would cost Nazzareno almost a year’s average income for a return flight to London. Since his wife’s journey was only one way and only from Rome to Sydney, it would have been less expensive. In June 1952, a modest house in Sydney would set the purchaser back about ₤2,500, so, broadly speaking, it would have cost Nazzareno about one-tenth of the cost of a house to have his wife and daughter join him. ₤250 would equate to around $10,000 today. That figure seems extraordinary but by all records available, air travel in the 1950s was a luxury very few could afford. Such was the generosity – and, perhaps, the desperation – of Nazzareno to have his wife and child join him.
[This website calculates inflation in Australia and was used to come to the figures cited above: https://www.inflationtool.com/australian-dollar/1952-to-present-value?amount=500]
It would have taken some convincing for Ebe to leave her hometown, her parents and siblings, and all her relatives for a foreign country so far away for, perhaps, up to ten years. But he did succeed.
Now he needed to secure a loan.
BIANCHINI AND A LOAN
In 1949, a newly established wine and spirit merchant was listed in the Sydney White Pages, V. Bianchini at 26 Irvine Street, Kingsford – telephone FJ 1134. Bianchini's business would later expand to groceries at this address with wines and spirits moving to 686 Anzac Parade, Kingsford – telephone FJ 1162. These were listed in the Sydney telephone directory of November, 1954. (Until 2024 wine and spirit merchants still traded at the Anzac Parade address.)
Bianchini was known in the Italian community as a generous and philanthropic benefactor of young Italian migrants. Many had been assisted by him including Silvio Dell'Anna whom Bianchini had helped to marry, via proxy, Andreina and provided the necessary backing to unite the couple in Australia. (Andreina and Silvio Dell'Anna would later own the sandwich shop and delicatessen in Botany where they would meet the Bonaretti family and form a long-lasting friendship.)
Through Padre Paolo’s connections, Nazzareno met Signore Bianchini and arranged a monetary loan to enable him to bring out his wife and daughter. He did not want to subject them to the same arduous sea voyage he had endured so made sure the loan would cover passage by aeroplane from Rome to Sydney.
This would have been a very expensive indulgence as, in 1947 (five years earlier), a return aeroplane fare from Sydney to London would have cost ₤585. In September, 1951, the Acting Commonwealth Statistician, Mr. Carder, released details of the average weekly earnings: for males £13/16/10; for females £7/16/1 - in itself, a notable imbalance. The average was slightly higher in manufacturing industries, being £13/19/1 for males and £7/19/1 for females. These statistics imply that it would cost Nazzareno almost a year’s average income for a return flight to London. Since his wife’s journey was only one way and only from Rome to Sydney, it would have been less expensive. In June 1952, a modest house in Sydney would set the purchaser back about ₤2,500, so, broadly speaking, it would have cost Nazzareno about one-tenth of the cost of a house to have his wife and daughter join him. ₤250 would equate to around $10,000 today. That figure seems extraordinary but by all records available, air travel in the 1950s was a luxury very few could afford. Such was the generosity – and, perhaps, the desperation – of Nazzareno to have his wife and child join him.
[This website calculates inflation in Australia and was used to come to the figures cited above: https://www.inflationtool.com/australian-dollar/1952-to-present-value?amount=500]
EBE’S JOURNEY BEGINS - September 1952
Ebe’s imminent departure would have brought on bitter-sweet emotions. She wanted so much to be with her husband but the cost was to abandon her home and family. Leaving behind her mother-in-law, however, would save her from Maria's persistent vitriol. Ebe would later relate that, on one occasion on a Sunday, upon entering the church of Santo Stefano with her two-year-old daughter, she was confronted by Maria who screamed after her calling her a putana – a whore. The shame and embarrassment she felt at that moment would never leave her. No, she was not saddened to leave her husband’s family behind.
Having packed the maximum forty kilos of her life in her luggage, Ebe and her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter left Novellara shortly after 23rd September for the 4-to-5-hour train journey to Rome. They were most likely accompanied by her brother Ivo [not confirmed] and possibly others. Ebe’s farewells to everything and everyone she had known in her brief 25 years of life in Novellara would have been painful but it was leaving her mother that grieved her the most. Ebe was not to know that she would never see her mother, or father, again.
In Rome, she would have bade goodbye to those who had accompanied her and boarded the Qantas Empire Airways Lockheed Constellation, VH-EAD “Charles Kingsford Smith”, for the three-day flight to Sydney along the “Kangaroo Route”.
Ebe’s imminent departure would have brought on bitter-sweet emotions. She wanted so much to be with her husband but the cost was to abandon her home and family. Leaving behind her mother-in-law, however, would save her from Maria's persistent vitriol. Ebe would later relate that, on one occasion on a Sunday, upon entering the church of Santo Stefano with her two-year-old daughter, she was confronted by Maria who screamed after her calling her a putana – a whore. The shame and embarrassment she felt at that moment would never leave her. No, she was not saddened to leave her husband’s family behind.
Having packed the maximum forty kilos of her life in her luggage, Ebe and her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter left Novellara shortly after 23rd September for the 4-to-5-hour train journey to Rome. They were most likely accompanied by her brother Ivo [not confirmed] and possibly others. Ebe’s farewells to everything and everyone she had known in her brief 25 years of life in Novellara would have been painful but it was leaving her mother that grieved her the most. Ebe was not to know that she would never see her mother, or father, again.
In Rome, she would have bade goodbye to those who had accompanied her and boarded the Qantas Empire Airways Lockheed Constellation, VH-EAD “Charles Kingsford Smith”, for the three-day flight to Sydney along the “Kangaroo Route”.
QANTAS Empire Airways Lockheed L749A Constellation VH-EAD Charles Kingsford Smith
Seating on board the QANTAS Empire Airways Lockheed L749A with thanks to airlineratings.com https://www.airlineratings.com/news/amsterdam-sydney-klm-1952-epic-journey/
Qantas Empire Airways logo 1948-1959 - From https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/au_air.html
Constellation-era Qantas Empire Airways/British Overseas Airways Corporation Kangaroo Service luggage sticker, c. 1950s, courtesy of Civil Aviation Historical Society/Capt. Stuart Archbold collection
1947 Qantas logo, designed by Gert Sellheim, courtesy Qantas Airways Ltd
Fuel stops were made in Tripoli, Cairo and Karachi, with an overnight stop-over in a Calcutta hotel where she was horrified by the size of the cockroaches! The next morning, she and the other passengers reboarded the Constellation, stopping again to refuel in Singapore. That stop was the last in the northern hemisphere before taking off once more for Darwin at the top end of Australia.
CROSSING THE EQUATOR
It had been a long-standing tradition to hold some sort of ceremony – sometimes embarrassing, sometimes harrowing – when sailors crossed the equator for the first time. This tradition transferred to aircraft crossing the equator during the early days of commercial flights – but not to the extent suffered by the pollywogs of the sea. Instead, a certificate was issued by King Neptune himself to the initiate. Both Ebe and Susanna received theirs on 27th September, 1952 when they crossed into the southern hemisphere at 0033 GMT. The 'witness' was the Commander, R.A. (Ralph) Bruce, who was the Flight Captain and who was also licensed as a navigator.
CROSSING THE EQUATOR
It had been a long-standing tradition to hold some sort of ceremony – sometimes embarrassing, sometimes harrowing – when sailors crossed the equator for the first time. This tradition transferred to aircraft crossing the equator during the early days of commercial flights – but not to the extent suffered by the pollywogs of the sea. Instead, a certificate was issued by King Neptune himself to the initiate. Both Ebe and Susanna received theirs on 27th September, 1952 when they crossed into the southern hemisphere at 0033 GMT. The 'witness' was the Commander, R.A. (Ralph) Bruce, who was the Flight Captain and who was also licensed as a navigator.
King Neptune's "Order of Equatorial Air Voyagers" certificate issued to Mrs Bonaretti on 27th September, 1952
King Neptune's "Order of Equatorial Air Voyagers" certificate issued to Miss Bonaretti on 27th September, 1952
Qantas Empire Airways envelope 1952
Qantas Empire Airways envelope 1952
The distance from Singapore to Darwin is approximately 3,340 kilometres and the range of the Lockheed Constellation was 3,500 kilometres and, travelling at about 555 kph, meant another six hours in the air before another overnight stay in Darwin.
On the third day, Ebe and her daughter reboarded their aeroplane for the final 3,160 km leg to Sydney, landing at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport and into the eager arms of her husband.
The reunion must have been overwhelmingly joyful and emotional; no written word could have expressed the love they had for each other and how the separation had affected them. Nazzareno would have marvelled at how quickly his little ‘Susi’ had grown in the year they had been separated.
On the third day, Ebe and her daughter reboarded their aeroplane for the final 3,160 km leg to Sydney, landing at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport and into the eager arms of her husband.
The reunion must have been overwhelmingly joyful and emotional; no written word could have expressed the love they had for each other and how the separation had affected them. Nazzareno would have marvelled at how quickly his little ‘Susi’ had grown in the year they had been separated.
Upon arrival on 28th September, 1952, Ebe was issued with a Certificate of Registration, detailing all relevant information, albeit listing her date of birth incorrectly as August instead of July. The back of the photograph shows the rubber stamped declaration by the mayor of Novellara verifying that the image was of "la Signora Saltini Ebe e della figlia Bonaretti Susanna" (Mrs Saltini Ebe and of the daughter Bonaretti Susanna), dated 23rd September, 1952. Her address was stated as 215 Norton Street, Leichhardt. This address may have been temporary.
Commonwealth of Australia Aliens Act, 1947 - Certificate of Registration of Ebe Saltini in Bonaretti
Authentication by the Mayor of Novellara
NEW ACCOMMODATION
Social contacts, housing, employment, legal and translation assistance continued to be among the services offered by St. Fiacre's. Fr Atanasio Gonelli reported the involvement in the early 1950s of Callagher's Real Estate agency in nearby Annandale that assisted with rental accommodation for new arrivals at a time when the housing market was tight and rent control the norm. Another pattern of accommodation was sub-letting of rooms in houses by small-time landlords in the area, many of whom were Italian.
Social contacts, housing, employment, legal and translation assistance continued to be among the services offered by St. Fiacre's. Fr Atanasio Gonelli reported the involvement in the early 1950s of Callagher's Real Estate agency in nearby Annandale that assisted with rental accommodation for new arrivals at a time when the housing market was tight and rent control the norm. Another pattern of accommodation was sub-letting of rooms in houses by small-time landlords in the area, many of whom were Italian.
With Padre Paolo’s assistance, new accommodation had been secured; living with single men was not acceptable for a young man with his wife and child. The Bonaretti’s new home was a rented first floor room in a terraced house in Terry Street, St Peters, sharing the house with other Italian migrant families who warmly welcomed the newly reunited family. The house was large enough with an ample grassy backyard and a prop clothes line strung across it. While the rotary clothes line had been invented in 1945, they were not yet in common use.
It was here that the practical joker in Nazzareno came to the fore one morning. While her mother was hanging out the washing, little Susi played with the moss that grew in the gaps of the brick pathway, picking it out and plopping it into the toy wooden wheelbarrow her father had made. Nazzareno approached his wife holding what appeared to be a black treat for her – a stick of liquorice. Ebe stopped hanging the washing on the line and delightedly accepted the offering. She took a bite of it only to discover that it was, indeed, a length of rubber! This innocent playfulness was a feature of their entire lives together.
It was here that the practical joker in Nazzareno came to the fore one morning. While her mother was hanging out the washing, little Susi played with the moss that grew in the gaps of the brick pathway, picking it out and plopping it into the toy wooden wheelbarrow her father had made. Nazzareno approached his wife holding what appeared to be a black treat for her – a stick of liquorice. Ebe stopped hanging the washing on the line and delightedly accepted the offering. She took a bite of it only to discover that it was, indeed, a length of rubber! This innocent playfulness was a feature of their entire lives together.
Hills Hoist ad from November 1956
Although the first refrigerator arrived on the American domestic scene in 1927, in Australia the old-fashioned ice chest lingered on into the 1940s and early 1950s but, by 1964, an estimated 94% of Australian homes had an electric refrigerator.
The ice chest that the young Bonaretti family had in their Terry Street home was of the cabinet type: compartment for the ice in the top and food storage in the bottom. At agreed intervals, the iceman would deliver a large block of ice and place it in the top compartment for the housewife (usually, the husband was away at work and the block was very heavy). As the ice melted, the meltwater was collected in the bottom tray and emptied out.
By the time the family moved to their new home in Hutchinson Street, they had acquired an electric fridge, a Pope. It was this fridge that saw out its final days in 1976 as the factory workers' fridge. The Pope family fridge had been replaced by a Hallstrom shortly after the family moved to Byrnes Street.
This website gives an insight into the early days of “fridges”: https://australianfoodtimeline.com.au/first-domestic-refrigerator/
The ice chest that the young Bonaretti family had in their Terry Street home was of the cabinet type: compartment for the ice in the top and food storage in the bottom. At agreed intervals, the iceman would deliver a large block of ice and place it in the top compartment for the housewife (usually, the husband was away at work and the block was very heavy). As the ice melted, the meltwater was collected in the bottom tray and emptied out.
By the time the family moved to their new home in Hutchinson Street, they had acquired an electric fridge, a Pope. It was this fridge that saw out its final days in 1976 as the factory workers' fridge. The Pope family fridge had been replaced by a Hallstrom shortly after the family moved to Byrnes Street.
This website gives an insight into the early days of “fridges”: https://australianfoodtimeline.com.au/first-domestic-refrigerator/
An example of a 1940s ice cabinet
Using ice tongs (illustrated at right), the ice man would deliver blocks of ice to subscribers and put it in the top compartment for the housewife
The 1940s ice cabinet - a large block of ice was placed in the top compartment and food stored in the lower one
A Pope refrigerator of the mid 1950s of the type that was purchased by the Bonaretti family when they moved to Hutchinson Street
The actual Pope fridge that was given for the workers at Bestoys when the Bonaretti family purchased a new Hallstrom. This fridge was discarded when the old factory was demolished in 1976
This photograph was taken in 1956 showing the corner of Hunter and George Streets. In the bottom left-hand corner is an ice vendor's horse and cart similar to those that operated throughout the Sydney area at that time.
1953-1957
A NEW DIRECTION
[For the years 1953-1957 definitive information is sparse on the Bonaretti family so many of the following details are conjecture based on documented facts before and after this time.]
It may have been the initial contact that Nazzareno had with Chas White and the White’s toy shop, or it may have been a contact made by Padre Paolo, or it may have been the close proximity to each other, but before long, Nazzareno was to make the acquaintance of Roy Waddell, who was first listed in the 1951 publication of Sydney’s telephone directory as a toy manufacturer of 72b Johnston Street, Annandale – LM 3438, only a kilometre’s walk from St. Fiacre’s.
Ernest William Roy Waddell was born in Parramatta on 27th August, 1909, 16 years before Nazzareno. He had married Gladys Christina Alphick on 7th June, 1929 but in 1940 they divorced after which Roy married his second wife Clarice May Alley in 1942 and had one daughter.
Nazzareno may have expressed a desire to make toys for Roy, perhaps even have shown him photographs of his market stall in Novellara but, whatever the circumstance of that initial meeting, the new connection was to be the catalyst that ushered Nazzareno into manufacturing toys in Australia and changing the trajectory of the wooden toy industry itself, and the lives of his young family.
But first, the name. “Nazzareno” was a mouthful: the hard zeds, the rolling ar and the long vowel sounds were too difficult to produce and easy to slide over so, like so many other "New Australians" before him, the "Old Australians" simply called him “Jim”. “Ebe” would never be mastered; she became the generic “Missus”. (The closest Australian-English sound to ‘Ebe’ is ‘airbed’, leaving off the ‘d’ = ‘airbe’ - ɛə bɛ.)
It is likely that Nazzareno worked for, or made specific products for, both Roy Waddell and E. Lovelock who had a long-established toy manufactory in Marrickville and who most likely had supplied Roy with his product.
[E. Lovelock first appears as a toy manufacturer in the Sydney Telephone Directory of November, 1932 at 31 Edinburgh Road, Marrickville – telephone number L 2175 – but this only indicates the year he installed a telephone.]
[For the years 1953-1957 definitive information is sparse on the Bonaretti family so many of the following details are conjecture based on documented facts before and after this time.]
It may have been the initial contact that Nazzareno had with Chas White and the White’s toy shop, or it may have been a contact made by Padre Paolo, or it may have been the close proximity to each other, but before long, Nazzareno was to make the acquaintance of Roy Waddell, who was first listed in the 1951 publication of Sydney’s telephone directory as a toy manufacturer of 72b Johnston Street, Annandale – LM 3438, only a kilometre’s walk from St. Fiacre’s.
Ernest William Roy Waddell was born in Parramatta on 27th August, 1909, 16 years before Nazzareno. He had married Gladys Christina Alphick on 7th June, 1929 but in 1940 they divorced after which Roy married his second wife Clarice May Alley in 1942 and had one daughter.
