Basile Family

This story commences with Vincenzo “Chief” Basile who was born in Naso, Sicily on 14th September 1893. He was the youngest of the family. His eldest brother, 24 years his Senior, oversaw declaring his birth at the municipal birth registry. His Father and brother were “marinari” or sailors, and he came from a long line of fisherfolk.

Vincenzo’s parents were Vincenzo Basile (b. 1842) and Maria Cicerello (b. 1846 d. 1922). They married in 1868 in Naso, Messina, Sicily. His siblings included;

1. Santo Basile (b. 1869 d. 1930 Louisiana, USA).
2. Carmela Basile (b. 1873 d. 1955). Carmela married Filippo Travia in 1905. (See The Travia Family Story).
3. Calogera (b. 1889 d. 1944). Calogera married Francesco Merendino in 1909 (See The Merendino Family story).

Vincenzo came to Fremantle from Capo D’Orlando on 19 June 1907 onboard the Orontes as a 13-year-old. The travelling party from Sicily included his brother-in-law Filippo “King Phillip” Travia, and other Orlandini fishermen who made the trip. After a brief period in Fremantle, he moved to Geraldton and began fishing. When the steamer Windsor, with a cargo of sandalwood for Hong Kong, was wrecked on Half Moon Reef in 1908, Vincenzo was there to witness the tragedy.

Vincenzo returned to Italy at the outbreak of World War I and joined the Italian Navy, in which he served with distinction. After the war he married Nunzia Merendino in Sicily before returning to Australia. His wife joined him at Geraldton about 6 months later. Nunzia Merendino was born 26 November 1896 in Naso to parents Luigi Merendino and Concetta Sicari. Nunzia’s brother was Francesco Merendino, another prominent fisherman of Geraldton. In effect, two siblings (Calogera and Vincenzo Basile) had married two siblings (Francesco and Nunzia Merendino), as was common in those days, and common amongst Sicilian families marrying within their class, and social status. They lived at 307 Marine Terrace in Geraldton, later becoming 387 Marine Terrace.

In 1919 Vincenzo purchased the Kia-Ora in partnership with Vincenzo Cuocci and began fishing at Geraldton. He later purchased a quarter share in the Wanderer with Vincenzo Cuocci, the other 2 shares being held by Fremantle partners, Frank Vinci and Frank Pensabene.

Vincenzo fished the Abrolhos Islands and Shark Bay with the Kia-Ora according to season. He was well known for his skill as a seaman and as a very successful hand line fisherman. Vincenzo was also well known for his ability as a sail maker, and he made and repaired all his own sails.

Vincenzo and Nunzia (Nancy) Merendino had 6 children born in Geraldton in the 1920s and 1930s.

• Victor Joseph (b. 1922 d. 1999). Victor married Caterina Francesca (Catherine Frances) Bombara in 1948. Victor was trained as a barber and worked on the mainland before joining his Father and two brothers, as well as nephew Terry in forming the Basile & Sons Fishing Company. Catherine’s brother Frank Bombara was also a prominent fisherman from Geraldton (See The Bombara Family story). Victor and Catherine went on to have 5 children of their own.
• Vincent Anthony (b. 1924 d. 1996) married Judy and they went on to have 3 children, including Terry Basile.
• Maria Giulia (b. 1927 d. 1966)
• Concetta (b. 1928 d. 1992)
• Carmela (b. 1930 d. 1976). Carmela married Antonio Sciano.
• Luigi (Louis) (b. 1933). Luigi married Zetta Plant.

Unfortunately, the Kia-Ora was wrecked on Anzac day in 1939 between Port Gregory and Horrocks when returning from a snapper fishing trip to Shark Bay and was a total loss. Apparently, the crewman on watch at the tiller went to sleep and the boat crashed into a reef close to shore. Fortunately, all 4 aboard made it to shore and escaped unharmed, but the boat, being pounded by heavy seas, quickly began to break upon the reef. The ice box was full of fish and many of the local people had themselves a free feed of fish from the wreck.

The crew of the Kia-Ora salvaged as much of the boat as they could in bits and pieces, such as masts, spars, sails and timbers, all of which were stacked near to the beach ready to be picked up later. When they returned to collect it in a truck supplied by the Geraldton Ice Works, they found that most of what they had salvaged had been taken away. The loss of the Kia-Ora was a huge set-back for the Basile and Cuocci families.

