Walking in their Boots
Italian Prisoners of War in Queensland 1943-1946
North Queenslander, Joanne Tapiolas, has been delving into the history of Italian prisoners of war in Queensland and slowly the stories and memories of this chapter in Queensland history have emerged.
Walking in their Boots incorporates the facts and the personal narratives from the ten districts where the POWs worked and lived. Queenslanders and Italians sharing their memories, artefacts, photos and letters have added a richness and diversity to this chronicle.
Walking in their Boots is a record of this history and a valuable reference to the background and context of Italian POWs in Australia.
Book now available
$25.00 plus postage and handling
200+ pages
English version only
For further details and to place an order:
contact Joanne Tapiolas e. joannetappy@gmail.com
Precis of Walking in their Boots
Over 1500 Italian prisoners of war, captured in the battlefields of North Africa, came to Queensland during World War 2. The Italians provided a much-needed workforce for farmers throughout nine south-east Queensland districts. Additionally, 250 Italians worked at the Commonwealth Vegetable Farm on the Burdekin River, to supply fresh produce to the north’s military forces.
Queensland farming families welcomed the Italians onto their farms and into their homes. A temporary refrain from life behind barbwire fences, friendships were forged, and lasting memories remain clear over seven decades later.
The Italian prisoners of war left their footprints in the landscape and in the memories of Queenslanders. Walking in their Boots traces the history of Italian prisoners of war in Queensland and tells the stories of a time when POWs worked on our Queensland farms.
Footprints in Concrete
Farm of Ron Niebling Lake Moogerah via Boonah
(photo courtesy of Pam Phillips (nee Niebling)
Footprints of Italian Prisoners of War in Australia 
Congratulations on your book. Where or how can I order a copy
Regards Jenny
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Jennifer, Thank you for your interest and comment. Please email me at joannetappy@gmail.com and I will email you the details. I am taking orders and then will do a print run. The book is $25.00 and postage $10.95. I will not be selling them through retailers. It is such a small interest group. Joanne
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Congratulations, can’t wait to order a copy.
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Thank you Graham for your interest. Send me an email at joannetappy@gmail.com and I will send you the details. Joanne
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Hi Joanne. I am very interested in this book. Both my parents being italian. Congrats on this book. How and where can I order a copy
Kind regards
Nadia
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Thank you Nadia for your interest and kind comments. Send me through an email to joannetappy@gmail.com and I will send you the details. My maternal grandparents are from the north, near Pordenone. Where are your parents from?
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Hi Joanne my parents and grandparents are from the north too Monte Grappa and Trevi
Thanks
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Hi Joanne sorry about my last email spell check changed my spelling my Mum was born in Crespano del Grappa and dad wad born in Trevino. North of italy
Thanks
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Spell check can a difficult tool. Yes, same region. I had plans to visit this year, but might have to wait until 2019. By then I might have learnt a little Italian. My grandparents went to Innisfail then Mossman Qld. Italian pattern of migration in Australia is very interesting.
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Nadia , read your post ,just wanted to say I have been to Crespano del Grappa a few years ago , I have friends that come from there Torresan is the family name , your family might know the name , ?? always interesting to hear from people from different parts of the world , My husband comes from a little place near the lake of Como , we have a house there & spend a few months every second year over there .enjoy your trip 2019 ??
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Merle, there were Torresan’s living in Ayr, North Queensland. Is the Torresan family Veneto?
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HI Joanne
Congratulations on completing and publishing this important history. We would like to order 4 copies for our family. Let me know how I can pay for them please. We leave for Spain on 20th March so not sure if we will have them before then. No problem – just want to pay before we leave.
Regards
Bev
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Bev, thank you for your comments. I will send a private email.
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Hi Joanne,
I would like to order 1 copy of this book.
My email address is
bertie23@optusnet.com.au
Thanking you.
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Hi Joanne I would like to order 1 copy of the book please my uncle is in it. My email address is dinod@bigpond.net.au Please let me know how to go about obtaining a copy
Thank you
Dino De Propertis
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Gday im John parr My great grandfather was JJ parr I would love to buy a copy of your book .
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