Nazzareno may have expressed a desire to make toys for Roy, perhaps even have shown him photographs of his market stall in Novellara but, whatever the circumstance of that initial meeting, the new connection was to be the catalyst that ushered Nazzareno into manufacturing toys in Australia and changing the trajectory of the wooden toy industry itself, and the lives of his young family.
But first, the name. “Nazzareno” was a mouthful: the hard zeds, the rolling ar and the long vowel sounds were too difficult to produce and easy to slide over so, like so many other "New Australians" before him, the "Old Australians" simply called him “Jim”. “Ebe” would never be mastered; she became the generic “Missus”. (The closest Australian-English sound to ‘Ebe’ is ‘airbed’, leaving off the ‘d’ = ‘airbe’ - ɛə bɛ.)
It is likely that Nazzareno worked for, or made specific products for, both Roy Waddell and E. Lovelock who had a long-established toy manufactory in Marrickville and who most likely had supplied Roy with his product.
[E. Lovelock first appears as a toy manufacturer in the Sydney Telephone Directory of November, 1932 at 31 Edinburgh Road, Marrickville – telephone number L 2175 – but this only indicates the year he installed a telephone.]
Read more about Lovelock and early Australian manufacturers named Bestoys here:
The Bonaretti family, no doubt, would have visited the Waddell home on a number of occasions between (circa) 1954 and 1957. Around that time, Peter Pan, a 1953 American animated feature film by Walt Disney Productions, was proving very popular in cinemas; A.L. Lindsay was a well-established playsuits manufacturer located in Leichhardt and produced many outfits based on TV and film characters, including Peter Pan. This was the outfit that Roy’s young daughter would sometimes entertain visitors to the Waddell home and did on one occasion during a visit by Nazzareno, Ebe and daughter Susi, as they would later remember.
[Further information on A.L. Lindsay can be found here at the MAAS website: https://collection.maas.museum/object/136498]
[Further information on A.L. Lindsay can be found here at the MAAS website: https://collection.maas.museum/object/136498]
The detailed business history of the Bonaretti toy making company, Bestoys, can be found here.
Possibly working at the Lovelock factory at 31 Edinburgh Road, Marrickville (now demolished to make way for the Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre expansion into 13-55 Edinburgh Road) making the Lovelock range of rockaways and other wooden toys, Nazzareno, in his spare time, made furniture for his daughter: a bed, a small wardrobe and a bedside cabinet that fit neatly against the wall beside the marital bed in their upper floor room. He painted these in pink and the bedside cabinet, in particular, would follow the family from home to home ending its days in the final move of 1978. Nazzareno also fashioned a sailing boat complete with mast and sails, hand-painting the name on the hull: ‘Susi’.
Times were difficult and frugality was the order of the day. Shelley’s orange drink, complete with juice vesicles, would be watered down to make it last and chianti wine bought from Bianchini’s, too, would be eked out with water or lemonade – a spritzer. Bread – white, of course – would be eaten with everything and nothing edible was ever wasted. But it was not an unhappy life. Nazzareno was with the family he treasured and doing the work he loved: making toys. The family of three spent leisure hours window-shopping in St Peters and Leichhardt, playing cards, visiting Italian friends or, occasionally, sitting around their little kitchen table, taking turns in re-styling Susi’s blonde, shoulder-length hair. Every Friday, they would venture into Rawson Place in Nazzareno’s little second-hand van to Mathias Newsagency to collect a bundle of imported Italian magazines and newspapers: Grand Hôtel and Intimità for Ebe, La Settimana Enigmistica and La Domenica del Corriere for Nazzareno and, for Susi, the monthly or bi-monthly Topolino or Paperino comic books. In later years, it would be Look and Learn and Knowledge for Susi to sate her and her future siblings’ growing inquisitiveness.
Times were difficult and frugality was the order of the day. Shelley’s orange drink, complete with juice vesicles, would be watered down to make it last and chianti wine bought from Bianchini’s, too, would be eked out with water or lemonade – a spritzer. Bread – white, of course – would be eaten with everything and nothing edible was ever wasted. But it was not an unhappy life. Nazzareno was with the family he treasured and doing the work he loved: making toys. The family of three spent leisure hours window-shopping in St Peters and Leichhardt, playing cards, visiting Italian friends or, occasionally, sitting around their little kitchen table, taking turns in re-styling Susi’s blonde, shoulder-length hair. Every Friday, they would venture into Rawson Place in Nazzareno’s little second-hand van to Mathias Newsagency to collect a bundle of imported Italian magazines and newspapers: Grand Hôtel and Intimità for Ebe, La Settimana Enigmistica and La Domenica del Corriere for Nazzareno and, for Susi, the monthly or bi-monthly Topolino or Paperino comic books. In later years, it would be Look and Learn and Knowledge for Susi to sate her and her future siblings’ growing inquisitiveness.
Below are some of the Italian language publications available in Sydney in the early 1950s onward, together with links for further reading
This ad in the NSW Public School Teachers Federation publication of 29th April 1970, advises of Frank Mathias' move from Rawson Place to George Street, virtually across the road. Nazzareno and Ebe continued to frequent his newsagency well after this move
With thanks to https://comicvine.gamespot.com/topolino-99-paperino-3-d/4000-156331/
Occasionally, the family of three would attend one of the many children’s films Walt Disney produced and shown at the local cinema. Contrary to today’s laws, smoking was allowed in cinemas even with children in the audience(!) as it was on aeroplanes and public transport. Smoking and non-smoking sections were defined but still using the same airspace!
[It wouldn’t be until the 1970s that smoking was banned on NSW buses and suburban trains, and in cinemas, theatres and public halls – but only for comfort reasons, not public health! Federally, regulations made under the Air Navigation Act 1920 (Commonwealth) prohibited smoking on all domestic flights from 1987. From 1996, the Air Navigation Regulations 1947 (Commonwealth) were amended to extend the ban on smoking in aircraft to all international flights operated by Australian airlines. So, if one wanted to smoke on a flight to Italy, one went Alitalia.]
At the commencement of each movie session, everyone would stand for the national anthem, “God Save the Queen”, after which the session began with a newsreel or cartoon followed by the feature film. At an appropriate cliff-hanger, intermission brought the house lights up and cinema staff worked the aisles with trays full of Fantales, Jaffas, Minties and small ice cream cups and wooden spoons. Other patrons spilled onto the street to stretch their legs or chat about the film's plot or stars.
[It wouldn’t be until the 1970s that smoking was banned on NSW buses and suburban trains, and in cinemas, theatres and public halls – but only for comfort reasons, not public health! Federally, regulations made under the Air Navigation Act 1920 (Commonwealth) prohibited smoking on all domestic flights from 1987. From 1996, the Air Navigation Regulations 1947 (Commonwealth) were amended to extend the ban on smoking in aircraft to all international flights operated by Australian airlines. So, if one wanted to smoke on a flight to Italy, one went Alitalia.]
At the commencement of each movie session, everyone would stand for the national anthem, “God Save the Queen”, after which the session began with a newsreel or cartoon followed by the feature film. At an appropriate cliff-hanger, intermission brought the house lights up and cinema staff worked the aisles with trays full of Fantales, Jaffas, Minties and small ice cream cups and wooden spoons. Other patrons spilled onto the street to stretch their legs or chat about the film's plot or stars.
The Kings Theatre on Marrickville Road, Marrickville (LM 4005) was typical of the cinemas dotted all around Sydney in the early 1950s, at a time television was still being developed. These were single-screened, usually plushily and ornately decorated places of entertainment when going to the cinema was an event that families dressed up to attend. Most are now gone and the few that remain have been converted to cramped, multi-screen complexes where the business plan is to push through as many movie-goers as quickly as possible. No intervals, no shorts, no cartoons, only seemingly endless paid advertisements and a movie. This is what progress and technological innovations have brought. How times have changed.
A NEW ARRIVAL...
Born to Ebe in 1955 was a daughter, a very welcomed arrival in the small Terry Street room. She was a happy and healthy baby but, within 6 months, she began showing signs of pain and discomfort and nothing Ebe did alleviated the baby’s distress. This was something Ebe hadn't encountered with her first child and, even though she had friends in the terraced-house, they were unable to help; how she must have wished she were at home with her mother and sisters. Nothing she did eased her baby’s suffering. Finally, a desperate Nazzareno loaded his family into the small panel van and drove the short distance to the hospital. There, a senior male doctor attended the baby in the hospital’s corridor. Taking the infant in his arms he looked her over and gently folded her. This action caused the baby to cry in pain. The doctor announced his diagnosis: meningitis.
The stunned parents absorbed the information but, within a second and without apology, Nazzareno reclaimed his child and hotly rejected the finding. His daughter did not have meningitis!
It may have been on the way back home or it may have been at someone else’s suggestion, but it became obvious what was ailing the child. She was cutting her first teeth.
Nazzareno’s faith in Australian doctors had been severely eroded that day and this was a story he would repeat whenever any doctor claimed to be the know-all of his field.
Born to Ebe in 1955 was a daughter, a very welcomed arrival in the small Terry Street room. She was a happy and healthy baby but, within 6 months, she began showing signs of pain and discomfort and nothing Ebe did alleviated the baby’s distress. This was something Ebe hadn't encountered with her first child and, even though she had friends in the terraced-house, they were unable to help; how she must have wished she were at home with her mother and sisters. Nothing she did eased her baby’s suffering. Finally, a desperate Nazzareno loaded his family into the small panel van and drove the short distance to the hospital. There, a senior male doctor attended the baby in the hospital’s corridor. Taking the infant in his arms he looked her over and gently folded her. This action caused the baby to cry in pain. The doctor announced his diagnosis: meningitis.
The stunned parents absorbed the information but, within a second and without apology, Nazzareno reclaimed his child and hotly rejected the finding. His daughter did not have meningitis!
It may have been on the way back home or it may have been at someone else’s suggestion, but it became obvious what was ailing the child. She was cutting her first teeth.
Nazzareno’s faith in Australian doctors had been severely eroded that day and this was a story he would repeat whenever any doctor claimed to be the know-all of his field.
... AND A NEW HOME
Between 1955 and 1957, Nazzareno and Ebe had saved enough to apply for a loan to buy their first home: a two-storeyed terraced-house at 26 Hutchinson Street, St Peters, NSW. (Alas, this row of pre-Federation houses has since been demolished to make way for factories.)
The family of four settled in and in 1956, Susi started school.
Her first school was a catholic school from which she was quickly removed after an innocent incident which upset the nuns so much that Nazzareno was called in. Little six-year-old Susi, ever the inquisitive, was found in the boys’ toilets watching on with awe as a number of little boys competed with each other to see how far up the wall they could “shoot”. Great raucous fun for them but not for the nun who discovered them.
It is not known what punishment was meted out to the boys, if any, but Susi did not go back to the catholic school. Whether it was at the request of the nuns for such improper, unladylike behaviour, or whether Nazzareno deemed it unfit for his daughter to attend an establishment that included boys with such base behaviour, is also unknown. Regardless, Susi was immediately placed in the public school only 500 metres down the hill from home, St Peters on Church Street.
St Peters Church of England School was begun in 1849 and a permanent building was opened on Cooks River Road in 1855. The school was taken over by the Department of Education in 1881 and became St Peters Public School. The church school building was used until the present-day school was erected.
Between 1955 and 1957, Nazzareno and Ebe had saved enough to apply for a loan to buy their first home: a two-storeyed terraced-house at 26 Hutchinson Street, St Peters, NSW. (Alas, this row of pre-Federation houses has since been demolished to make way for factories.)
The family of four settled in and in 1956, Susi started school.
Her first school was a catholic school from which she was quickly removed after an innocent incident which upset the nuns so much that Nazzareno was called in. Little six-year-old Susi, ever the inquisitive, was found in the boys’ toilets watching on with awe as a number of little boys competed with each other to see how far up the wall they could “shoot”. Great raucous fun for them but not for the nun who discovered them.
It is not known what punishment was meted out to the boys, if any, but Susi did not go back to the catholic school. Whether it was at the request of the nuns for such improper, unladylike behaviour, or whether Nazzareno deemed it unfit for his daughter to attend an establishment that included boys with such base behaviour, is also unknown. Regardless, Susi was immediately placed in the public school only 500 metres down the hill from home, St Peters on Church Street.
St Peters Church of England School was begun in 1849 and a permanent building was opened on Cooks River Road in 1855. The school was taken over by the Department of Education in 1881 and became St Peters Public School. The church school building was used until the present-day school was erected.
The following maps are from "Atlas of the suburbs of Sydney. compiled from the latest official and authentic private sources and published by Higinbotham, Robinson & Harrison" found on Trove: https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-231127940/view?searchTerm=atlas+of+the+suburbs+of+sydney+1886#search/atlas%20of%20the%20suburbs%20of%20sydney%201886 - an excellent source for all of Sydney's suburbs in 1886.
Map of St Peters in 1886. Unwins Bridge Road is still known as Unwins Bridge Road but Cooks River Road is now known as Princes Highway
Gregorys 2001 Sydney Directory map of St Peters and Tempe
Magnification showing location of Terry Street, then situated in St Peters, now in the suburb of Tempe.
Magnification showing Hutchinson Street, St Peters. The St Peters Public School sits on Cooks River Road (now Princes Highway) and St Peters Church of England at the end of Church Street
Magnification of Gregorys 2001 Sydney Directory showing Terry Street and Hutchinson Street
Google Maps of St Peters Anglican Church and Public School
St Peters Public School - Google Maps photo taken in 2019
Photograph of St Peters Anglican Church, St Peters, taken before 1938. The spire was removed in 1963
St Peters Anglican Church and cemetery, St Peters
It was in this church that, 1958, presentations of books were made to the 3rd Class students of St Peters Public School. Susi chose a book on fish.
St Peters Anglican Church, St Peters
Hutchinson Street gave the family privacy and something they had never previously experienced – a whole house to themselves!
Susi quickly made friends with Janice Lyons who was also born in 1950, in February, and lived across the road at number 37. Janice was the youngest of the three Lyons children. The family was typically Australian: happy, generous and open-minded. The Lyons family was also more affluent – they had a television set!
Susi and Janice would spend almost every afternoon after school watching the Mickey Mouse Club, being nourished by milk and biscuits supplied by Mrs. Lyons. Typical of the period, their toilet was outside but on the far end of the back verandah and consequently undercover. Mrs. Lyons would admonish the young girls if they ate any food while visiting the loo saying it was 'feeing the devil'. That put paid to any thought of munching on a sweet while relieving oneself!
Susi and Janice would spend almost every afternoon after school watching the Mickey Mouse Club, being nourished by milk and biscuits supplied by Mrs. Lyons. Typical of the period, their toilet was outside but on the far end of the back verandah and consequently undercover. Mrs. Lyons would admonish the young girls if they ate any food while visiting the loo saying it was 'feeing the devil'. That put paid to any thought of munching on a sweet while relieving oneself!
The original cast members of The Mickey Mouse Club that ran from 1955-1959
[The Mickey Mouse Club began airing the first episodes in Australia in 1957 on TCN9, two years after it had premiered on US television. When the show was cancelled in 1959, Australian viewers were only on the second season and the Aussie fanbase was enormous. The Mouseketeers did a very successful 3-week Australia tour that year. With thanks to https://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20140829/28445/mickey-mouse-clubs-different-generations]
Below is a YouTube video of the very first Mickey Mouse Club episode.
Below is a YouTube video of the very first Mickey Mouse Club episode.
Down the road was Simpson Park where, approaching every Empire Day, a huge bonfire was built and, on the evening of 24th May, was lit and crackers, sparklers and rockets let off during the rowdy festivities. This holiday was originally in celebration of Queen Victoria's birthday on May 24 and, following her death in 1901, was renamed Empire Day in 1903. The last official celebration of Empire Day in Australia took place in 1958 but bonfires, rockets and crackers continued to cause concern and damage to both people and property for some years to come.
Preparing for Empire Day
Nazzareno and Ebe would take their two children along to see the fireworks from the safety of their vehicle; they were never allowed to play with these explosives. Nazzareno knew what dangers they presented when mishandled. The safety of his two little girls was paramount. Despite the injuries such as burns and blown off fingers, fireworks continued to be sold in New South Wales until 1987, when unlicensed use of fireworks by the pubic was prohibited. The last cracker night in NSW was on June 7, 1986, after which the State government banned it for safety reasons. According to SafeWork NSW, "It is illegal to buy, possess or discharge fireworks unless you hold a pyrotechnicians or single use licence." This act has saved countess fingers, eyes...and lives.
(The modern King's Birthday [changed from Queen's Birthday after the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September, 2022] public holiday is a separate event observed on the second Monday of June in New South Wales.)
(The modern King's Birthday [changed from Queen's Birthday after the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September, 2022] public holiday is a separate event observed on the second Monday of June in New South Wales.)
By 1957, the Hutchinson Street house and yard were being extensively utilised as a toy factory, making, packing and delivering product to Nazzareno’s distributor, Roy Waddell.
