Giovanni Chiarabaglio - Loveday Lives

The Dutch vessel MV Cremer, which brought Giovanni Chiarabaglio to Australia from New Caledonia. https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?55905

Giovanni Chiarabaglio (CI25252) was born in Favria, Turin, Italy on 3 December 1893.[i] He was married with two children when he migrated alone to New Caledonia in 1929. Sometime after his arrival, he received the news that his wife had died in Italy. Giovanni was arrested on 26 March 1942 and spent just over two months in the Nouville internment camp outside Noumea before being transferred to Australia on the SS Cremer, which left Noumea on 30 May 1942. On arrival in Brisbane, he was held at the Port of Brisbane and then Gaythorne Army Camp before being taken by train to Sydney and then to Loveday.[ii] Giovanni was one of only five Italians transferred to Australia from New Caledonia. He spent almost two years in the Loveday internment camp. Giovanni was released on 22 May 1944 under a restriction order and went to Ingham in Queensland, where there was a long-standing Italian community.[iii] In Ingham, Giovanni initially worked for the Mount Fox Timber Company but subsequently opened a successful blacksmith shop.[iv] In 1946, he applied to sponsor his children to join him in Australia, and in 1948 he successfully applied to become an Australian citizen. His two children – Domenico and Luigina – both arrived in Australia in 1949. Giovanni died in Ingham at the age of 57 in 1951.

Sources:

NAA: A367 C76623, Chiarabaglio Giovanni Alberto Michele

NAA: CI25252 Prisoner of War/Internee – Chiarabaglio, Giovanni; Date of Birth – 3 December 1893; Nationality – Italian.

NAA: J25 1948/3805, Chiarabaglio, Giovanni; Chiarabaglio, Luigina

Author: Rowena Ward

[i] National Archives of Australia (NAA) MP1103/1 CI25252 MP1103/1 CI25252 Prisoner of War/Internee – Chiarabaglio, Giovanni; Date of Birth – 3 December 1893; Nationality – Italian

[ii] NAA J25 1948/3805 Report No. 685/48 to the Inspector of Police Townsville, from Constable D.E. Fisher, Ingham Station dated 21 June 1948.

[iii] NAA A367 C76623 Letter to the Director General of Security, Canberra from Deputy Director of Security for Queensland dated 27 September 1944.

[iv] NAA J25 1948/3805 Report No. 685/48 to the Inspector of Police Townsville, from Constable D.E. Fisher, Ingham Station dated 21 June 1948.