Vincenzo Basile was almost sent broke by the loss of the Kia-Ora, but he was a determined man and soon purchased a smaller boat, the 18-foot, single masted cutter, Ajax, with a loan of 40 pounds from the Geraldton Ice Works. He repaid the loan with a percentage of his catch. In 1940, Vincenzo Basile line fished using the Ajax. Vincenzo fished around the Geraldton area for crayfish and net fished for whiting, mullet and herring between Point Moore and Chapman River. The following year Vincenzo’s son Vincent Basile left his trade as a barber and decided to try fishing and took out a licence in January. He went crayfishing as a crew member on the Fremantle licensed 30-foot Derna, owned by his uncle, Francesco Merendino. In June his brother Victor also took out a license and joined him.

On 29 January 1942, all “aliens” had their fishing license revoked and Vincenzo Basile was stopped from fishing. Geraldton residents rallied behind the call for local Italians who previously had their fishing activities stopped, to be reinstated. The lobster cannery was crying for manpower and lobbying efforts by the WA Chief Inspector of Fisheries and even the WA Premier making representations to the Prime Minister in Canberra were initially unsuccessful. Eventually, Vincenzo’s sons – Victor and Vince were allowed to use the other Merendino boat – Conti Ciano to fish for the cannery. For a short period, both the Derna and the Conti Ciano were used by the brothers, with the help of 16-year-old Alf Valenti, but later the Derna was confiscated and all 3 used the Conti Ciano for fishing. During wartime they were escorted by two soldiers. The finfish was caught and sold to the Army, whilst the crays were delivered to the Red Tail and Sea Coast cannery. Francesco’s son Vincenzo Merendino, prohibited from fishing because he was born in Italy, (but conscripted to the Army), was unofficially made the Skipper of the Conti Ciano to supply fish to the Army. He was smuggled onboard for the outward trip and on return, would stay hidden below until the coast was clear. The Basile and Merendino families often worked together and sold their catch as a consortium and held a long association together in operating their fishing vessels.

In 1943, Colin Ashcroft wrecked the Tartan on Dummy’s Reef off Point Moore when sailing her from Fremantle to Geraldton after purchasing her for 300 pounds plus 35 pounds in gear. She could carry a 2500 lb icebox. Vincenzo Basile and Vince Merendino (Basile’s nephew) purchased the 30-foot, gaff rigged cutter from Ashcroft “as is”. They salvaged the boat from the reef and had her repaired at Geraldton. Vincenzo was finally allowed to return to fishing in December 1943.

In January 1944, 20 previously excluded Italian fishers were given approval to fish the Abrolhos and Vincenzo joined his sons Vince and Victor with the Tartan, whilst the Conti Ciano was fished by Francesco Merendino with his son Luigi. Francesco’s other son Vince, who had been conscripted to the Armed forces, was officially “demobbed” in 1945. After he was discharged, Vince Merendino worked the Tartan in partnership with the Basile family, while the partnership was having the scooter Rainbird built by Geraldton boat builder, Alex Thompson. The Rainbird was a boat specially built to fish the shallows of the Abrolhos Islands and was a forerunner to the modern-day Abrolhos Islands scooter boats. It was an 18-foot launch, open boat without a wheelhouse, and no winch, with a 6hp engine. It was named after the 1945 Melbourne Cup winning horse.

In 1946, they spent the season at Southern Group, establishing the first camp on the island which later became known as Basile Island. The tin camp was painted with tar, and coral rocks were used to build up to 4 feet to reinforce walls, to stop it from blowing away. The coral rock jetty was built by the original fishermen at the island from coral rock debris that was left behind by the guano miners. The jetty was later extended by Sam Scarpuzza and others fishing from the island. The camp consisted of one room constructed of recycled timber and iron – Vincenzo Snr and Vince Jnr slept in the camp, while the other two men resided on the Tartan. They would spend 16 to 17 days at sea before returning to Geraldton. Vince Merendino skippered Rainbird, working it on his own, while Vincenzo Basile skippered Tartan with his three boys as crew.

In the late 1940s, Vince Basile purchased the 16-foot scooter boat Pix from Ray Page and worked it for a time at Basile Island before selling it to Frank Bombara. Bombara also learnt the fishing trade under the guidance of the Chief. Vince later operated the scooter boats Rainbird, Rising Fast and in later years, Gallilee.