Business prospered and it may have been that Roy approached Nazzareno and offered him his business or it may have been that Nazzareno saw an opportunity and offered to buy Roy’s business; whichever it was, Nazzareno and Ebe purchased Roy Waddell’s toy business from Roy and his wife Clarice. However, in less than a year the relationship soured and Nazzareno and Ebe returned the business to Roy and Clarice.
Severing their ‘Old Australian’ connections meant that ‘New Australians’ Nazzareno and Ebe were now on their own but this also meant freedom to do as they desired. They had built a reputation for quality product and honest trading and, using the contacts he had made while working with Roy Waddell and Lovelock, Nazzareno soon built a strong and reliable clientele. The Bonaretti range of toys was not dissimilar to their competitors’ except in quality and, in order to give their product some way to differentiate theirs from the competition – and be remembered – Nazzareno came up with the name “Bestoys”. This brand, however, had been used in Australia several decades before but a search revealed that the name was unencumbered. With the help of his solicitor, Frank C. Kirkpatrick, Junior, he set about registering the name and trademark, a rocket and moon. Also, it would be far easier for potential customers to remember the name “Bestoys” than “Bonaretti” and it would avoid any pre-conceived xenophobic connotations.
Bestoys was born and, just like the rocket in the logo, it was onward and upward for the young Italian migrants.
Business prospered and it may have been that Roy approached Nazzareno and offered him his business or it may have been that Nazzareno saw an opportunity and offered to buy Roy’s business; whichever it was, Nazzareno and Ebe purchased Roy Waddell’s toy business from Roy and his wife Clarice. However, in less than a year the relationship soured and Nazzareno and Ebe returned the business to Roy and Clarice.
Severing their ‘Old Australian’ connections meant that ‘New Australians’ Nazzareno and Ebe were now on their own but this also meant freedom to do as they desired. They had built a reputation for quality product and honest trading and, using the contacts he had made while working with Roy Waddell and Lovelock, Nazzareno soon built a strong and reliable clientele. The Bonaretti range of toys was not dissimilar to their competitors’ except in quality and, in order to give their product some way to differentiate theirs from the competition – and be remembered – Nazzareno came up with the name “Bestoys”. This brand, however, had been used in Australia several decades before but a search revealed that the name was unencumbered. With the help of his solicitor, Frank C. Kirkpatrick, Junior, he set about registering the name and trademark, a rocket and moon. Also, it would be far easier for potential customers to remember the name “Bestoys” than “Bonaretti” and it would avoid any pre-conceived xenophobic connotations.
Bestoys was born and, just like the rocket in the logo, it was onward and upward for the young Italian migrants.
Click here to see other Australian manufacturers named "Bestoys"
Coming across random ephemera—other people’s discards—can prompt childhood memories. This silhouette portrait found in an op shop on Chapel Street in Prahran, Melbourne (Australia) did such a thing.
The signature on this portrait is S. John Ross. According to Wikipedia, Sebastian John Ross (April 24, 1919 – August 24, 2008) was an American-born Australian caricature artist and showman, famous for his miniature silhouette portraits cut in black card and mounted on a white background. He worked at Luna Park Sydney from 1950 until 1979. And it was during that time, the late 1950s, that little Susi Bonaretti had her portrait cut by Mr Ross. At their home in Hutchinson Street, St Peters, the little portrait was framed and hung in the living room. While it did go with the family to Byrnes Street, Botany, it is now, unfortunately, lost.
But seeing that framed silhouette in the op shop brought back so many wonderful memories of Luna Park and family outings there.
The signature on this portrait is S. John Ross. According to Wikipedia, Sebastian John Ross (April 24, 1919 – August 24, 2008) was an American-born Australian caricature artist and showman, famous for his miniature silhouette portraits cut in black card and mounted on a white background. He worked at Luna Park Sydney from 1950 until 1979. And it was during that time, the late 1950s, that little Susi Bonaretti had her portrait cut by Mr Ross. At their home in Hutchinson Street, St Peters, the little portrait was framed and hung in the living room. While it did go with the family to Byrnes Street, Botany, it is now, unfortunately, lost.
But seeing that framed silhouette in the op shop brought back so many wonderful memories of Luna Park and family outings there.
Click here to see a brief history of Sydney's Luna Park during the late 1950s
Silhouette portrait by S. John Ross
1958
THE THIRD AND FINAL ADDITION
In 1958 a son and heir was born; the name would be carried on!
(It must be remembered that at that time, the family name was carried by the males while females lost their ‘maiden’ name when they married. In this context, it would have been assumed by Nazzareno that his two daughters would marry and the name of ‘Bonaretti’ in Australia eventually lost forever. In the part of Italy they left behind, it was customary for a wife to retain her family name, simply adding he husband’s name to hers. In Ebe’s case, she was ‘Ebe Saltini in Bonaretti’; their children would be given the father’s family name only.)
[Research indicates that there had been other persons with the Bonaretti name in Australia. In 1893 and again in 1896, one Antonio Bonaretti was given a gold miner’s licence and gold mining lease, respectively, in Charters Towers a rural town in the central east region of Queensland. During the last quarter of the 19th century the town boomed as the rich gold deposits under the city were developed. In 1904, a "Mr. Bonaretti" was listed as a passenger on the Coolgardie, a ship that landed in Australia on 30th April in Fremantle. In 1910, Giovanni Bonaretti arrived in Sydney in June aboard the RMS Orontes. There appears to be no other mention of a Bonaretti on the east coast of Australia until 1935 when a Bonaretti (Giovanni perhaps?) subscribed to the funeral costs of one Ottorino Carobbio in Sydney. Click on the TN Roma Recollections button above for further information on the last two Bonaretti mentions.]
In 1958 a son and heir was born; the name would be carried on!
(It must be remembered that at that time, the family name was carried by the males while females lost their ‘maiden’ name when they married. In this context, it would have been assumed by Nazzareno that his two daughters would marry and the name of ‘Bonaretti’ in Australia eventually lost forever. In the part of Italy they left behind, it was customary for a wife to retain her family name, simply adding he husband’s name to hers. In Ebe’s case, she was ‘Ebe Saltini in Bonaretti’; their children would be given the father’s family name only.)
[Research indicates that there had been other persons with the Bonaretti name in Australia. In 1893 and again in 1896, one Antonio Bonaretti was given a gold miner’s licence and gold mining lease, respectively, in Charters Towers a rural town in the central east region of Queensland. During the last quarter of the 19th century the town boomed as the rich gold deposits under the city were developed. In 1904, a "Mr. Bonaretti" was listed as a passenger on the Coolgardie, a ship that landed in Australia on 30th April in Fremantle. In 1910, Giovanni Bonaretti arrived in Sydney in June aboard the RMS Orontes. There appears to be no other mention of a Bonaretti on the east coast of Australia until 1935 when a Bonaretti (Giovanni perhaps?) subscribed to the funeral costs of one Ottorino Carobbio in Sydney. Click on the TN Roma Recollections button above for further information on the last two Bonaretti mentions.]
Business was good. Despite the credit squeeze of 1951, economic growth, high employment levels, growing foreign investment and the development of new markets helped Australia enjoy a high level of economic prosperity, aided by high population growth, high government spending and the introduction of television in 1956.
Nazzareno’s self-imposed ten-year goal to make good in Australia was approaching but the public wanted Bestoys products, the likes of which had not been offered to them before. Another few years, Nazzareno reckoned, and the family would then return to Italy in a far better position than they had left it six or seven years prior. Susi would be ten and her sister, five, and brother, two, young enough to settle into the Italian way of life and eventually marry – to approved Italians, of course.
Nazzareno’s self-imposed ten-year goal to make good in Australia was approaching but the public wanted Bestoys products, the likes of which had not been offered to them before. Another few years, Nazzareno reckoned, and the family would then return to Italy in a far better position than they had left it six or seven years prior. Susi would be ten and her sister, five, and brother, two, young enough to settle into the Italian way of life and eventually marry – to approved Italians, of course.
That was the plan but, for now, the little panel van had served its purpose. A new, bigger vehicle was required to transport the ever-growing volume of orders. A new red Ford F100 V8 satisfied the need perfectly. It was purchased sometime around 1958-9 and was listed on the Income Tax Return for 30th June, 1959 at a pre-depreciated value of ₤819. 0. 0. (approximately $30,145 in 2023). The tray was surmounted by a purpose-built galvanised-metal canopy and the bench seat accommodated Nazzareno, Ebe and their three children comfortably. No seat belts of course – the wearing of seat belts was not made compulsory in New South Wales until 1971. This truck would see them travel the countryside westward along the Great Western Highway to Parramatta and beyond to Katoomba, south-westerly along the Hume Highway to Bowral and Berrima and northward over the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Collaroy Beach... always on a Sunday and never too far from home and orders waiting to be fulfilled.
With thanks to http://oldcarbrochures.org/Australia/Ford/Ford-Trucks/1957%20Ford%20F100/index.html]
BEACH ENVY
Novellara is situated at the top and in the middle of the Italian peninsular and is about 160 kms from both La Spezia on the Ligurian Sea to the west, and Ravenna on the Adriatic Sea to the east. Many Novellaresi look to the seaside at Ravenna as a special destination during their Ferragosto – their summer holidays, two weeks in August. Living in Sydney and in such close proximity to her many glorious beaches was enough to make Nazzareno and Ebe’s siblings back home envious. The Australian Bonaretti family could visit one anytime they desired. And so they did. Nazzareno and Ebe took their young family to the beach whenever they could and Collaroy, some 30 kms distant, or Palm Beach, some 50 kms away, were their favourites.
On one occasion, the Ford truck became stuck in the sand, taking tremendous effort from Nazzareno and helpful beachgoers to push the heavy vehicle out of its sandy trap, rear wheels spinning and sand flying. Several blankets were sacrificed beneath the wheels to provide traction and, finally, with the mightiest of effort by all involved, the truck was freed from the determined clutches of the mobile sand.
Summer in Sydney is hot and humid and the weather can turn from sunny to stormy in a matter of hours. Another day at the beach saw such a sudden change. The waves were very quickly whipped up by the blustery gales. Airborne sand stung naked flesh as ominous clouds gathered and threatened a torrent of rain. Nazzareno and Ebe quickly packed up their picnic rugs and children and hurriedly left with the rest of the anxious crowd. Their return home took them across the Bridge and, while the truck was heavy, its metal canopy was cavernous and empty. The squalls pushed against the side of the vehicle as it crossed the expanse of the Parramatta River and with every gust, Nazzareno fought to keep the vehicle on course – no power steering then. That was a day that was not forgotten quickly.
Novellara is situated at the top and in the middle of the Italian peninsular and is about 160 kms from both La Spezia on the Ligurian Sea to the west, and Ravenna on the Adriatic Sea to the east. Many Novellaresi look to the seaside at Ravenna as a special destination during their Ferragosto – their summer holidays, two weeks in August. Living in Sydney and in such close proximity to her many glorious beaches was enough to make Nazzareno and Ebe’s siblings back home envious. The Australian Bonaretti family could visit one anytime they desired. And so they did. Nazzareno and Ebe took their young family to the beach whenever they could and Collaroy, some 30 kms distant, or Palm Beach, some 50 kms away, were their favourites.
On one occasion, the Ford truck became stuck in the sand, taking tremendous effort from Nazzareno and helpful beachgoers to push the heavy vehicle out of its sandy trap, rear wheels spinning and sand flying. Several blankets were sacrificed beneath the wheels to provide traction and, finally, with the mightiest of effort by all involved, the truck was freed from the determined clutches of the mobile sand.
Summer in Sydney is hot and humid and the weather can turn from sunny to stormy in a matter of hours. Another day at the beach saw such a sudden change. The waves were very quickly whipped up by the blustery gales. Airborne sand stung naked flesh as ominous clouds gathered and threatened a torrent of rain. Nazzareno and Ebe quickly packed up their picnic rugs and children and hurriedly left with the rest of the anxious crowd. Their return home took them across the Bridge and, while the truck was heavy, its metal canopy was cavernous and empty. The squalls pushed against the side of the vehicle as it crossed the expanse of the Parramatta River and with every gust, Nazzareno fought to keep the vehicle on course – no power steering then. That was a day that was not forgotten quickly.
In the back of the Ford F100 truck, spending a day at the beach - possibly Collaroy or Palm Beach - c1959
Family photo summer c1959 at (possibly) Collaroy or Palm Beach
Nazzareno and Ebe Bonaretti at (possibly) Collaroy or Palm Beach summer c1959
Ebe standing in the front yard. Behind her is the Ford F100 truck parked in front of Mr. Anthony's next door c1961
THE SUNDAY DRIVE
The Great Western Highway was ‘great’ simply because it was long. In the mid-fifties, and outside of the city and suburbs, it was a mere undivided two-lane asphalt strip bordered by gravel or earth on either side and bush beyond. There were far fewer motor vehicles on the roads then than today, still, overtaking was perilous. On one Sunday drive, the family was in the truck travelling along the highway following several cars at a safe distance when, without warning, an incident occurred ahead that caused the cars in front to brake suddenly. To avoid a collision, Nazzareno braked hard and pulled the truck onto the gravel side, skidding to an abrupt stop. This caused Susi to slide out of her seat next to her mother and against the truck’s dashboard and into the footwell. Her siblings were unharmed and Susi sustained only a small bruise to her chin. After making sure his family was otherwise uninjured, Nazzareno went to see what happened and if he could help. He returned a short while later and the journey was resumed, a little shaken but all safe and well.
The Great Western Highway was ‘great’ simply because it was long. In the mid-fifties, and outside of the city and suburbs, it was a mere undivided two-lane asphalt strip bordered by gravel or earth on either side and bush beyond. There were far fewer motor vehicles on the roads then than today, still, overtaking was perilous. On one Sunday drive, the family was in the truck travelling along the highway following several cars at a safe distance when, without warning, an incident occurred ahead that caused the cars in front to brake suddenly. To avoid a collision, Nazzareno braked hard and pulled the truck onto the gravel side, skidding to an abrupt stop. This caused Susi to slide out of her seat next to her mother and against the truck’s dashboard and into the footwell. Her siblings were unharmed and Susi sustained only a small bruise to her chin. After making sure his family was otherwise uninjured, Nazzareno went to see what happened and if he could help. He returned a short while later and the journey was resumed, a little shaken but all safe and well.
Hume Highway
Above photos with thanks to https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/about/environment/protecting-heritage/old-hume-highway/old-hume-hwy-history.html
Above photos with thanks to https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/about/environment/protecting-heritage/old-hume-highway/old-hume-hwy-history.html
Parramatta Road-Great Western Highway
SUNDAYS AT HOME
Sundays were family days and they were spent together. Ebe looked after the house and children when not helping to assemble and pack toys during the week and, after working a six-day week, Nazzareno caught up with account-keeping and reading whatever newspapers and trade magazines were available. Developing new products occupied his thoughts constantly and putting those ideas onto paper intrigued Susi. She, too, liked to draw and she had already shown aptitude in making things. Using timber offcuts from the factory and fabric discards from Mr. Fox’s upholstery business across the road and next door to Janice’s, Susi had fashioning a lounge chair for her doll. Nazzareno nurtured his daughter’s natural abilities. Many Sundays were spent with Susi sitting on his knee, carefully painting the various colouring-in competitions that were published in the Sunday papers: Charlie Chuckles in the Sunday Telegraph and the comics section in the Sun-Herald. These would be sent off and it was not uncommon for “Susy Bonaretti” to win a certificate or two, even a postal note worth a pound, ten shillings or five shilling, being first, second and third prize respectively.
[This is an excellent webpage explaining both “Charlie Chuckle” and “Charlie Chuckles”: https://www.australianotr.com.au/marie-evans---charlie-chuckles.html]
Sundays were family days and they were spent together. Ebe looked after the house and children when not helping to assemble and pack toys during the week and, after working a six-day week, Nazzareno caught up with account-keeping and reading whatever newspapers and trade magazines were available. Developing new products occupied his thoughts constantly and putting those ideas onto paper intrigued Susi. She, too, liked to draw and she had already shown aptitude in making things. Using timber offcuts from the factory and fabric discards from Mr. Fox’s upholstery business across the road and next door to Janice’s, Susi had fashioning a lounge chair for her doll. Nazzareno nurtured his daughter’s natural abilities. Many Sundays were spent with Susi sitting on his knee, carefully painting the various colouring-in competitions that were published in the Sunday papers: Charlie Chuckles in the Sunday Telegraph and the comics section in the Sun-Herald. These would be sent off and it was not uncommon for “Susy Bonaretti” to win a certificate or two, even a postal note worth a pound, ten shillings or five shilling, being first, second and third prize respectively.
[This is an excellent webpage explaining both “Charlie Chuckle” and “Charlie Chuckles”: https://www.australianotr.com.au/marie-evans---charlie-chuckles.html]
The Bonaretti had the truck, they had the clientele and the economy was in excellent condition. It was now time to expand.
