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Download (14Mb) - VUIR - Victoria University

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Maria Celestina Elvezia in recognition of her father's ethnic heritage: it was an<br />

appropriate choice given the large Italian-speaking community in which they were<br />

living. Sadness foUowed for the Caligari clan wdth the death of Antonio's 28 year old<br />

brother Battista in 1874. His body was laid out in Antonio's home ~ as it might have<br />

been in his homeland ~ before being transferred to the Catholic churchyard of the<br />

Eganstown Cemetery;"^* his burial in AustraUan soil symbolised the distance separating<br />

the immigrants from their homeland and the diminishing hope of retum.<br />

More cheering to Antonio was the birth of his second child on 16 January<br />

1875: christened Antonio John, he also became his namesake. On 9 December 1876,<br />

Antonio (snr) was naturalised, mamage and a family having encouraged a lifetime<br />

commitment (at 33 years of age) to Australia. His brother Giacomo had been<br />

naturalised four years earlier. Mary Ann went on to produce a further ten children, the<br />

eldest christened with Italian names and those younger wdth names reflecting an<br />

increased assimilation into Australian culture. Luisa Sabina was bom in 1877, Lavinia<br />

Cristina Anastasia in 1878, Amadea Elvira in 1880, Battista Patrick in 1882, CamiUa<br />

Virginia in 1883, Mary Ann Eugenie in 1885, Richard Albert in 1887, WiUiam James in<br />

1889 and Harry Francis in 1890. The last child, Leo Rienzi, bom on 4 March 1901, was<br />

given an ItaUan name, a reassertion of Antonio's ethnic roots after 40 years in<br />

Australia. The offspring, evenly divided into males and females and ranging in age<br />

over eighteen years, were to provide a large and efficient work-force to mn the<br />

Caligari farm. As Antonio had reached his 58th year by the time the last child was<br />

bom, it was his 'insurance' against the family's economic min ~ as it had been for his<br />

peasant ancestors.<br />

343

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