A big part of this history is the period of migrant settlement from across the world on traditional Taribelang Bunda, Gooreng Gooreng and Bailai Peoples country. Bundaberg was the place to come to obtain work in the thriving sugar cane industry. Migrants from Italy were no different, they were excited by the promise of work and a more secure future than that of their homeland after the devastation caused by World War II.
Many young men, and some young families, landed at various points in Australia and then made their way to Bundaberg lured by the opportunity to cut “sugar bushes” (as described by John Gianduzzo) and start a new life adventure. Life was hot and harsh. Cutting and processing cane was not easy for anyone. Nevertheless, people came and created what is now a thriving community interwoven with global influences. One way to cope, was through music and song. And Italians are known to love their singing.
Italian songs were kept alive through informal gatherings and celebrations. Until one day, in 1995, with only a handful of people who came together over their love of singing – and their nostalgia for old Italian songs – the Bundaberg Italian Choir was formed. They called themselves, the Voci d’Italia (Voices of Italy), and the Choir has not stopped since.
The name, Voci d’Italia provides a sense of how the original members wished to reflect the sharing of culture between Italy and the diaspora in Australia. Also, perhaps, position, Italian voices amongst the various other cultural groups of the Bundaberg area. The Choir has definitely provided a way of sharing culture, customs and warmth as part of the rich migration story.
From its first get-together amongst like-minded friends in the mid ‘90s, it didn’t’ take long for the Choir to land its first gigs. The Choir sang for the important Italian Club Bocce Dinner that year and as part of a Carols at Moore Park event. The name changed to ATW Voci d’Italia when it became part of the Across the Waves activities at The Waves Sports Club, the original Italian Club in Bundaberg.
For Carole Gianduzzo, Treasurer and long-standing member, participating in the Choir is not just a joyous occasion to sing, or to socialise with friends, it also provides her with a way of connecting to her husband’s Italian heritage. She giggles as she exclaims that her now late husband Giovanni (John), “could not sing to save himself.” However, the couple drew on the songs as a way of sharing and enjoying many aspects of their different cultures, Giovanni being from Portogruaro in Treviso and Carole’s Scottish-English heritage.
Carole recounts meeting Giovanni at a community beach picnic. She explains he was “a very handsome young Italian man, my Giovanni. We met and the very next day we went on our first date to the Bundaberg cinema. We married two years later, and I have always had a love affair with all-things Italian.”
Carole and John
There are several others chorists like Carole, whose path to the Choir has been through love and marriage. Others who come to the Choir attracted by the love of song, and the accoglienza (hospitality) of the group. They join the Italians, or children of migrant Italians to practise old favourites and modern songs as part of their choral repertoire.
The Choir spends hours practising a numerous repertoire of songs which reflect Italian and Australian cultural traditions, such as Fratelli d’Italia, La mia terra, Marina Marina, Amici Miei and Finiculi, finicula. Also, specific songs sung by Alpinisti (a specialist mountain infantry of the Italian army). Carole points out that they also sing the hauntingly beautiful Signore delle Cime which challenges the Choir as it requires precise attention to harmony. Yet, the Choir succeeds each time and continues to be actively engaged with the community.
The Choir sings at many local events such as charity functions, senior citizen concerts, and nursing homes in the broader Bundaberg area.
However, the Choir has had success further afield, for instance, in Brisbane as part of the Trevisani nel Mondo Festival held at South Bank to an appreciative crowd of almost 1000. It has been involved in the Yagubi Festival in Hervey Bay and the Bundaberg Annual Strings Concert. And of course, at the local Lion’s Club’s “Great Spaghetti Day’. Singing Inno Europeo and I am Australian for the arrival of the Olympic torch at the Bundaberg Showgrounds prior to the Sydney Olympic Games was also a particularly special event.
The Choir plays a significant role in religious events such as masses and as part of funeral services. Songs are carefully selected to reflect the mix of Italian and Australian traditions.
The Choir has been known to sing regardless of conditions such as blustery winds and heavy rains, traffic noises and various other challenges. The show must always go on – and the Choir always puts on a memorable performance through song and careful arrangement of voices.
Their resilience and hard work have stood the Choir members in good stead for the pressures of putting together a CD in 2004 called Ricordi Nostri (Our memories). The experience of working with sound engineers and producing recorded music has been valuable to the Choir and a great achievement for a voluntary group of community members.
Having a level of fluency in the Italian language is not a barrier for any of the chorists. When asked about her proficiency in the language, Carole explains that she has “kitchen Italian” – referring to the language used in the family home. She explains she knows it well enough to have been able to communicate with her mother-in-law and travel around Italy with her husband and sons.
Whilst she may not appear too confident about her Italian language skills, Carole has no hesitation in breaking out into song in Italian. With flawless pronunciation, her voice easily rises over complex words and even dialect which characterises many of the old Italian songs she sings. She delights in singing and she skips from one song to another, singing her best-loved parts of each. E` bravissima (She is very clever).
However, it takes her awhile to identify a favourite song, “too many to choose from”. She enjoys the challenge of Finiculi, Finicula and Amazing Grace, but finally settles on Sul ponte di Bassano (On the Bassano bridge). That particular song has special significance as it reminds her of a special visit to that very bridge in Bassano with Giovanni.
So what is next for the Choir? At the moment they are preparing for a visit from the Queensland Italian Consul General Luna Angelini Marinucci and are looking forward to surprising her with a few specially selected songs. From there it will be more practise, more singing, more gigs. Life is busy for the Bundaberg ATW Voci d’Italia Choir.