ANOTHER MOVE
The Hutchinson Street property was too small to accommodate the booming “Bestoys” business and by the end of 1958 it had settled into a newly-built factory at 21 Byrnes Street, Botany NSW. The family moved into an old weatherboard cottage next door at number 19. The cottage was 'tarted up' with a lick of paint and new linoleum floor covering. The long weeds in the backyard were set fire to, eliminating in one go, all vermin - fleas, ticks, mice - that inhabited them, and the need to mow.
Byrnes Street was originally a through road but with the building of the above-ground covered sewer line along Hale Street in the 1920s and 1930s, it became closed off and the cul-de-sac was inhabited by only five other families. The rest of the street had been a market garden and tanneries many years before the Bonaretti family moved in.
Very quickly Nazzareno and Ebe became friendly with the Marrs, Archdeacons and Lees on the opposite side and the Anthonys next door at number 23.
Susi, now written as "Susy" by teachers, was eight in 1958, her sister, three, and their brother almost one year old. After having left St Peters Public School and her favourite third class teacher, Mrs. Thompson, Susy ended 1958 in third class at Botany Public School.
The Hutchinson Street property was too small to accommodate the booming “Bestoys” business and by the end of 1958 it had settled into a newly-built factory at 21 Byrnes Street, Botany NSW. The family moved into an old weatherboard cottage next door at number 19. The cottage was 'tarted up' with a lick of paint and new linoleum floor covering. The long weeds in the backyard were set fire to, eliminating in one go, all vermin - fleas, ticks, mice - that inhabited them, and the need to mow.
Byrnes Street was originally a through road but with the building of the above-ground covered sewer line along Hale Street in the 1920s and 1930s, it became closed off and the cul-de-sac was inhabited by only five other families. The rest of the street had been a market garden and tanneries many years before the Bonaretti family moved in.
Very quickly Nazzareno and Ebe became friendly with the Marrs, Archdeacons and Lees on the opposite side and the Anthonys next door at number 23.
Susi, now written as "Susy" by teachers, was eight in 1958, her sister, three, and their brother almost one year old. After having left St Peters Public School and her favourite third class teacher, Mrs. Thompson, Susy ended 1958 in third class at Botany Public School.
To see more of the history of Byrnes Street, click here:
To see more of the history of 19-21 Byrnes Street, click here:
1959
Under the tutelage of Miss Hughes, a very stylish middle-aged woman, Susy's fourth-class education flourished.
At home, the three Bonaretti children were very much liked by the mostly elderly couples that occupied the houses next door and across the road and quite soon were invited into their homes to watch television after school and during the school holidays; in effect, they were babysat while their parents worked in the Bestoys factory.
Mrs. Anthony, next door, was particularly welcoming, having no children of her own and, like Mrs. Lyons in St Peters, sat the children down in front of her television set with milk and biscuits. Cartoons and adventure programmes were presented on ABN2, ATN7 and TCN9: Crusader Rabbit, Rin-Tin-Tin, Desmond Tester and the Channel 9 Pins, The Lone Ranger, Superman, Huckleberry Hound and, of course, The Mickey Mouse Club… and so many more.
Sometimes, Mrs. Archdeacon across the road, a dressmaker and seamstress, played hostess.
[This is an excellent resource website detailing all the television programmes throughout the early years and beyond: https://televisionau.com/classic-tv-guides with thanks]
At home, the three Bonaretti children were very much liked by the mostly elderly couples that occupied the houses next door and across the road and quite soon were invited into their homes to watch television after school and during the school holidays; in effect, they were babysat while their parents worked in the Bestoys factory.
Mrs. Anthony, next door, was particularly welcoming, having no children of her own and, like Mrs. Lyons in St Peters, sat the children down in front of her television set with milk and biscuits. Cartoons and adventure programmes were presented on ABN2, ATN7 and TCN9: Crusader Rabbit, Rin-Tin-Tin, Desmond Tester and the Channel 9 Pins, The Lone Ranger, Superman, Huckleberry Hound and, of course, The Mickey Mouse Club… and so many more.
Sometimes, Mrs. Archdeacon across the road, a dressmaker and seamstress, played hostess.
[This is an excellent resource website detailing all the television programmes throughout the early years and beyond: https://televisionau.com/classic-tv-guides with thanks]
This is typical of the weatherboard house that the Bonaretti family purchased and moved into in 1959 but it was not in as good condition. Below is a closeup of the facade of 19 Byrnes Street before it was clad all around in faux bricks.
The actual cottage at number 19, clad in faux bricks, just before it was demolished in 1977
The old house and factory before they were demolished in 1977 to make way for the new purpose-built factory, showroom, warehouse and apartment for the Bonaretti family
It was not an easy life for the young migrant family.
While they had a successful business, they also had a large mortgage and still had to be careful with personal spending. Food was always sufficient but never wasted. Chicken was an extravagance enjoyed on special occasions and was bought live from one of the many farms that surrounded the small city of Sydney. Penrith, Fairfield and other outer suburbs now considered part of Greater Sydney, were still dotted with farms and market gardens. After Nazzareno slaughtered it, Ebe would dress the chicken in the back yard, plucking the feathers and singeing the downy remnants.
Washing of clothing was done by hand in the concrete double tubs in the large wash shed attached to the house. No hot water on tap. The white bed sheets were boiled in a copper in the back yard, heat supplied by a fire beneath the copper. Blue was added to bleach out any stains and to prevent them from yellowing. Washing was, indeed, a hard task and done once a week on Sundays by Ebe. Normally, Mondays were set aside as wash days but, here in Botany, surrounded by smelly tanneries, metal works and chemical factory next door, laundry was cleaner when done during the times the factories were closed: Sundays. Eventually, when finances permitted, Nazzareno bought Ebe a new washing machine and installed a large-capacity gas water heater.
In time, he moderised the wash shed by dividing it in two, separating the bathroom from the laundry. The originally unclad studs were faced using the new plastic laminated hardboard material, Corinite, in a sunny oak colour. A new matching bathroom suite was installed, including an inside toilet! No more fighting the cobwebs and spiders at night.
While they had a successful business, they also had a large mortgage and still had to be careful with personal spending. Food was always sufficient but never wasted. Chicken was an extravagance enjoyed on special occasions and was bought live from one of the many farms that surrounded the small city of Sydney. Penrith, Fairfield and other outer suburbs now considered part of Greater Sydney, were still dotted with farms and market gardens. After Nazzareno slaughtered it, Ebe would dress the chicken in the back yard, plucking the feathers and singeing the downy remnants.
Washing of clothing was done by hand in the concrete double tubs in the large wash shed attached to the house. No hot water on tap. The white bed sheets were boiled in a copper in the back yard, heat supplied by a fire beneath the copper. Blue was added to bleach out any stains and to prevent them from yellowing. Washing was, indeed, a hard task and done once a week on Sundays by Ebe. Normally, Mondays were set aside as wash days but, here in Botany, surrounded by smelly tanneries, metal works and chemical factory next door, laundry was cleaner when done during the times the factories were closed: Sundays. Eventually, when finances permitted, Nazzareno bought Ebe a new washing machine and installed a large-capacity gas water heater.
In time, he moderised the wash shed by dividing it in two, separating the bathroom from the laundry. The originally unclad studs were faced using the new plastic laminated hardboard material, Corinite, in a sunny oak colour. A new matching bathroom suite was installed, including an inside toilet! No more fighting the cobwebs and spiders at night.
Image with thanks to: https://www.pinterest.nz/pin/149111437650214482/
Image with thanks to: https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/falcon/antiques/vintage-antique-1930-40-s-copper-boiler-washer-lid-/1317097869
1960
GRANDPARENTS THEY NEVER KNEW
Of the three Bonaretti children only Susi had known their grandparents, both maternal and paternal. Even so, she could not remember any them.
It was Ebe’s responsibility each weekday morning to do the local rounds shopping at the Italian deli run by Silvio and Andreina Dell’Anna, general grocery shopping at Flemings Food Stores and to collect the mail from their post office box at Botany Post Office. On the rare occasion Ebe was unable to collect the mail, Nazzareno would take time out from the factory and pick it up. This day was one of those rare occasions. There, in the box, among the invoices and statements was an airmail letter from Italy. Not so unusual, as correspondence between Ebe and her family in Italy was regular and frequent. This letter, however, contained devastating news for Ebe and he was grateful that fate had handed it to him to open. On 4th October, 1960, Ebe’s beloved mother, Orsolina, died.
Upon being told the news, Ebe was inconsolable, unable to eat or sleep. It had been less than three months since she had received news that her father had passed away, and now this, her cherished mother. What must have run through her thoughts in an endless loop was their parting eight years earlier and the promise to return before too long. Eight years was six years longer than anticipated. Her mother was only 73 when she passed; her father, 74. Scant news was forthcoming as to the cause of their deaths or how long they had suffered, if at all. Perhaps people were not too interested to know details, perhaps the doctors couldn’t elaborate, perhaps death was something that was looked upon as a natural progression, one that came to everyone, but the cause of death that was expressed in that letter translated to a “great malady”.
The Bonaretti family doctor Dr. Gordon prescribed Ebe with medication so she could sleep and advised her to give up coffee. Time was the best healer.
In time and upon reflection, it seemed to Ebe and Nazzareno that of their parents, those who had led a good life, had passed within a few years of each other. Ebe’s father, Demetrio on 14th July 1960, her mother, Orsolina on 4th October, 1960 and Nazzareno’s father, Argeo, passed on 3rd July 1961. Only Maria, Nazzareno’s virago of a mother, survived them all and died aged 79 years in 1967, not of a “great malady” but by accident – fire. Perhaps this was divine justice and a portend of where she would spend Eternity.
Of the three Bonaretti children only Susi had known their grandparents, both maternal and paternal. Even so, she could not remember any them.
It was Ebe’s responsibility each weekday morning to do the local rounds shopping at the Italian deli run by Silvio and Andreina Dell’Anna, general grocery shopping at Flemings Food Stores and to collect the mail from their post office box at Botany Post Office. On the rare occasion Ebe was unable to collect the mail, Nazzareno would take time out from the factory and pick it up. This day was one of those rare occasions. There, in the box, among the invoices and statements was an airmail letter from Italy. Not so unusual, as correspondence between Ebe and her family in Italy was regular and frequent. This letter, however, contained devastating news for Ebe and he was grateful that fate had handed it to him to open. On 4th October, 1960, Ebe’s beloved mother, Orsolina, died.
Upon being told the news, Ebe was inconsolable, unable to eat or sleep. It had been less than three months since she had received news that her father had passed away, and now this, her cherished mother. What must have run through her thoughts in an endless loop was their parting eight years earlier and the promise to return before too long. Eight years was six years longer than anticipated. Her mother was only 73 when she passed; her father, 74. Scant news was forthcoming as to the cause of their deaths or how long they had suffered, if at all. Perhaps people were not too interested to know details, perhaps the doctors couldn’t elaborate, perhaps death was something that was looked upon as a natural progression, one that came to everyone, but the cause of death that was expressed in that letter translated to a “great malady”.
The Bonaretti family doctor Dr. Gordon prescribed Ebe with medication so she could sleep and advised her to give up coffee. Time was the best healer.
In time and upon reflection, it seemed to Ebe and Nazzareno that of their parents, those who had led a good life, had passed within a few years of each other. Ebe’s father, Demetrio on 14th July 1960, her mother, Orsolina on 4th October, 1960 and Nazzareno’s father, Argeo, passed on 3rd July 1961. Only Maria, Nazzareno’s virago of a mother, survived them all and died aged 79 years in 1967, not of a “great malady” but by accident – fire. Perhaps this was divine justice and a portend of where she would spend Eternity.
1961-1972
SCHOOLING ~ 1961-1973
Susy Bonaretti completed 6th class in 1961 and was among the top five of her year. She was nominated and accepted to attend Sydney Girls’ High School, a prestigious selective state high school, along with two of her friends, Jennifer Davis and Renata Domel.
Her teachers throughout her Primary School incumbency were either memorable or unforgettable: Miss Hughes (4th) - memorable; Mr. Hartnett, Principal (5th) - a gentleman and Mr. Greg Taylor, new Principal (6th), ex-army, authoritarian, disciplinarian, no-nonsense quasi-dictator. The children in his class paid him undivided attention; they were only 11 or 12 years of age and he had a fierce temper - definitely unforgettable. Corporal punishment was not withheld for even the slightest of slights; the wooden ruler whacked across the palm of an open hand in front of all the thirty-five pre-teens. Kevin Horseman, a scrawny boy with a whimsical smile, was often the receiver of such cruel discipline, something that would never be tolerated today.
Susy Bonaretti completed 6th class in 1961 and was among the top five of her year. She was nominated and accepted to attend Sydney Girls’ High School, a prestigious selective state high school, along with two of her friends, Jennifer Davis and Renata Domel.
Her teachers throughout her Primary School incumbency were either memorable or unforgettable: Miss Hughes (4th) - memorable; Mr. Hartnett, Principal (5th) - a gentleman and Mr. Greg Taylor, new Principal (6th), ex-army, authoritarian, disciplinarian, no-nonsense quasi-dictator. The children in his class paid him undivided attention; they were only 11 or 12 years of age and he had a fierce temper - definitely unforgettable. Corporal punishment was not withheld for even the slightest of slights; the wooden ruler whacked across the palm of an open hand in front of all the thirty-five pre-teens. Kevin Horseman, a scrawny boy with a whimsical smile, was often the receiver of such cruel discipline, something that would never be tolerated today.
Merit Certificate signed by Greg Taylor
At orientation day 1962, sitting between her parents in the school hall, together with all the other first-formers, [this was the first year of the Wyndham System, which extended the full high school course from five to six years] she hesitated filling out the forms. First name? “Susy” was too childish – she was going to be twelve and she was in high school now – “Susanna” was way too formal and possibly snobbish, so she settled for something in between: “Susanne”, not too posh and not too frivolous, just right.
At the same time, her little sister was now in second class at Botany Public School and, by the time she had finished primary school in 1966, her scholastic achievements saw her selected “Girl Prefect” of the school. The Girl Captaincy should have been hers except for a quirk in the selection process, giving precedence to a girl who had repeated 6th Class.
Little brother joined his older sister at Botany Public School in 1963, finishing his primary education in 1970 and achieving the higher triumph of “Boy Captain” of the school.
The Bonaretti children had excelled in their primary education and had made their parents proud. However, their growing affluence slowly gnawed away at time spent on homework and studying and reading their World Book Encyclopaedia, Pears' Cyclopædia, Look and Learn magazines, the Oxford Dictionary and all the other educational tomes available to them – television came to them in 1963.
Slowly, Susanne’s grades eroded from As to Fs until learning was no longer a pleasure and homework was disregarded. There were severe underlying problems, which her parents could not see, perhaps even ignored. She would turn fifteen in 1965 and, in 1965, it was compulsory to attend school until you turned fifteen.
Easter Sunday in 1965 fell on 18th April and schools would break for the holidays from Good Friday, 16th April. It had already been discussed between Susanne and her parents that she no longer wanted to attend high school, so Nazzareno went to Sydney Girls’ High and spoke to the principal, Miss Doreen Wayne (Head Mistress from 1961 to 1968), a small older woman whose hair was fashionably and perpetually ‘blue-rinsed’. During the conference, a careers councillor was brought in and, a few days before her birthday on Tuesday, 13th April, Susanne no longer had to attend school. A drop-out. But one with a possible career in commercial art.
The above portrait of Miss Doreen Wayne was sourced from "The Brown and Yellow" by Lilith Norman, detailing the history of Sydney Girls' High School between 1883 and 1983 published in 1983. However, throughout this edition of the book Miss Doreen Wayne has been written as "Wane".
Little brother joined his older sister at Botany Public School in 1963, finishing his primary education in 1970 and achieving the higher triumph of “Boy Captain” of the school.
The Bonaretti children had excelled in their primary education and had made their parents proud. However, their growing affluence slowly gnawed away at time spent on homework and studying and reading their World Book Encyclopaedia, Pears' Cyclopædia, Look and Learn magazines, the Oxford Dictionary and all the other educational tomes available to them – television came to them in 1963.
Slowly, Susanne’s grades eroded from As to Fs until learning was no longer a pleasure and homework was disregarded. There were severe underlying problems, which her parents could not see, perhaps even ignored. She would turn fifteen in 1965 and, in 1965, it was compulsory to attend school until you turned fifteen.
Easter Sunday in 1965 fell on 18th April and schools would break for the holidays from Good Friday, 16th April. It had already been discussed between Susanne and her parents that she no longer wanted to attend high school, so Nazzareno went to Sydney Girls’ High and spoke to the principal, Miss Doreen Wayne (Head Mistress from 1961 to 1968), a small older woman whose hair was fashionably and perpetually ‘blue-rinsed’. During the conference, a careers councillor was brought in and, a few days before her birthday on Tuesday, 13th April, Susanne no longer had to attend school. A drop-out. But one with a possible career in commercial art.
