Guiseppina (Josie) Pasut

Story

I, Guiseppina (Josie) Esperino was born in 1938 in San Vitp Il Tagliamento, a town of 15000 inhabitants situated in Northern Italy in the province of Pordenome some 100 KIlometers from Venice, the fourth of five children born to my mother and father Gionvanni and Maria Esperino.

The surrounding countryside was similar to that around Mildura, warm flat and dry. Horticulture was the main occupation, with the wine industry the major employer. The landowners were mainly the wealthy, employing managers to run the properties employing the local population. The only manufacturer was a silk worm factory which employed some 500 women for six months of the year, the rest of the year would be spent working in the fields, or doing paid housework. My father was employed as an agricultural worker, spending some time in France. For a time he became a Carabineri, until forced to resign with ill health from ulcers, after which he became a mobile fruit vendor. The country was suffering deeply from the effects of the war and its aftermath and unemployment was rife. People grew their own food and bartering was common. Sundays were often Feast days. We would gather at different venues for dancing, singing and music.

I did not go to school until I was eight years old. I spent five years at school, then had further classes with the Nuns on Sundays doing needlework and craft work. I was unable to go on to further education, my parents could not afford it. Later on, prior to leaving for Australia I did a three months Home Economics course and learned English.

My mother died when I was eleven years old. She was only forty nine. It was a very sad time for me, I missed her for a long time. I was fifteen when I started work at the silk worm factory. When the factory closed off season I worked in the fields, often going to other places, and sleeping in barracks with the other girls. My sister had married her English soldier in 1946, and went to England to live .

It was at this time that I met my future husband, Venenzio Pasut. He, his father and three brothers were doing farm work in the district, there being no other work available. He had just completed his compulsory military training. In 1955 when he was 23 years old, he and his brother applied in a Government sponsored program for workers to emigrate to Australia to work in horticulture, in this case, cutting sugar cane in Queensland. Both were successful. In April 1955 he and his brother left Italy in a converted cargo ship, the Flamina landing them at Townsville. They went on to Ingham. The living conditions and the work were very hard. He and I corresponded regularly. Venanzio had a serious accident in his second season, injuring his back and spending six months in hospital. He eventually was advised to go to Mildura for the grape harvest. Following harvest he gained permanent employment at the packing sheds. He and his brother were able to purchase a house in Red Cliffs. He arranged the paperwork for me to come to Australia. It was a long demanding process.

In April 1957 my father took me, my trunk and my “Glory Box” to the station to catch the train to Genoa, where I boarded the ship “Roma” which was taking women, old and young, and children to Australia as immigrants. My fare was 25 pounds.

There were six in my cabin. The meals were beautiful. We did a lot of walking, there was a swimming pool and a cinema. We played cards and other deck games. I was never sea sick, though others were. I still keep in touch with one of my fellow travellers who was going to Mt. Gambier. We arrived in Fremantle first. A very rough sea sailing to Melbourne followed, and we arrived at 4.30 a.m. I will never forget the sight of the sun rising over the panorama of the city and sea from the Bay. A beautiful sight. A highlight of the trip. I was very happy that day – a good omen for my future in Australia. My husband’s cousin was there to meet me. I was to catch the train to Red Cliffs that evening.

The journey took all night. The other passengers in the carriage were very friendly. One offered me a beer – the other licorice, which I accepted; there was no food available. It was 17th May 1957 when I arrived. Venanzio was there to meet me. He took me to a shopkeeper friend, Mrs King whose husband was a kangaroo shooter. A meal Mrs King gave us was kangaroo tail stew. Mrs King was to be a great help to me. We went to the house he and his brother has purchased. It was to be two weeks before I was married. I found people very helpful and friendly.

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