USQ joins in birthday celebrations of Queensland's rich Italian history

Since 1859 Italians have literally shaped the rich landscape of Queensland and are integral to the state’s cultural, economic, political and linguistic heritage.

This historical contribution will be celebrated in a symposium on the history of Italians in the State, to be held in Brisbane on October 17.

USQ History Lecturer Dr Catherine Dewhirst has joined with Griffith University Cassamarca Senior Lecturer in Italian Studies, Dr Claire Kennedy, and University of the Sunshine Coast Cassamarca Lecturer in Italian Studies, Dr Francesco Ricatti, as well as Brisbane’s Dante Alighieri Society, to instigate this inter-university and cultural association collaboration.

The Symposium brings together lived experience, historical research and anthropological fieldwork.

'Italians are historically symbolic of Queensland’s cultural otherness', Dr Dewhirst said.

'They made the transoceanic journey largely to escape poverty and secure work. But, for well over a century, they experienced racist attacks and discrimination, especially in the sugarcane fields of the tropical north. Their loyalties were tested by internments during the Second World War.'

Symposium topics include papers on Italians during the two world wars, the emotions of hope and fear through oral histories, trilingualism, Fascism, community building in Stanthorpe and New Farm, the impact of the Catholic Church, the meaning of an Italian heritage, Italian crime, and historiography.

One presenter, Dr Ilma Martinuzzi O’Brien from La Trobe University, will be addressing the question of whether Italians in Ingham and Innisfail were selectively interned.

There will be presentations by senior academics, early career researchers, postgraduate students, writers and artists.

The event is being hosted by one of Brisbane’s Italian community organisations, the Dante Alighieri Society, which was re-established in 1952. It coincides with the Brisbane Italian Festival on October 18.

Dr Kennedy said these collaborations were an enriching experience for all involved.

'They tend to lead to greater discourse and the sharing of ideas, and establish strong ties between our public institutions for future ventures,' she said.

Dr Ricatti said this was a great opportunity to discover interesting aspects of Italian life in Queensland, many of them not widely known, as well as to challenge common assumptions and paradigms.

'The symposium aims to foster a dialogue between scholars of Italian migration who work in and outside universities, and adopt different methodologies of research,' he said.

'We were lucky to receive many interesting proposals for a very promising programme. I am sure that the audience will enjoy the variety of interests and perspectives that will emerge during the day.'

People interested in attending the symposium should contact Dr Dewhirst on catherine.dewhirst@usq.edu.au