The above portrait of Miss Doreen Wayne was sourced from "The Brown and Yellow" by Lilith Norman, detailing the history of Sydney Girls' High School between 1883 and 1983 published in 1983. However, throughout this edition of the book Miss Doreen Wayne has been written as "Wane".
Botany Public School in 1885, still exists and served as the Infants School in 1961
The new Botany Public School was built in 1923 next to the Infants School. Susy was educated here between 1959 and 1961
Sydney Girls' High School in 1956, 5 years before 'Susanne' enrolled
With thanks: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=132608052200262&set=a.132608038866930
From Susanna to... Susanna
Usually, everyone has his or her name abbreviated and is known by that diminutive.
Susanna is no exception.
To explain why Nazzareno and Ebe's eldest child is nominated in so many different ways here, this is the chronology of those names:
Susanna - Italian baptismal name
Susi - diminutive form in Italian; known by this until the start of school in 1956
Susy - diminutive form in English; known by this until starting high school
Susanne - from 1962 to c1995. 'Susy' was too juvenile and 'Susanna' too posh; 'Susanne' was just right.
Susanna - from 1995 to now
Usually, everyone has his or her name abbreviated and is known by that diminutive.
Susanna is no exception.
To explain why Nazzareno and Ebe's eldest child is nominated in so many different ways here, this is the chronology of those names:
Susanna - Italian baptismal name
Susi - diminutive form in Italian; known by this until the start of school in 1956
Susy - diminutive form in English; known by this until starting high school
Susanne - from 1962 to c1995. 'Susy' was too juvenile and 'Susanna' too posh; 'Susanne' was just right.
Susanna - from 1995 to now
An interesting article written by Craig Campbell, Associate Professor, University of Sydney, on the history of New South Wales' selective schools:
Her sister and brother, in their own time, would also leave school at fifteen but not for the same reasons. They were needed to assist in the ever-expanding business concerns of the Bonaretti parents. Returning to Italy was put on hold, business was flourishing, bank balances increasing. This was not the time to pack up and leave.
NAZZARENO'S YOUTHFUL DREAM FULFILLED ~ 1960-1972
Bestoys was emerging as the leading Australian manufacturer of wooden toys and nursery furniture and the time had come for Nazzareno to fulfil one of his youthful dreams: to own a large luxury car.
However, while business was doing well, restraint was needed in 1960 as credit was once again difficult to obtain so a second-hand vehicle would have to do until finances strengthened. Between July 1960 and before June 1963, he bought a car. His choice? British, of course: a Humber Super Snipe Saloon and Touring Limousine, Mark III. Built in 1950 and now ten or more years old, the saloon car boasted a 4000-cc engine and four-speed transmission. It was luxurious enough and long enough to impress neighbours, business associates and his family in Italy, and not too costly. It was tan in colour, with red leather upholstery, plush wall-to-wall carpet and a real wooden dash. The back of the front seats even had fold-down trays! The only slight detraction to the outward appearance was that the beak of the snipe bonnet ornament had snapped off. Regardless, the children in the back seat felt cocooned and comfortable as Nazzareno and Ebe drove their self-proclaimed status symbol to church on special occasions, and on the regular Sunday drives – usually to Parramatta and back. For them, this was a huge step up from the bouncy bench seat of the Ford F100 truck. And for Nazzareno, this was a milestone in his life; a reward for hard work and an outward sign of his and Ebe’s achievements in the short time they had been in Australia. This was truly the “lucky country” for those who worked hard.
In 1963, the Humber had a declared depreciated value of ₤125. 4. 06 (approximately $4,310 in 2023). Nazzareno loved this car; his first taste of what success could bring. This couldn’t have happened in Italy.
In time, Nazzareno sold this trophy and bought and sold other vehicles.
Trading in his beloved Humber, Nazzareno purchased a brand-new 1965 Holden Premier Station Wagon – far more practical than a limousine. This vehicle was listed in Bestoys Balance Sheet of 30th June 1966 at a pre-depreciation value of $2,927.83 (Australia converted from pounds, shillings and pence on 14th February, 1966), trading in the Humber for $400.00. The Humber actually made a capital profit upon sale of $150.00. The new Holden too was tan in colour with a white roof and automatic transmission. However, Nazzareno was not as pleased with this vehicle as he had been with the Humber and longed for more than a mere workhorse. By 1st July, 1967, he sold the Holden and bought British again, this time a second-hand Jaguar Mark X, most likely built in 1961 even though it had been (re-)registered in 1965-6. It was a four-door luxury saloon that surpassed even the Humber. Sleek and massive, it was more than five metres long and weighed 1,900 kgs. It, too featured wood panelled interior, red leather upholstery and, yes, a fold-down tray on the back of the front seats. It was a stately metallic grey in colour and had a 3.8 Litre engine. The number plate was easy to remember: "DJR 202", an easy mnemonic being, "Daddy's Jaguar, too oh too big". It was solid and it was fast and stayed in the Bonaretti family until 1973. It served its time well. The declared pre-written-down value of the second-hand Jaguar at 1st July, 1967 was $4,285.00, equivalent to approximately $65,000 in 2023.
Bestoys was emerging as the leading Australian manufacturer of wooden toys and nursery furniture and the time had come for Nazzareno to fulfil one of his youthful dreams: to own a large luxury car.
However, while business was doing well, restraint was needed in 1960 as credit was once again difficult to obtain so a second-hand vehicle would have to do until finances strengthened. Between July 1960 and before June 1963, he bought a car. His choice? British, of course: a Humber Super Snipe Saloon and Touring Limousine, Mark III. Built in 1950 and now ten or more years old, the saloon car boasted a 4000-cc engine and four-speed transmission. It was luxurious enough and long enough to impress neighbours, business associates and his family in Italy, and not too costly. It was tan in colour, with red leather upholstery, plush wall-to-wall carpet and a real wooden dash. The back of the front seats even had fold-down trays! The only slight detraction to the outward appearance was that the beak of the snipe bonnet ornament had snapped off. Regardless, the children in the back seat felt cocooned and comfortable as Nazzareno and Ebe drove their self-proclaimed status symbol to church on special occasions, and on the regular Sunday drives – usually to Parramatta and back. For them, this was a huge step up from the bouncy bench seat of the Ford F100 truck. And for Nazzareno, this was a milestone in his life; a reward for hard work and an outward sign of his and Ebe’s achievements in the short time they had been in Australia. This was truly the “lucky country” for those who worked hard.
In 1963, the Humber had a declared depreciated value of ₤125. 4. 06 (approximately $4,310 in 2023). Nazzareno loved this car; his first taste of what success could bring. This couldn’t have happened in Italy.
In time, Nazzareno sold this trophy and bought and sold other vehicles.
Trading in his beloved Humber, Nazzareno purchased a brand-new 1965 Holden Premier Station Wagon – far more practical than a limousine. This vehicle was listed in Bestoys Balance Sheet of 30th June 1966 at a pre-depreciation value of $2,927.83 (Australia converted from pounds, shillings and pence on 14th February, 1966), trading in the Humber for $400.00. The Humber actually made a capital profit upon sale of $150.00. The new Holden too was tan in colour with a white roof and automatic transmission. However, Nazzareno was not as pleased with this vehicle as he had been with the Humber and longed for more than a mere workhorse. By 1st July, 1967, he sold the Holden and bought British again, this time a second-hand Jaguar Mark X, most likely built in 1961 even though it had been (re-)registered in 1965-6. It was a four-door luxury saloon that surpassed even the Humber. Sleek and massive, it was more than five metres long and weighed 1,900 kgs. It, too featured wood panelled interior, red leather upholstery and, yes, a fold-down tray on the back of the front seats. It was a stately metallic grey in colour and had a 3.8 Litre engine. The number plate was easy to remember: "DJR 202", an easy mnemonic being, "Daddy's Jaguar, too oh too big". It was solid and it was fast and stayed in the Bonaretti family until 1973. It served its time well. The declared pre-written-down value of the second-hand Jaguar at 1st July, 1967 was $4,285.00, equivalent to approximately $65,000 in 2023.
June 24 1950 ad in the Women's Weekly
A Humber Super Snipe Saloon and Touring Limousine, Mark III, the make and model Nazzareno purchased second-hand circa 1960 and retained until about 1965
1961 - God parents to Nazzareno and Ebe's daughters in front of the Humber Super Snipe, Celso and Valdena Venier, and Silvio and Andreina Dell'Anna. Across the road is the cottage Mr. Marr and his boys occupied
The Holden Premier Station Wagon Nazzareno purchased brand-new when he traded in his Humber. He kept this car only a few years
Mother and daughter with the Holden Premier Station Wagon DYL 662 c1967. This was the car in which Susanne was taught to drive by her father. Across the road is a glimpse of the Marr's cottage
A Jaguar Mark X (Ten) purchased from CV Murray a Jaguar dealer on Parramatta Road, Granville about 1966. He kept this car until 1973.
Nazzareno and Ebe visiting CV Murray c1966 just before purchasing their second-hand Jaguar Mark X. The Holden's quarter-window can be seen in the bottom right-hand corner of the photo
During Nazzareno's consecutive vehicular tenures, his children were growing up and learning to drive. With the growing success of the business, it was only natural that each child, in turn, would have his or her own vehicle. Ebe, however, did not feel comfortable driving and was very happy to call upon one of her four 'chauffeurs' whenever she wanted to go somewhere.
Susanne achieved her driver's licence in December, 1967 after a very long sequence of driving lessons. After several preliminary lessons from her father in the family Holden station wagon, Nazzareno wanted to be certain that his eldest daughter was well and truly ready for the mayhem and madness that was on the roads then. (There were 1,637,769 registered vehicles on NSW roads in 1967. In 2021 - 5,892,206! Talk about mayhem!) Avoca Driving School was the company of choice and Mrs. McPhee the instructor. Every Saturday afternoon, Mrs. McPhee collected Susanne from Byrnes Street - first in a Volkswagen Beetle, then in a Holden and both with manual transmission - then out on the roads teaching her to drive. Toward the end, Susanne and Mrs. McPhee no longer practised endless reverse parks and hill starts but went sightseeing around Sydney and had a marvellous time.
As a reward for passing her driving test at the first attempt (little wonder!), Nazzareno and Ebe bought their daughter a second-hand white Mercedes-Benz, possibly a 1960 model. It stayed with the family for less than a week and then promptly returned to Frank Crott Motors in Petersham as items that were to have been fixed before delivery had not. Besides, Susanne did not like the headlights 😁.
For Nazzareno, it was easier to buy new, and finances allowed it. Japan was emerging from the pile of "cheap and clunky" manufacturing countries to "elegant and exceptional". One company was making a name for itself in Australia. In 1965, Mazda launched the "Luce" ("Light") motorcar, known in Australia simply as the ‘Mazda 1500’. It was an immediate success. Its sophisticated body was by one of the car world’s greatest-ever designers, Bertone (Giuseppe Bertone, also called "Nuccio"). This declaration of an Italian connection was all that Nazzareno needed. He liked the shape, and he liked the price, and, on 1st February 1968, he bought one off the floor from Michael Tynan of Tynan Motors in the Sutherland Shire for $2,732.30. This particular model was the Mazda 1500 SS and came complete with fog lights, white-wall tyres, four-speed manual transmission and was white with black interior and a black, vinyl covered hardtop. It was a joy to drive.
Susanne was set. With her 'P's firmly affixed to the front and rear number plates, and her seatbelt pulled tight, she set off with her little brother to discover the world, that is, discover the suburbs surrounding Botany. While seat belts became mandatory standard inclusions in November, 1971, seatbelts had been fitted to both the Mazda and the Jaguar as soon as they became available, pre-empting NSW legislation. On 4th January, 1966, NSW introduced learner and provisional licences. The provisional (P) plates were red on white, and the provisional licence was for one year after which, if no revocations had taken place, a full licence was issued with no further testing. Susanne glided through her first year without incident and attained her full licence one year later.
A very informative website on the Mazda 1500: http://www.drivingandlife.com/2019/05/the-year-mazda-saw-light.html
Susanne achieved her driver's licence in December, 1967 after a very long sequence of driving lessons. After several preliminary lessons from her father in the family Holden station wagon, Nazzareno wanted to be certain that his eldest daughter was well and truly ready for the mayhem and madness that was on the roads then. (There were 1,637,769 registered vehicles on NSW roads in 1967. In 2021 - 5,892,206! Talk about mayhem!) Avoca Driving School was the company of choice and Mrs. McPhee the instructor. Every Saturday afternoon, Mrs. McPhee collected Susanne from Byrnes Street - first in a Volkswagen Beetle, then in a Holden and both with manual transmission - then out on the roads teaching her to drive. Toward the end, Susanne and Mrs. McPhee no longer practised endless reverse parks and hill starts but went sightseeing around Sydney and had a marvellous time.
As a reward for passing her driving test at the first attempt (little wonder!), Nazzareno and Ebe bought their daughter a second-hand white Mercedes-Benz, possibly a 1960 model. It stayed with the family for less than a week and then promptly returned to Frank Crott Motors in Petersham as items that were to have been fixed before delivery had not. Besides, Susanne did not like the headlights 😁.
For Nazzareno, it was easier to buy new, and finances allowed it. Japan was emerging from the pile of "cheap and clunky" manufacturing countries to "elegant and exceptional". One company was making a name for itself in Australia. In 1965, Mazda launched the "Luce" ("Light") motorcar, known in Australia simply as the ‘Mazda 1500’. It was an immediate success. Its sophisticated body was by one of the car world’s greatest-ever designers, Bertone (Giuseppe Bertone, also called "Nuccio"). This declaration of an Italian connection was all that Nazzareno needed. He liked the shape, and he liked the price, and, on 1st February 1968, he bought one off the floor from Michael Tynan of Tynan Motors in the Sutherland Shire for $2,732.30. This particular model was the Mazda 1500 SS and came complete with fog lights, white-wall tyres, four-speed manual transmission and was white with black interior and a black, vinyl covered hardtop. It was a joy to drive.
Susanne was set. With her 'P's firmly affixed to the front and rear number plates, and her seatbelt pulled tight, she set off with her little brother to discover the world, that is, discover the suburbs surrounding Botany. While seat belts became mandatory standard inclusions in November, 1971, seatbelts had been fitted to both the Mazda and the Jaguar as soon as they became available, pre-empting NSW legislation. On 4th January, 1966, NSW introduced learner and provisional licences. The provisional (P) plates were red on white, and the provisional licence was for one year after which, if no revocations had taken place, a full licence was issued with no further testing. Susanne glided through her first year without incident and attained her full licence one year later.
A very informative website on the Mazda 1500: http://www.drivingandlife.com/2019/05/the-year-mazda-saw-light.html
Okay, so the following are cheesy snaps taken in July, 1968...😁
The location was the forecourt of the building next door, Lockwood Magrath Chemical Manufacturers at 15-17 Byrnes Street.
TURN SIGNALS
Almost unknown to drivers born in the 21st century are cars without some sort of turn signal operated by the flick of a lever or press of a button.
Back in the day, before these ‘new-fangled whatsits’ became standard equipment on all vehicles, drivers had to master the art of signalling by hand. Yes, by thrusting one arm out the window, rain or shine, and using your other hand to steer and change gears. Quite a feat but something that had to be done correctly to obtain your driver’s licence in New South Wales before 1960.
As late as June 1994, the Road and Traffic Authority’s (‘RTA’ before it became Services NSW) Road Users’ Handbook published an entry on page 95, and an illustration on the following page, of how to signal by hand:
“Signalling
“You must use indicators or hand signals to let others know what you plan to do. […].”
In larger vehicles such as trucks where one’s arm simply wasn't long enough to extend beyond the width of the tray, a mechanical arm was used. This combination of metal levers, pivots and tinplate was the bee’s knees – or arm in this case – and did the job admirably.
Almost unknown to drivers born in the 21st century are cars without some sort of turn signal operated by the flick of a lever or press of a button.
Back in the day, before these ‘new-fangled whatsits’ became standard equipment on all vehicles, drivers had to master the art of signalling by hand. Yes, by thrusting one arm out the window, rain or shine, and using your other hand to steer and change gears. Quite a feat but something that had to be done correctly to obtain your driver’s licence in New South Wales before 1960.
As late as June 1994, the Road and Traffic Authority’s (‘RTA’ before it became Services NSW) Road Users’ Handbook published an entry on page 95, and an illustration on the following page, of how to signal by hand:
“Signalling
“You must use indicators or hand signals to let others know what you plan to do. […].”
In larger vehicles such as trucks where one’s arm simply wasn't long enough to extend beyond the width of the tray, a mechanical arm was used. This combination of metal levers, pivots and tinplate was the bee’s knees – or arm in this case – and did the job admirably.
An old hand signalling device found on Gumtree - https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/guildford/antiques/vintage-truck-turn-signal-arm/1267099059
An old truck fitted with a hand signalling device - with thanks to Alamy
Another old truck fitted with a hand signalling device extended and readied as a copper-slapper - with thanks to Alamy
28th June 1938 Policeman on point duty in Sydney. Of course, the mechanical hand signal devices were not used to slap coppers!
