Campo 78 - The Aussie Camp - a book about the Australian soldiers detained during WW2 in the POW camp near Sulmona in Abruzzo, Italy
The Museo Italiano cordially invites you to the official launch of
Gabriella Di Mattia
CAMPO 78 THE AUSSIE CAMP
a book about the Australian soldiers
detained during WW2 in the POW " Campo 78 "
near Sulmona in Abruzzo, Italy
Introduction by Rosa Verrocchi Miot OAM
Museo Italiano, Co.As.It. 199 Faraday Street Carlton
Tuesday 16 February 2016, 6.30pm
RSVP: [email protected]; 9349 9021
Gabriella Di Mattia was born in Melbourne in 1961. When she was 10 years old her parents decided to return to Sulmona in the Abruzzo region of Italy, where they were both born. Initially Gabriella felt lost and disillusioned by this decision of her parents, but an extended tour of Italy with them and her younger sister helped her improve her command of the language, appreciate the culture and start enjoying the new lifestyle. At school Gabriella continued to study English in order to maintain her links with her aunts, uncles and cousins back in Melbourne. She attended university in Abruzzo.
Gabriella subsequently initiated research into the Prisoner of War Camp, "Campo 78" located 5 kilometres from Sulmona. On the wall of one the huts she identified the Australian Commonwealth Emblem, sparking an interest in her that she had not foreseen. Her research led her to estimate that the over 3200 POWs who were captured in the North African campaign and known as the “Desert Rats” included approximately 500 Australians.
Gabriella has written a bilingual English and Italian history of the Australians who were detained at the camp. Her effort is testament of her enduring love and respect for Australia, the country of her birth. The book was officially launched in Sulmona on 21 November 2015, in the presence of a representative from the Australian Embassy. Australian Ambassador to Rome Mike Rann (former Premier of South Australia), whose father had been a POW during WW2, visited Sulmona and Campo 78 10 days later.
All proceeds from sales of the book will be used to restore one of the huts at the Camp.
