Giovanni Sgro

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Wikipedia

Giovanni Antonio Sgro (16 February 1931 – 18 March 2019) was an Italian-born Australian politician. Sgro emigrated to Australia in 1952.[1] He was a painter and decorator.[2] In 1979, he became the first Italian-born MP in Victoria.[3] He served as a Member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing the Labor Party for Melbourne North Province from July 1979[3] until his retirement in August 1992.[4]

Biography

Sgro was born in Seminara, in Calabria, Italy on 16 February 1931.[5] He applied for assisted passage to Australia in 1952[5] and arrived on the Florentina on 21 April 1952.[6] On his arrival, he worked at a migrant camp in Bonegilla[3] for three months before leading a demonstration over the lack of work available to migrants.[7] Following his release, he worked in northern Victoria for two years.[7] In 1954, he moved to Melbourne.[3][7]

Sgro joined the Communist Party. He applied for Australian citizenship in 1959 and was rejected.[2][3] His Communist Party membership led to him not being able to visit Italy as he was not guaranteed a re-entry visa.[2][7] After being rejected 7 times, Sgro was finally granted Australian citizenship in 1973.[2][3]

In 1975, Sgro became the founding president of the Melbourne branch of FILEF (Federation of Italian Migrant Workers and their Families).[3][7] He later joined the Labor Party[3] and served as electorate secretary to Jim Simmonds, MLA, from 1978 to 1979.

In 1979, he was elected a Member of the Legislative Council of Victoria, the member for North Melbourne, becoming the first Italian-born MP in Victoria.[3] In Parliament, Sgro delivered his maiden speech in Italian.[8][7] In 1980, questions were raised as to whether the British Settlement Act 1700 prevented foreign-born people from holding high office.[9] Sgro served as Chairman of Committees[10] and Deputy President of the Legislative Council from 1984 to 1989.[4] In 1991, he lost his bid for re-election;[11] he retired from office in August 1992.

Sgro died on 19 March 2019.[12] He was 88. Sgro was survived by his wife,[12] Anna (née Foster), whom he had married in 1965.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Giovanni Sgro (2000), Mediterranean Son. Memoirs of a Calabrian Migrant, Coburg, Victoria, Scoprire il Sud. ISBN 0-646-38541-0
  2. 1 2 3 4 "A Persistent Australian". The Age. Melbourne, Australia. 27 March 1973. p. 5. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Migrant MP Maintains Rage for Ethnic Cause". The Sunday Age. Melbourne, Australia. 29 October 1989. pp. Agenda 4. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Profile of Giovanni Antonio Sgro". Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  5. 1 2 "SGRO Giovanni Antonio born 16 February 1931 - Italian - travelled per ship FLORENTIA departing in 1952 under Australian Italian Migration Agreement". National Archives of Australia. A2478. 1952. 1455977. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  6. ↑ "SGRO', Giovanni - Antonio : Year of Birth - 1931 : Nationality - ITALIAN : Travelled per - FLORENTIA : Number - 316049". National Archives of Australia. A2571. 203699351. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Arkley, Lindsey; Kukolja, Kristina (11 July 2016). "Unwanted Australians: Giovanni Sgro". SBS News. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  8. ↑ Lyle Allan (1985). "Ethnic Politics in the ALP," in P.R. Hay, J.Halligan, J.Warhurst, B.Costar (eds.), Essays on Victorian Politics, Warrnambool Institute Press, page 140. ISBN 0-949759-06-6
  9. ↑ "Ban on Aliens: Victoria Act to Change Old Law". Canberra Times. 12 September 1980. p. 7. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  10. ↑ The Australian People: An Encyclopedia of the Nation, Its People and Their Origins (2001 Hardback ed.). Cambridge University Press. 2001. p. 521. ISBN 0521807891.
  11. ↑ "Treasurer scrapes in, Minister out". Canberra Times. 8 April 1991. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Giovanni Sgro Obituary (1931 - 2019) - Melbourne, Victoria - The Age". Legacy.com. Retrieved 15 April 2025.