...and a little bit of history to lull you further to sleep...
(The following, with some editing, is taken from this blog, with sincere thanks: https://bestsellingcarsblog.com/2016/07/media-post-the-history-of-automotive-turn-signals/)
Prior to the universal adoption of mechanical or electrical signalling, early automobile drivers signalled to pedestrians and other drivers their intention to make a turn with their hands. They most likely pointed to the direction that they were about to turn to. After a period of time, a more uniform method of communicating was developed.
However, there was a big problem with hand signals: you couldn’t see them at night. According to the December 1985 issue of Popular Mechanics, the first example of an illuminated electric turn signal can be attributed to Edgar A. Walz. In 1925, he developed and secured a patent for one and tried to market it to major car manufacturers. Believe it or not, the major car manufacturers just weren’t interested, and the patent expired fourteen years later.
It was different in Europe. In the 1940s, the solution for signalling turns was via curious little semaphore-like indicators. They were called “trafficators” and were illuminated and powered by electromagnets that swung up when they were engaged. When they were “off”, the trafficators folded back into the door pillars. They were used on the Humber and Volkswagen for many years.
Then America got involved and Buick was the first U.S. automaker to offer factory-installed flashing turn signals. Introduced in 1939 as a safety feature, turn signals were advertised as “Flash-Way Directional Indicators” and were an option. These flashing signals only operated on the rear lights. In 1940, Buick enhanced their directional indicators by extending the signals to front lights too and adding a self-cancelling mechanism. In that year, directional signals became standard on Buick, Cadillac, LaSalle, and the Hudson vehicles yet still optional on Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac.
The Sixties brought other innovations to turn signals. Initial plans called for Ford to install blinking sequential rear turn signals on their 1964 Thunderbird but installation was put off for more than a year while they were approved by regulators. 1968 marked another “major” change as the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 required amber (rather than the earlier white) lenses for front turn signals (rear signals could be red or amber.)
Today, LEDs (light-emitting diode) are common. Such lights do not depend on lens colour, the semiconductors within emit true red and amber hues. LED lights are very efficient and ultra-bright, it may not be long before filament-style bulbs will have been phased out completely.
The future. There has been some talk about intelligent turn signals that will sense when the lights should be activated.
Until then, be sure to signal whenever you intend to turn and remember, according to the Road Users’ Handbook of June 1994, if your indicators are not working your vehicle is defective and you should not drive it on public streets…but can you still use hand signals instead?
(The following, with some editing, is taken from this blog, with sincere thanks: https://bestsellingcarsblog.com/2016/07/media-post-the-history-of-automotive-turn-signals/)
Prior to the universal adoption of mechanical or electrical signalling, early automobile drivers signalled to pedestrians and other drivers their intention to make a turn with their hands. They most likely pointed to the direction that they were about to turn to. After a period of time, a more uniform method of communicating was developed.
However, there was a big problem with hand signals: you couldn’t see them at night. According to the December 1985 issue of Popular Mechanics, the first example of an illuminated electric turn signal can be attributed to Edgar A. Walz. In 1925, he developed and secured a patent for one and tried to market it to major car manufacturers. Believe it or not, the major car manufacturers just weren’t interested, and the patent expired fourteen years later.
It was different in Europe. In the 1940s, the solution for signalling turns was via curious little semaphore-like indicators. They were called “trafficators” and were illuminated and powered by electromagnets that swung up when they were engaged. When they were “off”, the trafficators folded back into the door pillars. They were used on the Humber and Volkswagen for many years.
Then America got involved and Buick was the first U.S. automaker to offer factory-installed flashing turn signals. Introduced in 1939 as a safety feature, turn signals were advertised as “Flash-Way Directional Indicators” and were an option. These flashing signals only operated on the rear lights. In 1940, Buick enhanced their directional indicators by extending the signals to front lights too and adding a self-cancelling mechanism. In that year, directional signals became standard on Buick, Cadillac, LaSalle, and the Hudson vehicles yet still optional on Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac.
The Sixties brought other innovations to turn signals. Initial plans called for Ford to install blinking sequential rear turn signals on their 1964 Thunderbird but installation was put off for more than a year while they were approved by regulators. 1968 marked another “major” change as the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 required amber (rather than the earlier white) lenses for front turn signals (rear signals could be red or amber.)
Today, LEDs (light-emitting diode) are common. Such lights do not depend on lens colour, the semiconductors within emit true red and amber hues. LED lights are very efficient and ultra-bright, it may not be long before filament-style bulbs will have been phased out completely.
The future. There has been some talk about intelligent turn signals that will sense when the lights should be activated.
Until then, be sure to signal whenever you intend to turn and remember, according to the Road Users’ Handbook of June 1994, if your indicators are not working your vehicle is defective and you should not drive it on public streets…but can you still use hand signals instead?
Thanks to: https://www.theautopian.com/trafficator-talk-time-cold-start/
Thanks to: https://jalopnik.com/these-are-what-the-first-modern-flashing-turn-signals-l-1845692668
Thanks to: https://www.squarebirds.org/sequential.htm
Thanks to: https://tenor.com/view/signal-light-trun-signal-car-blink-gif-12865001
CHRISTMAS 1972 ~ Tasmania
Apart from venturing through the environs of greater Sydney, as far west as the Blue Mountains, south to Canberra and Wollongong and north to Gosford and Newcastle, the family had never been away on an extended holiday out of Sydney. The preceding 20 years had kept everyone fully occupied with building the business and the copious hours of work that involved. Now, finances were good and relaxation was in order. It was time.
Nazzareno and Ebe arranged for the family to have a grand scenic tour of Tasmania from 27th December – about two weeks away touring the edges of the “Apple Isle” with a bunch of other like-minded tourists. The company of choice was Australian Pacific Tours (APT) which had enthusiastically advertised the benefits of their luxury, air-conditioned coaches. Nazzareno was 47, Ebe 45 and the kids 22, 17 and 14. They kennelled their little dachshund, Diana, and on 27th December left Sydney Kingsford-Smith Airport on the aeroplane bound for Launceston at the top of Tasmania.
It was an exciting experience: their very first holiday. The coach took them to Burnie and Devonport; along narrow roads cut into the side of mountains to the silver-mining town of Zeehan, across the island down to Hobart and Port Arthur, and many stops in between. In Hobart, the group ventured to the top of Mount Wellington where, even in the middle of summer, snow awaited them. And they shivered, being unprepared in their summer clothing for the icy biting wind. A night was spent being dined and entertained in the almost-completed new Wrest Point Casino in Sandy Bay just outside of Hobart. This was Tasmania’s first casino and would be officially opened in a month’s time on 10 February 1973. But this night, on bare concrete floors, the doors to the showroom and restaurant accommodated those eager and intrepid travellers on the APT coach who were treated to good food and a floor show.
Friends were made on that tour, friends the Bonaretti family would see later in the year where tentative plans were made to tour together during the next Christmas break.
But Fate had other plans…
Apart from venturing through the environs of greater Sydney, as far west as the Blue Mountains, south to Canberra and Wollongong and north to Gosford and Newcastle, the family had never been away on an extended holiday out of Sydney. The preceding 20 years had kept everyone fully occupied with building the business and the copious hours of work that involved. Now, finances were good and relaxation was in order. It was time.
Nazzareno and Ebe arranged for the family to have a grand scenic tour of Tasmania from 27th December – about two weeks away touring the edges of the “Apple Isle” with a bunch of other like-minded tourists. The company of choice was Australian Pacific Tours (APT) which had enthusiastically advertised the benefits of their luxury, air-conditioned coaches. Nazzareno was 47, Ebe 45 and the kids 22, 17 and 14. They kennelled their little dachshund, Diana, and on 27th December left Sydney Kingsford-Smith Airport on the aeroplane bound for Launceston at the top of Tasmania.
It was an exciting experience: their very first holiday. The coach took them to Burnie and Devonport; along narrow roads cut into the side of mountains to the silver-mining town of Zeehan, across the island down to Hobart and Port Arthur, and many stops in between. In Hobart, the group ventured to the top of Mount Wellington where, even in the middle of summer, snow awaited them. And they shivered, being unprepared in their summer clothing for the icy biting wind. A night was spent being dined and entertained in the almost-completed new Wrest Point Casino in Sandy Bay just outside of Hobart. This was Tasmania’s first casino and would be officially opened in a month’s time on 10 February 1973. But this night, on bare concrete floors, the doors to the showroom and restaurant accommodated those eager and intrepid travellers on the APT coach who were treated to good food and a floor show.
Friends were made on that tour, friends the Bonaretti family would see later in the year where tentative plans were made to tour together during the next Christmas break.
But Fate had other plans…
Australian Pacific Tours coach c1973
Wrest Point Casino under construction from Historical Mercury Archives File dated 19/08/1971
Wrest Point Casino nearing completion. c1972 Photo: Brian Curtis & Associates
1973
VISIT FROM ITALY
When Ebe’s older sister Ada, better known as Ottorina, and her husband Giovanni Storchi announced that they would be coming to Australia for a six-week holiday at the end of 1973, everything changed.
When Ebe’s older sister Ada, better known as Ottorina, and her husband Giovanni Storchi announced that they would be coming to Australia for a six-week holiday at the end of 1973, everything changed.
The first was the family car.
Now twelve years old, the Jaguar was showing its age and, in line with the growing affluence that the Bonaretti family was enjoying, around September, Nazzareno purchased Ford’s newest release: a luxurious Ford LTD saloon. (Some sources suggest that ‘LTD’ stood for ‘Luxury Trim Décor’, others ‘Limited’, or, as an early 1970s Australian LTD sales brochures proclaimed, ‘Lincoln Type Design’ as the American Lincoln was not available locally.) This new car was bronze in colour and had among its many unique features, integrated air conditioning, automatic transmission, electric windows, and a 5.8 Litre V8 engine. It was longer than the Jaguar at 5.18 metres but lighter at 1,760 kgs and it cost only $7,700 for which Nazzareno wrote a cheque – why pay interest when funds were at hand?
This was one of the best-priced luxury vehicles available at the time, equivalent to about only $48,000 today and a true bargain. Ford wanted to get its limousine on the road and in front of the public and, by reducing the comparative price was the way they did it. Only 7,003 units of this first release vehicle were manufactured.
Now twelve years old, the Jaguar was showing its age and, in line with the growing affluence that the Bonaretti family was enjoying, around September, Nazzareno purchased Ford’s newest release: a luxurious Ford LTD saloon. (Some sources suggest that ‘LTD’ stood for ‘Luxury Trim Décor’, others ‘Limited’, or, as an early 1970s Australian LTD sales brochures proclaimed, ‘Lincoln Type Design’ as the American Lincoln was not available locally.) This new car was bronze in colour and had among its many unique features, integrated air conditioning, automatic transmission, electric windows, and a 5.8 Litre V8 engine. It was longer than the Jaguar at 5.18 metres but lighter at 1,760 kgs and it cost only $7,700 for which Nazzareno wrote a cheque – why pay interest when funds were at hand?
This was one of the best-priced luxury vehicles available at the time, equivalent to about only $48,000 today and a true bargain. Ford wanted to get its limousine on the road and in front of the public and, by reducing the comparative price was the way they did it. Only 7,003 units of this first release vehicle were manufactured.
[These are two excellent Ford LTD webpages: https://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au/car_info_ford_ltd_fa and http://www.aus-ford-uk.co.uk/html/ltd.html - with thanks to them for the information used here.]
Unfortunately for both Nazzareno and Ford, not enough research had been done before releasing "one of the most distinguished motorcars in the world". The fancy, and expensive, hub caps were not properly secured and taking a turn too tightly could mean chasing a recalcitrant hub cap down the road. Door handles were obstinate and prone to breaking off in one's hand, and rattles untraceable. Lovely to look at but a devil to drive.
The next was the family home.
As soon as they knew of their impending arrival at the end of 1973, Ebe and Nazzareno quickly readied their modest weatherboard cottage. The large back room usually used for storage was quickly emptied and walled off using the very latest building material, Corinite. Three walls within were fitted with bench-high storage cabinets and a new double bed installed.
Ottorina was Ebe’s older sister, the third child born to their parents and eleven years older than Ebe. Certainly, Ebe was more attached to her immediate older siblings, Ivo and Anna, but having someone of her childhood, her own family, flesh and blood, so close to touch, to feel and to look upon, brought her boundless happiness. Letters conveyed only so much; photographs were a captured flash in time and the expense of long-distance telephone calls made them infrequent and rare. Here, for six weeks, would be the source of every unanswered question, every morsel of news of every relative and former acquaintance, and the minutiae of the life she had left behind twenty-one years earlier.
Ottorina and and her husband Giovanni also brought with them a reel of Super 8 film taken by their son, Umberto, showing the Novellara of 1973 and how much – and how little – of it had changed. Time had stopped in the town’s centre but, in the surrounding agricultural countryside, buildings mushroomed and a grattacielo (skyscraper), the “Apollo”, had been built near the old convent in which the Saltini family had once lived.
The Apollo, competing with the bell tower of the collegiate church of Santo Stefano and the municipal tower of La Rocca, at 11 floors was, indeed, the highest building in the municipality of Novellara. The name and the number of floors were inspired by NASA’s Apollo 11 mission, the first to bring men to the lunar surface, which took place in 1969, the same year the imposing building was completed.
The short film also proudly showed the new two-storey block of four apartments that four of the Saltini siblings has built for themselves with their savings and the inheritance they had received from their parents, Orsola and Demetrio. It stood on Via Novy Jicin, not far from the Apollo. Financed by Gilda, Ottorina, Ivo and Mariza, the upper floor was occupied by Marisa and her husband, Geminiano with Ivo and Gina on the other side of the floor. The lower floor was for Ottorina and Giovanni on one side and Gilda, who was permanently absent, on the other. Of the remaining Saltini siblings, Valentina was living in an apartment in Reggio Emilia; Azio with his wife in Bologna and Anna with her daughter in a separate house with her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.
As soon as they knew of their impending arrival at the end of 1973, Ebe and Nazzareno quickly readied their modest weatherboard cottage. The large back room usually used for storage was quickly emptied and walled off using the very latest building material, Corinite. Three walls within were fitted with bench-high storage cabinets and a new double bed installed.
Ottorina was Ebe’s older sister, the third child born to their parents and eleven years older than Ebe. Certainly, Ebe was more attached to her immediate older siblings, Ivo and Anna, but having someone of her childhood, her own family, flesh and blood, so close to touch, to feel and to look upon, brought her boundless happiness. Letters conveyed only so much; photographs were a captured flash in time and the expense of long-distance telephone calls made them infrequent and rare. Here, for six weeks, would be the source of every unanswered question, every morsel of news of every relative and former acquaintance, and the minutiae of the life she had left behind twenty-one years earlier.
Ottorina and and her husband Giovanni also brought with them a reel of Super 8 film taken by their son, Umberto, showing the Novellara of 1973 and how much – and how little – of it had changed. Time had stopped in the town’s centre but, in the surrounding agricultural countryside, buildings mushroomed and a grattacielo (skyscraper), the “Apollo”, had been built near the old convent in which the Saltini family had once lived.
The Apollo, competing with the bell tower of the collegiate church of Santo Stefano and the municipal tower of La Rocca, at 11 floors was, indeed, the highest building in the municipality of Novellara. The name and the number of floors were inspired by NASA’s Apollo 11 mission, the first to bring men to the lunar surface, which took place in 1969, the same year the imposing building was completed.
The short film also proudly showed the new two-storey block of four apartments that four of the Saltini siblings has built for themselves with their savings and the inheritance they had received from their parents, Orsola and Demetrio. It stood on Via Novy Jicin, not far from the Apollo. Financed by Gilda, Ottorina, Ivo and Mariza, the upper floor was occupied by Marisa and her husband, Geminiano with Ivo and Gina on the other side of the floor. The lower floor was for Ottorina and Giovanni on one side and Gilda, who was permanently absent, on the other. Of the remaining Saltini siblings, Valentina was living in an apartment in Reggio Emilia; Azio with his wife in Bologna and Anna with her daughter in a separate house with her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.
CHRISTMAS ~ 1973
Christmases has always been a time of delight for the three Bonaretti children.
In their parents’ youth in Italy, Christmas was a joyful religious celebration that took place in church – no trees, no gifts, but a family gathering with ample food and drink. In 1928, dictator Benito Mussolini established the Epifania (Epiphany) festivity on January 6, making it a national holiday and linking the arrival of La Befana (old hag or witch) to that of the three wise men visiting Baby Jesus’ stable to bring Him gifts. Children would hang a stocking above the fireplace with the hope that the witch would fill it with sweets and nuts signifying they had been good during the year. If they hadn’t, she would fill it with coal! [See this excellent article by Silvia Marchetti here: https://www.ozy.com/true-and-stories/when-mussolini-banned-santa-claus/74910/)
Christmases has always been a time of delight for the three Bonaretti children.