In 1948 the Tartan was operated by Vincenzo, Vince and Luigi (first year) and Victor worked a dingy. The 12-foot dinghy built by his brother Vince, ran a 2.5 hp motor. Victor used it to work 10 pots and wet line in all the shallows around Southern Group. 1948 was also Luigi (Lou’s) first year fishing after leaving school. Bill Newbold had arrived in Geraldton, and the Basile family took him under their wing, introducing him to the infant post-war crayfishing industry. In 1949, Vince “Peanuts” Basile worked the Pix, purchased from Ray Page – Bill Newbold’s brother-in-law. Peanuts was Vincenzo Snrs nephew. The Basile family were inaugural members of the Geraldton Fishermen’s Cooperative and attendees at the first meeting in the Shamrock Hotel which formed the catalyst for the formation of the Cooperative. The Basile family never supplied a rival company since inception. Family members were also involved in making the first bricks by hand for the Co-op building, and at various times also served on the board. Bill Newbold went on to become the first chairman of the Geraldton Fishermen’s Cooperative.

Vincenzo Basile purchased Vince Merendino’s share of the partnership in the early 1950s. In 1958, Vincenzo engaged local fisherman and shipwright Sid Liddon to build a 60 foot, 17ft beam crayfishing vessel in his backyard at 387 Marine Terrace. The design called for a diagonal, double planked, hard chine jarrah timbered hull, with a forward wheelhouse and powered by two 70hp diesel engines. The construction commenced in September 1958 and on 30 September 1959 was launched at Geraldton’s West End Beach. She was named New Mexico and given the license number G221.

In December 1959, two youths decided to commandeer the New Mexico and navigate it to New Guinea or Borneo. They were arrested after the engines failed outside of Geraldton. The repairs would take 5 weeks, and the Tartan was put back into service during this time.

In 1960, Vincent Basile was operating a 20-foot scooter boat named the Rising Fast. In 1964/64 Vince built a church on Basile Island – St. Peter’s. which was blessed by Bishop Toms. He later took over the New Mexico before passing it onto Steve Bombara.

Nunzia Merendino died in 1970 age 73. Vincenzo (Snr) died in Geraldton in 1980, aged 86. By all accounts, he was a wonderful person and accepted everyone into his family. He worked hard to provide for his family.He was generous and kind and humble but quiet and unassuming. His nickname “Chief”, marked the respect and endearment many within the fishing industry had come to know him by.

All of Vincenzo’s sons, Victor (Vic), Vince (Jnr) and Luigi (Louis), became very successful hand line fishermen and cray fishermen in their own right. The three Basile brothers continued to crayfish until their retirement. Vince Basile’s son Terry also went on to crayfish and ran his own boat, the Prowler, and he also served on the Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative board. Victor’s son Andrew and his wife Tracey continue to run a crayboat from the Islands. They have also expanded their operations to include coral harvesting for the aquarium trade. See https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-28/abrolhos-coral-farmers-supply-aquarium-trade/101098540

In 1997, Annie de Monchaux interviewed Victor Basile… Here is an excerpt from her excellent book “Craytales”...

KNOCK A CRAY ON THE WHATSIT

VICTOR BASILE’s story (b. 15:3:1922 - d. 1:7:1999)

Both my parents were Sicilians and I was one of seven children. I couldn’t speak English when I got to Geraldton Primary School and Tommy Rowlins looked after me, taught me. Talk about racial those days, we were “Dings”. Tommy would be there to defend if anybody slung off at us. There was no such thing as the dole so you had to work to help the family. I was a hairdresser for a while. Then the war broke out and Dad, although Naturalized, being of Italian origin wasn’t allowed on the sea. He could go on the wharf but couldn’t get in a

dinghy. He was lucky though that he never got interned. So I went fishing. No wheel-house, no engine, two masts.

After the war a research joker, a scientist, Keith Sheard, used to come out in the boats to measure crays and things and he used to call Dad Chief. “Chief he said, I’m going to make sure this island is called after you.” He must have pulled some strings and it was.

