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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-05-12 Daily Xml
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GIORNO DEL RICORDO

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:50): On 10 February this year I had the pleasure to attend a commemoration mass at St Francis Xavier Cathedral, the reception that followed the mass and a photographic exhibition on the following Sunday, 14 February, to acknowledge and remember the Giorno del Ricordo. Also present on the day was the current Minister for Multicultural Affairs, the Hon. Grace Portolesi, as well as the Hon. David Ridgway, representing the opposition.

The Giorno del Ricordo was instituted by the Italian government in 2004 to preserve and renew the memory of the tragedy of the Giuliano-Dalmati. This day is celebrated yearly worldwide on 10 February. The Giuliano-Dalmati are natives of Istria, Fiumi and Dalmazia, the region now known as Dalmatia that stretches along the edge of the eastern Adriatic Sea.

The photographs exhibited serve to remind us of a dreadful chapter in what is quite recent Italian history. At the same time, they constitute a moving tribute to the extraordinary courage and resilience of the Giuliano-Dalmati in the immediate aftermath of World War II, when some 350,000 of these people were faced with a terrible choice.

Caught up in the heartless power politics of nations, when families were displaced and moved around like cattle, they had to renounce their Italian heritage and become part of Yugoslavia or they had to go elsewhere. As part of this, thousands were killed and, shamefully, their bodies were thrown in mass graves or 'foibe'.

Many who tried to settle in other parts of war-torn Italy found they were not at all welcome, and they faced a future of great uncertainty. The toughness and determination of the Giuliano-Dalmati shone through, however. They survived the refugee camps, threw all their possessions into old suitcases, boarded ships and embarked on long journeys to strange and far-off places.

It would be fair to say that countries such as Australia benefited enormously from this turbulent process. Australia was bolstered by the arrival of truly remarkable people—Italians who had triumphed over hardship and so capable of meeting virtually any challenge that came their way. The Giuliano-Dalmati who settled in South Australia adjusted quickly to their new surroundings, and their enormous energies were released.

Through hard work, through the general support of one another, and through an unshakeable belief in family, they prospered and made a better life for themselves. By doing so, they also enriched the culture of South Australia such that this state is today vastly more diverse and outward looking than it might otherwise have been.

The story of the Giuliano-Dalmati is painful yet compelling and ultimately inspiring. Despite the elapse of more than 60 years since that great movement of humanity, the organisers of the exhibition demonstrated they certainly have no intention of forgetting. I congratulate every one of those people, especially members of the Committee of the Giorno del Ricordo for gathering such excellent material and displaying it so respectfully. I also commend the group for helping organise a special remembrance mass and the Italian Consul, Dr Tommaso Coniglio, for the subsequent reception held in the city preceding the exhibition.

Together, these actions reflect great credit on this committee and the wider Italian community of South Australia. I again congratulate the committee on reminding us of the heroic Giuliano-Dalmati of the 1940s and on helping to pass on their story to current and future generations. I particularly mention Mr Rick Tocchiti, the President of the Famiglia Zarantina Association; Ms Franca Antonello, who worked tirelessly with the organisation of the events; Ms Mirella Mancini; Cavaliere Bob Masi; and Mr Monte Lawson-Masi.

History teaches us that, if there are not those who are prepared to record and commemorate history, then there are always those who are prepared to put forward their own version of events. Keeping faith with the truth and learning from it, no matter that sometimes it may be uncomfortable, is one way we move forward as a society. The history of migration is always so poignant and, when we have a history such as this one, it is even more extraordinary.

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