In their parents’ youth in Italy, Christmas was a joyful religious celebration that took place in church – no trees, no gifts, but a family gathering with ample food and drink. In 1928, dictator Benito Mussolini established the Epifania (Epiphany) festivity on January 6, making it a national holiday and linking the arrival of La Befana (old hag or witch) to that of the three wise men visiting Baby Jesus’ stable to bring Him gifts. Children would hang a stocking above the fireplace with the hope that the witch would fill it with sweets and nuts signifying they had been good during the year. If they hadn’t, she would fill it with coal! [See this excellent article by Silvia Marchetti here: https://www.ozy.com/true-and-stories/when-mussolini-banned-santa-claus/74910/)
But in Australia, Christmas took on the British traditions and, in Botany, so did the Bonaretti, erecting a tall white (plastic, of course) tree decorated with shiny baubles, beads and flashing lights under which the linoleum-covered floor would be crammed on Christmas Eve with innumerable toys and gifts from Santa Claus.
1973 was a little different because of what Santa had placed in the factory next door: two new Mazda vehicles! Ottorina and Giovanni must have been impressed!
Susanne’s sister, now 18, had gained her driver’s licence and Santa had gifted her a brand-new Mazda 808. Susanne’s four-year-old Mazda SS1500 sedan had been magically replaced by a brand-new Mazda RX4!
In three years' time, another new Mazda 808 was added to the stable as reward for the youngest of the Bonaretti children entering the workforce alongside his sisters.
This was a family affair and times, indeed, were good for the Bonaretti family. Hard work did reap rewards.
1973 was a little different because of what Santa had placed in the factory next door: two new Mazda vehicles! Ottorina and Giovanni must have been impressed!
Susanne’s sister, now 18, had gained her driver’s licence and Santa had gifted her a brand-new Mazda 808. Susanne’s four-year-old Mazda SS1500 sedan had been magically replaced by a brand-new Mazda RX4!
In three years' time, another new Mazda 808 was added to the stable as reward for the youngest of the Bonaretti children entering the workforce alongside his sisters.
This was a family affair and times, indeed, were good for the Bonaretti family. Hard work did reap rewards.
1973 Mazda 2-door RX4
1973 Mazda 808
1975 Mazda 808
1974-1978
Ottorina and Giovanni returned to Italy in February, 1974 after being shown Sydney from her wonderful beaches to the distant mountains and as much as possible in between. It was a sad parting once again for Ebe. Who was to know when they would meet again? Italy was on the other side of the world and airfares were expensive and a sea voyage would take too much time away from the business. Nazzareno deeply felt Ebe’s homesickness and loneliness; those feelings gnawed at him as well. Twenty-two years were ten times longer than he had originally promised his wife. Australia had been good to him but the call to return to Italy was compelling. Perhaps it was time to mend those familial relationships fractured so long ago.
It wasn’t long before Nazzareno put forward plans to return to Italy with the whole family. It would be a visit, he stressed, not a permanent uprooting, just to see all those changes his in-laws spoke of and how it would affect any future plan he may have had in mind. It also played on his mind that his eldest daughter was of 'marriageable age' and it would be to an Italian he prophesied. What better country to find a worthy Italian? And it was an ideal time for them as well: business had never been better, they were financially sound and this trip could be, in part, written off against company expenditure by attending the world-famous January toy fair in Milan and visiting potential suppliers.
Preparations continued throughout the year: suitcases purchased; new suits made for Nazzareno; the latest winter fashions for the Bonaretti ladies and young man; and, in preparation for the cold Italian winter weather, a heavy woollen overcoat for Nazzareno and, from Cornelius Furs in the city, a leather fleecy-lined jacket for the youngest, a marmot fur jacket for the middle child, a red fox fur coat and matching cloche hat for the eldest child and for Ebe, a knee-length marmot fur coat – all paid for with a cheque. (One must remember that in the 1970s fur coats were an aspirational fashion statement symbolising prosperity and achievement. By the 1990s animal rights movements started questioning cruelty towards animals and fur became a taboo fashion item. But, just as the pendulum swings one way, it inevitably swings back again and fur appears to be creeping back onto the catwalk.)
CHRISTMAS ~ 1974
As usual, the factory closed for its four-week Christmas break a few days before 25th December. This year, however, the annual leave was extended to six weeks while the Bonaretti family was away. The workers were paid annual leave for the full time the factory would be closed.
On Boxing Day the long anticipated return to Italy began. Following are diary excerpts and recollections of the flight to Rome:
“We left December 26th, 1974 and were supposed fly from Sydney to Singapore, then Singapore to Bombay, then Bombay to Rome. At the last moment the stopovers were changed: Sydney to Bangkok, Bangkok to Athens and Athens to Rome. We left Sydney Airport on Qantas Jumbo jet flight no 5 at 6.00 p.m. The flight to Bangkok took 9 hours and 30 minutes and the flight from Bangkok to Athens took 9 hours and 50 minutes. The flight from Athens to Rome took 1 hour and 50 minutes. We arrived in Rome 9.30 a.m. on 27th December (14 hours behind Sydney time).”
Ottorina, Giovanni, Ivo and Gina were at the airport in Rome to meet them and accompany them back home to Novellara by train, changing at Reggio Emilia. This journey took 21 hours and 10 minutes of actual flying but over 31 hours total transit time Sydney to Rome – half the 72 hours it took Ebe and Susanna in 1952 and, in 1974, five adults flew at the cost of one adult and a child in 1952.
For Ebe and Nazzareno, it was a homecoming; for their children, tired and jet-lagged, it was simply awesome – their first international flight and their first encounter with relatives they had only been told about. They were real and they were overjoyed at meeting their Australian cousins, nieces and nephew. Of course, Susanna had seen it all before… but could remember none of it.
Accommodation had been sorted beforehand and the family split into three of the four apartments at Via Novy Jicin: the two sisters in the second bedroom of Ottorina and Giovanni’s; the son by himself in Gilda’s vacant apartment and Nazzareno and Ebe, to their delight, in the second bedroom of Gina and Ivo’s.
After recovering from the prolonged travel, the following days were a whirlwind of sightseeing, meeting old acquaintances and being shown around the town like V.I.P.s:
“The new year was ushered in and we were shown around Novellara 4th, 5th and 6th of January, the 6th being Epiphany and a public holiday;
Next was a trip to Bologna to visit Azio and his family on 19th January;
Then on to Venice on 23rd January, 1975 for sightseeing tour in our little mini bus which Nazzareno had purchased so that everyone could fit comfortably.
Then on to Milan to visit Erna and her husband Pasquale and to catch up with Antonietta and her family.
The toy fair in Milan was huge.
We were in Milan from 24th January until 28th January returning to Novellara on 29th January.
We returned to Rome on 3rd February for the flight home, departing on February 4 at 12.15 a.m.
The first stopover was Bombay, then Singapore. We landed in Sydney 10.50 a.m. on February 5.”
It wasn’t long before Nazzareno put forward plans to return to Italy with the whole family. It would be a visit, he stressed, not a permanent uprooting, just to see all those changes his in-laws spoke of and how it would affect any future plan he may have had in mind. It also played on his mind that his eldest daughter was of 'marriageable age' and it would be to an Italian he prophesied. What better country to find a worthy Italian? And it was an ideal time for them as well: business had never been better, they were financially sound and this trip could be, in part, written off against company expenditure by attending the world-famous January toy fair in Milan and visiting potential suppliers.
Preparations continued throughout the year: suitcases purchased; new suits made for Nazzareno; the latest winter fashions for the Bonaretti ladies and young man; and, in preparation for the cold Italian winter weather, a heavy woollen overcoat for Nazzareno and, from Cornelius Furs in the city, a leather fleecy-lined jacket for the youngest, a marmot fur jacket for the middle child, a red fox fur coat and matching cloche hat for the eldest child and for Ebe, a knee-length marmot fur coat – all paid for with a cheque. (One must remember that in the 1970s fur coats were an aspirational fashion statement symbolising prosperity and achievement. By the 1990s animal rights movements started questioning cruelty towards animals and fur became a taboo fashion item. But, just as the pendulum swings one way, it inevitably swings back again and fur appears to be creeping back onto the catwalk.)
CHRISTMAS ~ 1974
As usual, the factory closed for its four-week Christmas break a few days before 25th December. This year, however, the annual leave was extended to six weeks while the Bonaretti family was away. The workers were paid annual leave for the full time the factory would be closed.
On Boxing Day the long anticipated return to Italy began. Following are diary excerpts and recollections of the flight to Rome:
“We left December 26th, 1974 and were supposed fly from Sydney to Singapore, then Singapore to Bombay, then Bombay to Rome. At the last moment the stopovers were changed: Sydney to Bangkok, Bangkok to Athens and Athens to Rome. We left Sydney Airport on Qantas Jumbo jet flight no 5 at 6.00 p.m. The flight to Bangkok took 9 hours and 30 minutes and the flight from Bangkok to Athens took 9 hours and 50 minutes. The flight from Athens to Rome took 1 hour and 50 minutes. We arrived in Rome 9.30 a.m. on 27th December (14 hours behind Sydney time).”
Ottorina, Giovanni, Ivo and Gina were at the airport in Rome to meet them and accompany them back home to Novellara by train, changing at Reggio Emilia. This journey took 21 hours and 10 minutes of actual flying but over 31 hours total transit time Sydney to Rome – half the 72 hours it took Ebe and Susanna in 1952 and, in 1974, five adults flew at the cost of one adult and a child in 1952.
For Ebe and Nazzareno, it was a homecoming; for their children, tired and jet-lagged, it was simply awesome – their first international flight and their first encounter with relatives they had only been told about. They were real and they were overjoyed at meeting their Australian cousins, nieces and nephew. Of course, Susanna had seen it all before… but could remember none of it.
Accommodation had been sorted beforehand and the family split into three of the four apartments at Via Novy Jicin: the two sisters in the second bedroom of Ottorina and Giovanni’s; the son by himself in Gilda’s vacant apartment and Nazzareno and Ebe, to their delight, in the second bedroom of Gina and Ivo’s.
After recovering from the prolonged travel, the following days were a whirlwind of sightseeing, meeting old acquaintances and being shown around the town like V.I.P.s:
“The new year was ushered in and we were shown around Novellara 4th, 5th and 6th of January, the 6th being Epiphany and a public holiday;
Next was a trip to Bologna to visit Azio and his family on 19th January;
Then on to Venice on 23rd January, 1975 for sightseeing tour in our little mini bus which Nazzareno had purchased so that everyone could fit comfortably.
Then on to Milan to visit Erna and her husband Pasquale and to catch up with Antonietta and her family.
The toy fair in Milan was huge.
We were in Milan from 24th January until 28th January returning to Novellara on 29th January.
We returned to Rome on 3rd February for the flight home, departing on February 4 at 12.15 a.m.
The first stopover was Bombay, then Singapore. We landed in Sydney 10.50 a.m. on February 5.”
That first trip to Italy at the end of 1974 opened the eyes of the three Bonaretti children. Having reached Novellara, they were astounded to hear everyone speaking the same dialect as their parents! Back in Sydney, for all of their lives and up until their aunt and uncle visited them earlier that year, they had only ever heard their parents speak to each other in that language, but here, everyone spoke it! Remarkable, extraordinary...and weird.
Another strange thing was how money was handled.
Back then, almost no one had credit cards and no one had debit cards so all transactions were made using cash (contanti) or cheques (assegni). Almost all day-to-day transactions were paid in cash. Preparing for the trip, Nazzareno and Ebe had exchanged Australian dollars for Italian lire—notes of course. The exchange rate was, very roughly, 1,000 Italian lire to 1 Australian dollar.
In the mid-seventies, Italian banknotes comprised 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000 and 500,000 lire. Coins were in denominations of 1, 2, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 lire.
A note with a face value of L.50,000 was worth approximately $50. This meant that coins of L.1 (one lira) were worth about $0.001 or one-tenth of a cent! Practically valueless. But not to scrap metal dealers. At the time, rumour had it that all the aluminium-based coins were being taken to Switzerland to be made into buttons (as reported to Nazzareno by his brother-in-law). Added to that, the Italian government had problems minting the lower-value coins.
(See the images of metal contents of Italian coinage from Numista.com at right)
One of the first transactions they had was paying the toll on the autostrada—in cash, of course. Handing over the note and expecting change in return, Nazzareno was baffled when he was given a handful of wrapped sweets. His query was answered with a shrug and explanation that there was a shortage of change and to enjoy the sweets!
This was the first encounter with this strange situation. Over the course of their six-week stay in Italy, the family accumulated—and ate—the change they were given for, while it was accepted practice for the seller to give sweets as change in lieu of coin, it was not accepted for the customer to pay the seller in sweets!
Recollection of this time does not include having received any miniassegni in lieu of change.
Ah, the Italians! A resourceful lot that assisted not only the government but the sweet manufacturers at the same time.
Some excellent websites pertaining to this time in Italy:
https://lifeinitaly.com/lira-the-currency-of-nostalgia-and-regret/
https://www.nytimes.com/1974/03/17/archives/currency-shortage-in-italy-michelangelosgaze.html
https://numismatics.org/pocketchange/italian-emergency-money-of-the-1970s/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_lira
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coins_of_the_Italian_lira
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/index.php?r=1974+italian+coins&ct=coin&im1=&im2=&tb=y&tc=y&tn=y&tp=y&tt=y&cat=y&ru=&ca=3&no=&v=&i=&b=&d=&u=&a=&dg=&m=&f=&t=&w=&mt=&g=&se=&ie=
Another strange thing was how money was handled.
Back then, almost no one had credit cards and no one had debit cards so all transactions were made using cash (contanti) or cheques (assegni). Almost all day-to-day transactions were paid in cash. Preparing for the trip, Nazzareno and Ebe had exchanged Australian dollars for Italian lire—notes of course. The exchange rate was, very roughly, 1,000 Italian lire to 1 Australian dollar.
In the mid-seventies, Italian banknotes comprised 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000 and 500,000 lire. Coins were in denominations of 1, 2, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 lire.
A note with a face value of L.50,000 was worth approximately $50. This meant that coins of L.1 (one lira) were worth about $0.001 or one-tenth of a cent! Practically valueless. But not to scrap metal dealers. At the time, rumour had it that all the aluminium-based coins were being taken to Switzerland to be made into buttons (as reported to Nazzareno by his brother-in-law). Added to that, the Italian government had problems minting the lower-value coins.
(See the images of metal contents of Italian coinage from Numista.com at right)
One of the first transactions they had was paying the toll on the autostrada—in cash, of course. Handing over the note and expecting change in return, Nazzareno was baffled when he was given a handful of wrapped sweets. His query was answered with a shrug and explanation that there was a shortage of change and to enjoy the sweets!
This was the first encounter with this strange situation. Over the course of their six-week stay in Italy, the family accumulated—and ate—the change they were given for, while it was accepted practice for the seller to give sweets as change in lieu of coin, it was not accepted for the customer to pay the seller in sweets!
Recollection of this time does not include having received any miniassegni in lieu of change.
Ah, the Italians! A resourceful lot that assisted not only the government but the sweet manufacturers at the same time.
Some excellent websites pertaining to this time in Italy:
https://lifeinitaly.com/lira-the-currency-of-nostalgia-and-regret/
https://www.nytimes.com/1974/03/17/archives/currency-shortage-in-italy-michelangelosgaze.html
https://numismatics.org/pocketchange/italian-emergency-money-of-the-1970s/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_lira
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coins_of_the_Italian_lira
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/index.php?r=1974+italian+coins&ct=coin&im1=&im2=&tb=y&tc=y&tn=y&tp=y&tt=y&cat=y&ru=&ca=3&no=&v=&i=&b=&d=&u=&a=&dg=&m=&f=&t=&w=&mt=&g=&se=&ie=
With thanks to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_lira
With thanks to Numista.com
A pocketful of change... With thanks to https://caramellina.com/collections/italian-sweets
1975
That initial trip to Italy and the Milan Toy Fair of 1975 proved very successful and profitable. A follow up trip was called for at the end of 1975 to take in the Milan Toy Fair of January, 1976. Alltoys International, incorporated in 1970, was doing exceptionally well in distributing the Italian imports from its cramped warehouse and showroom in Stanmore.
Another visit to Cornelius Furs resulted in the purchase of mink jacket for the eldest daughter. The fox jacket and cloche hat would be taken to Italy and presented to a cousin as a gift when the family reached Novellara.
Just before leaving for their second trip to Italy, November 1975 saw the demolition of the old cottage and factory at 19-21 Byrnes Street after everything – lock, stock and barrel* – had moved into temporary premises at the other end of Byrnes Street at number 3. Building of the new two-storeyed premises would commence during the family’s absence.
* Excellent expression meaning the entirety; all of something - alluding to the three elements of a firearm—the lock or firing mechanism, the stock or handle, and the barrel or tube. [Early 1800s]
To break the long journey, a two-day stopover in Singapore to take in the sights was included. This was the first time that the family would visit a ‘foreign’ country; Italy was not deemed a “foreign country” (nor was Tasmania).