At first there was no such thing as rainwater tanks so we got all our water from town in 44gallon drums and would have a little dish of water once a day to wash the salt off and we’d boil sea water to wash our dishes in. When we built the first hut we got a hundred gallon tank from the railways and before we put on gutters we used to buy ice and the old tank would be sweating. Then we got bush showers. The shed was ten foot by ten

foot, galvanized iron with rock built around it, bunks up top, one corner had a Primus stove, groceries underneath, table in the middle, a little bit of a shelf for plates, cups. It was very good and for a door we had a hessian bag with weights on the bottom to keep the wind out; then we finally came good and got a door. We worked 18foot scooter boats. The first was “Rainbird” (named after a Melbourne Cup winner), no wheel-house, just a bit of canvas to put the crays under. No winch, pulled the pots by hand with a little roller on the side of the boat, and knack. The weight of fifteen or sixteen bags on board made the boat go nose down.

One time in the “Rainbird” I got stuck on a lump and sprung a leak - oh gosh, water! What am I going to do? I started the round Voltex pump and we had a belt that we could put on a bilge pump - got them both going. The water went down so I went in the long way round, from island to island, so if the boat sunk I could beach her. Vince repaired it, put some stainless screws in and a bit of caulking which saw us through ‘til the end of the season.

My father was the first joker to fish in the reef. He used to get in a dinghy and we’d tow him there then he’d row in. He never used to take any bait. He’d see the cray feelers, get a paddle and knock a cray on the whatsit, scoop it up, that way he got all the bait he wanted. It was virgin country and if you didn’t get half a bag a pot you’d be surprised.

I remember one afternoon, it was blowing and my dad and cousin left me on the “Tartan” (30 feet) on me own to pull 7 pots around Stick island while they went on the reef. Anyway I pulled the first pot and I thought, gosh how the mongol am I going to get this on board? There was no winch and it’s not like a small boat where you’d put your knees on the coaming. I couldn’t lean over the side to get the pot. Anyway I got a brain wave. I says right oh, I won’t let it beat me, these pots are going to be pulled before they come back.

I got the jib-halyard clip and hooked it onto the wire of the pot and pulled it like you pull up a jib and that’s how I got those pots up.

We caught our bait, never used to buy it, the Buffalo bream were that thick, Chinamen cod. Only thing was you used to have to clean your boat up afterwards, seaweed and muck everywhere. Use occi as fish bait and we’d catch our thirty or forty fish in no time. Stick island was the place for Blue mackerel. Now you’re lucky if you get one every three or four years. Albacore was always the best. We’d set a line to catch shark for bait. You put a few hooks, ten say, baited with Buffalo bream, on a pot rope, anchor it one end and on the other put big drums, then put it somewhere sandy. Not very often you’d pull it up and there wouldn’t be a shark on there. If they were too big to get on the boat we’d tow them back and cut them up on the island.

After we finished for the day you’d do maintenance, get your bait ready, cook, played cards. Radio was just starting to come in. What made my dad such a good cook you know, was he never rushed anything. He’d let it simmer. These days it’s all microwaves and hurry hurry. He’d make spaghetti and meat balls, fish stew, minestrone, he’d have all the time, and the preparation of the sauce would take him anything up to four hours on the wood stove or Primus. On a blowy day if we had a tennis-ball or with a little lump of coral, we played

cricket. If you hit it too hard it’d go in the water. A group of us stuck our neck out to get a shilling a pound from the factory for the crays and they wouldn’t give it. So we got together in the pub and decided to make our own way and formed the Geraldton Fisherman’s Co-op.

Soon as they saw we were serious the others put their price up to one shilling-and-one-pence a pound. One time my wife, Cath, came over to the islands and got a hook through her nose. My dad used to scale the fish and hang them up on hooks under the rain-water tanks so they’d be nice and dry, easy to cut. This time Cath decided to start the cooking and went up to cut some fish off. She got the fish off the hook and as she stepped down the whole hook, barb and all, went through her nose. They cut the line down but couldn’t get the hook out.

Cedric McCaulay was the only one that hadn’t gone out fishing so one of the women went to get him and he cut it off with some bolt-cutters or a hack-saw. They reckoned there was nothing funnier than seeing this. Cath went into town for a tetanus needle and come back the next day.

I always worked on my own, sixty pots, setting them all by eye; mad. Then ten years ago Andrew came on board. When you come to sit down, which I have recently, I’ve thought what a fool I was. I could have hurt myself or fallen over the side. A couple of times I did cut myself badly and probably needed stitches but just wrapped the cleanest bit of rag around it. Last season was the first season I never pulled a pot.