1976
Returning from that last 6-week trip to Italy impressed on everyone’s mind one thing: do not turn off the electricity when one has perishables in the freezer! The odour of rotting flesh permeated every room of the old cottage at 3 Byrnes Street and lasted for what seemed to be weeks.
Even with the major upheaval of relocation, demolition and construction going on, the end of 1976 also brought the third overseas trip to Italy for the family and a visit to the Milan Toy Fair of 1977 in January.
1977
Returning from the 1977 Milan Toy Fair, Nazzareno watched as the new premises arose from the barren demolition site and, by the end of the year, all three of the Bonaretti businesses - Bestoys Pty Ltd, N.E.S.Toy and Alltoys International Pty Ltd - were established at the same, spacious multi-storey location: 19-21 Byrnes Street, Botany.
That initial trip to Italy and the Milan Toy Fair of 1975 proved very successful and profitable. A follow up trip was called for at the end of 1975 to take in the Milan Toy Fair of January, 1976. Alltoys International, incorporated in 1970, was doing exceptionally well in distributing the Italian imports from its cramped warehouse and showroom in Stanmore.
Another visit to Cornelius Furs resulted in the purchase of mink jacket for the eldest daughter. The fox jacket and cloche hat would be taken to Italy and presented to a cousin as a gift when the family reached Novellara.
Just before leaving for their second trip to Italy, November 1975 saw the demolition of the old cottage and factory at 19-21 Byrnes Street after everything – lock, stock and barrel* – had moved into temporary premises at the other end of Byrnes Street at number 3. Building of the new two-storeyed premises would commence during the family’s absence.
* Excellent expression meaning the entirety; all of something - alluding to the three elements of a firearm—the lock or firing mechanism, the stock or handle, and the barrel or tube. [Early 1800s]
To break the long journey, a two-day stopover in Singapore to take in the sights was included. This was the first time that the family would visit a ‘foreign’ country; Italy was not deemed a “foreign country” (nor was Tasmania).
1976
Returning from that last 6-week trip to Italy impressed on everyone’s mind one thing: do not turn off the electricity when one has perishables in the freezer! The odour of rotting flesh permeated every room of the old cottage at 3 Byrnes Street and lasted for what seemed to be weeks.
Even with the major upheaval of relocation, demolition and construction going on, the end of 1976 also brought the third overseas trip to Italy for the family and a visit to the Milan Toy Fair of 1977 in January.
1977
Returning from the 1977 Milan Toy Fair, Nazzareno watched as the new premises arose from the barren demolition site and, by the end of the year, all three of the Bonaretti businesses - Bestoys Pty Ltd, N.E.S.Toy and Alltoys International Pty Ltd - were established at the same, spacious multi-storey location: 19-21 Byrnes Street, Botany.
1979
The previous few years had been particularly trying: settling into new premises; setting up a new showroom, new spacious living quarters to decorate and a factory to re-commission, but now everything was buzzing along.
The ground floor of the new premises was dedicated to manufacturing and the first floor and mezzanine accommodated an expansive showroom and warehouse as well as a five-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment and a huge rooftop terrace.
The three Bonaretti children were adults: 28, 23 and 20, and took charge of the various aspects of the businesses overseen, of course, by Nazzareno. At Alltoys International six months of the work year were at “normal” trading and working hours but the second half of the year saw the importer and wholesaler open 7 days a week to capture as much of the market as possible. Nazzareno understood that many toy retailers were small or family businesses trading six days a week. Sunday was the only day many of them had to venture into a wholesaler to view and purchase new products. Seven-day trading and after-hours appointments worked well but it was difficult, leaving very little time for personal pleasures and entertainments. “Hard work never killed anyone” – perhaps, but it certainly cut into the private lives of the three Bonaretti “children”.
A recuperative rest was needed and, as a “thank you” for their hard work and dedication, Nazzareno approved a cruise for them, together with the daughter of his foreman Celso, on the USSR Morflot cruise liner Leonid Sobinov. This particular cruise was to become famous and the ship would be known as “the Red Bikini Girl ship”.
Built in 1954 for the Cunard Steamship Company, in August 1973 she was bought by the Soviet Union-based Black Sea Shipping Company and renamed SS Leonid Sobinov. (The ship was scrapped in 1999.) Compared to today’s luxury floating cities that carry 3,000 or more passengers, the Leonid Sobinov managed 750 passengers and was as luxurious as the USSR could manage. There was no casino as such but on each stair landing between decks there was a bank of three poker or slot machines. Entertainment was organised by a British national but everything else was Russian, right down to the movies in the small cinema: a celebration of Soviet space travel. Other English films, of course, would have been screened.
On 3rd January, 1979, the four young adults boarded the liner at Circular Quay, farewelled by their respective parents, and settled into their four-bunk cabin as the ship sailed out through the heads and into open water. All went well at dinner where they met their captain and downed a shot a vodka toasting a good voyage. Then it was time for bed.
The next morning, the four intrepid sailors each woke to a strange feeling – queasiness, nausea and dizziness. Each had fallen victim to mal de mer – seasickness and that overwhelming urge to purge. Each frantically took his/her turn at the only basin in the cabin or the toilet in the bathroom. That was last night’s meal disposed of and breakfast was definitely out of the question. Even the thought of a soothing barley sugar, as suggested by a well-meaning veteran traveller, sent the stomach gripes raging.
After a day or so, and after the ship’s stabilizers had been put to use, the valiant four found their sea legs and appetite and all was smooth sailing from then on. They enjoyed the ship’s entertainments, in particular the floorshows and the band of three young British men. Their lively repertoire comprised contemporary favourites and hits, the most memorable being, “Bésame Mucho”.
This song was, and still is, a well-loved standard with Spanish lyrics that begin, “Bésame, Bésame mucho…” which translate to, “Kiss me, Kiss me lots…” But the lead singer decided to have some fun with the mostly Aussie audience that night and sang this as, “Bésame, Bésame culo…” Spanish and Italian are quite similar, each being a Romance language, and the interloping word was very quickly discerned by the four sitting in the audience, causing them to be both astonished and highly amused by its use. What the singer sang translated to, “Kiss me, Kiss my arse…”
The following day, a chance meeting with the band in the lift, gave the four the opportunity to tell the singer that they understood what he sang, causing him some embarrassment but it was all taken in good fun.
Even though the remainder of the voyage was most enjoyable, it would be more than twenty years before any of them would board a cruise ship for fear of experiencing a similar gastrointestinal upheaval once more.
The ship returned to port on 16th January and to the news that one of the Soviet crew had jumped overboard and swam to shore seeking political asylum. Many articles were written about her at the time; here is but one: https://www.opindia.com/2021/01/story-of-a-russian-girl-who-jumped-off-a-ship-in-red-bikini-to-reach-australia/
The ground floor of the new premises was dedicated to manufacturing and the first floor and mezzanine accommodated an expansive showroom and warehouse as well as a five-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment and a huge rooftop terrace.
The three Bonaretti children were adults: 28, 23 and 20, and took charge of the various aspects of the businesses overseen, of course, by Nazzareno. At Alltoys International six months of the work year were at “normal” trading and working hours but the second half of the year saw the importer and wholesaler open 7 days a week to capture as much of the market as possible. Nazzareno understood that many toy retailers were small or family businesses trading six days a week. Sunday was the only day many of them had to venture into a wholesaler to view and purchase new products. Seven-day trading and after-hours appointments worked well but it was difficult, leaving very little time for personal pleasures and entertainments. “Hard work never killed anyone” – perhaps, but it certainly cut into the private lives of the three Bonaretti “children”.
A recuperative rest was needed and, as a “thank you” for their hard work and dedication, Nazzareno approved a cruise for them, together with the daughter of his foreman Celso, on the USSR Morflot cruise liner Leonid Sobinov. This particular cruise was to become famous and the ship would be known as “the Red Bikini Girl ship”.
Built in 1954 for the Cunard Steamship Company, in August 1973 she was bought by the Soviet Union-based Black Sea Shipping Company and renamed SS Leonid Sobinov. (The ship was scrapped in 1999.) Compared to today’s luxury floating cities that carry 3,000 or more passengers, the Leonid Sobinov managed 750 passengers and was as luxurious as the USSR could manage. There was no casino as such but on each stair landing between decks there was a bank of three poker or slot machines. Entertainment was organised by a British national but everything else was Russian, right down to the movies in the small cinema: a celebration of Soviet space travel. Other English films, of course, would have been screened.
On 3rd January, 1979, the four young adults boarded the liner at Circular Quay, farewelled by their respective parents, and settled into their four-bunk cabin as the ship sailed out through the heads and into open water. All went well at dinner where they met their captain and downed a shot a vodka toasting a good voyage. Then it was time for bed.
The next morning, the four intrepid sailors each woke to a strange feeling – queasiness, nausea and dizziness. Each had fallen victim to mal de mer – seasickness and that overwhelming urge to purge. Each frantically took his/her turn at the only basin in the cabin or the toilet in the bathroom. That was last night’s meal disposed of and breakfast was definitely out of the question. Even the thought of a soothing barley sugar, as suggested by a well-meaning veteran traveller, sent the stomach gripes raging.
After a day or so, and after the ship’s stabilizers had been put to use, the valiant four found their sea legs and appetite and all was smooth sailing from then on. They enjoyed the ship’s entertainments, in particular the floorshows and the band of three young British men. Their lively repertoire comprised contemporary favourites and hits, the most memorable being, “Bésame Mucho”.
This song was, and still is, a well-loved standard with Spanish lyrics that begin, “Bésame, Bésame mucho…” which translate to, “Kiss me, Kiss me lots…” But the lead singer decided to have some fun with the mostly Aussie audience that night and sang this as, “Bésame, Bésame culo…” Spanish and Italian are quite similar, each being a Romance language, and the interloping word was very quickly discerned by the four sitting in the audience, causing them to be both astonished and highly amused by its use. What the singer sang translated to, “Kiss me, Kiss my arse…”
The following day, a chance meeting with the band in the lift, gave the four the opportunity to tell the singer that they understood what he sang, causing him some embarrassment but it was all taken in good fun.
Even though the remainder of the voyage was most enjoyable, it would be more than twenty years before any of them would board a cruise ship for fear of experiencing a similar gastrointestinal upheaval once more.
The ship returned to port on 16th January and to the news that one of the Soviet crew had jumped overboard and swam to shore seeking political asylum. Many articles were written about her at the time; here is but one: https://www.opindia.com/2021/01/story-of-a-russian-girl-who-jumped-off-a-ship-in-red-bikini-to-reach-australia/
LEONID SOBINOV in Sydney
LEONID SOBINOV at sea
LEONID SOBINOV deck plans
LEONID SOBINOV pamphlet showing 2-berth cabin
CTC embarkation card from the 1979 cruise
CTC Lines' Passenger Pass from the 1979 cruise
CTC Lines' Transit Passenger card for Auckland, New Zealand from the 1979 cruise
Location of cabin number R20, a 4-berth room, located on the Restaurant Deck of the ship.
The following images are from the following website but relate to a London to Melbourne crossing in November 1975. What a difference five decades make!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/The-Leonid-Sobinov-Ex-Saxonia-Carmania-503694219676174/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Community/The-Leonid-Sobinov-Ex-Saxonia-Carmania-503694219676174/
Returning from the cruise to the news that their beloved little dachshund, Diana (named after the goddess of hunting), had died deeply saddened the three Bonaretti offspring. Feeling their grief, as well as feeling their own loss, Jim and Ebe decided to adopt another little dachsie as soon as practical, so, later that year when the new little dachshund was weaned, Caddie joined the Bonaretti family. She was chocolate brown in colour and her pedigree papers named her as Chocolate Tambo Ester. The children named her 'Caddie', short for 'Cadbury' after the British chocolatiers.
The cruise also brought a yearning in all four novitius nautae to learn how to do 'proper dancing'. Their experiences on the dancefloor of the Leonid Sobinov showed up their lack of confidence, feigning a broken leg when asked up, or unable to master a simple two-step in time with the music. Now was the time to take up ballroom dancing!
This would change their lives.
Reluctantly giving up 'Prisoner' on Channel 10, the Fumbling Foursome went off together every Monday night into Castlereagh Street and for three hours did the basics to 'Be-Bop-A-Lula', 'How Deep is your Love' and other metered pop songs of the time. After numerous lessons, they had the confidence to go along to the Apia Club in Leichhardt and 'cut-a-rug' on the auditorium's dancefloor. Going on a cruise lead to the necessity to learn to dance which lead to the blossoming of the Fumbling Foursome.
The cruise also brought a yearning in all four novitius nautae to learn how to do 'proper dancing'. Their experiences on the dancefloor of the Leonid Sobinov showed up their lack of confidence, feigning a broken leg when asked up, or unable to master a simple two-step in time with the music. Now was the time to take up ballroom dancing!
This would change their lives.
Reluctantly giving up 'Prisoner' on Channel 10, the Fumbling Foursome went off together every Monday night into Castlereagh Street and for three hours did the basics to 'Be-Bop-A-Lula', 'How Deep is your Love' and other metered pop songs of the time. After numerous lessons, they had the confidence to go along to the Apia Club in Leichhardt and 'cut-a-rug' on the auditorium's dancefloor. Going on a cruise lead to the necessity to learn to dance which lead to the blossoming of the Fumbling Foursome.
Caddie (Chocolate Tambo Ester) in February, 1982 supervising a libation.
1980
But it was at the dance studio in 1979 that the younger daughter met her future husband and would marry in 1980. Before too long, the first grandchild would be born bringing much joy to Ebe and Nazzareno. They would eventually see five grandchildren, two of whom from their son thus perpetuating the Bonaretti name.
AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP
At that time, the immigration laws for those born overseas, Italy in particular, meant that no matter how long that immigrant stayed, worked and paid taxes in Australia, he/she would always be classified as an 'alien' 👽 and would need to apply for a re-entry visa if they went OS.
Being born in Italy meant that Mother, Father and eldest daughter Bonaretti had Italian passports and were classified 'aliens', while younger daughter and son, Australian-born, travelled on an Australian Passport. During one re-entry into Australia, the Immigration Official politely asked Susanna why she had not applied for Australian Citizenship. Why, indeed? She was now thirty years of age and had been brought up in the old Italian way but was otherwise totally Australian, having been educated in the best school and speaking English far better than Italian. Yes, she determined, she would apply for Australian Citizenship as soon as possible.
Application, interview and acceptance were easy and, on Wednesday, 18th February, 1981, officially became a dinky-di, dyed-in-the-wool Aussie. Nazzareno and Ebe followed suit not long after making the whole Bonaretti family Australian citizens. There would be no turning back; they would not return to Italy except for holidays...
AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP
At that time, the immigration laws for those born overseas, Italy in particular, meant that no matter how long that immigrant stayed, worked and paid taxes in Australia, he/she would always be classified as an 'alien' 👽 and would need to apply for a re-entry visa if they went OS.
Being born in Italy meant that Mother, Father and eldest daughter Bonaretti had Italian passports and were classified 'aliens', while younger daughter and son, Australian-born, travelled on an Australian Passport. During one re-entry into Australia, the Immigration Official politely asked Susanna why she had not applied for Australian Citizenship. Why, indeed? She was now thirty years of age and had been brought up in the old Italian way but was otherwise totally Australian, having been educated in the best school and speaking English far better than Italian. Yes, she determined, she would apply for Australian Citizenship as soon as possible.
Application, interview and acceptance were easy and, on Wednesday, 18th February, 1981, officially became a dinky-di, dyed-in-the-wool Aussie. Nazzareno and Ebe followed suit not long after making the whole Bonaretti family Australian citizens. There would be no turning back; they would not return to Italy except for holidays...
Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs letter advising of interview appointment time - surprisingly signed by "C Kirkpartick"
Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs letter - second page
Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs letter received 13th February, 1981, inviting Susanna to its Citizenship Ceremony
Candidates were asked to swear an Oath of Allegiance, or Affirmation of Allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II. Susanna took the Oath.
In the end...
Sadly, Nazzareno passed away in 1996 and Ebe in 2005; had they lived to 100, they would have seen seven great-grandchildren... and counting.
4th November, 2023
The Welcome Wall pays tribute to the migrants who have travelled the world to call Australia home. More than 200 countries are represented on the Welcome Wall, which faces Darling Harbour and Pyrmont Bay, where many migrants arrived in Australia… including Nazzareno Bonaretti in 1951.
As a tribute to Nazzareno and Ebe Bonaretti, their names, together with daughter Susanna, were inscribed on Panel 92, Column 1, Line 97 of the Welcome Wall and unveiled 4th November, 2023.
As a tribute to Nazzareno and Ebe Bonaretti, their names, together with daughter Susanna, were inscribed on Panel 92, Column 1, Line 97 of the Welcome Wall and unveiled 4th November, 2023.
There are tens of thousands of names inscribed on these panels and a search of names can be performed on this page: https://www.sea.museum/explore/welcome-wall/search
The Nazzareno Bonaretti entry:
Discover more here: https://www.sea.museum/2018/09/25/welcome-wall
