Camarda Family

Francesco Camarda was born in 1853 to Vincenzo Camarda and Giuseppa Travia. His Father, Vincenzo was a “marinaro” or “seafarer”. His sister, Fortunata Camarda, was born in 1856. She married Carmelo Vinci, and they had 5 children that were also involved in seafaring – Diego (b. 1878 d. 1959) (see Vinci Family (Antonino) Story), Antonino (b. 1880 d. 1919), Calogero (b. 1890 d. 1953), Fedele (b. 1893 d. 1965) and Vincenzo.

Francesco Camarda was one of the first Orlandini to arrive and settle at Point Peron with a small group of other Fishermen from San Gregorio, forming the Rockingham Fishing Company between 1885 and 1890 (see Glorioso Family story). He married Concetta Maria Lipari in Naso, Sicily in 1883. They went on to have two Sons -

1. Vincenzo (b. 3 June 1885) and

2. Fedele (b. 4 February 1896)

Over the years Francesco Camarda travelled back and forth to Sicily. In 1907, he travelled with his wife and two children on the Ortona, arriving in Fremantle on the 21st of November. During this trip his 14-year-old nephew, Fedele Vinci (b. 1893 d. 1965) accompanied him.

Francesco Camarda is listed on the ship's manifest leaving Fremantle with his Son Vincenzo on 2 March 1908. It was a common occurrence to enter and leave Fremantle, returning to Sicily, or visiting South America to seek out employment opportunities. It was only in later years that many migrants decided to permanently move to Australia.

The youngest Son Fedele had to quickly make ends meet, being thrust into the fishing industry as a 12-year-old. He first worked with the Rockingham Fishing Company, pushing a cart all the way to the old Fremantle Fish Market to sell his catch. Later, like many, he would settle in Fremantle netting fish, and as his income grew, he took to deep sea fishing on the Bruno, under sail with a Marconi rig. Fedele fished and dropped cray pots, and sailed between them, pulling them up by hand with no winch, which by all accounts was one of the hardest jobs you could ever wish to have. Then he sold his crays by the baker’s dozen from the old jetty behind Cicerello’s.

In 1912, Fedele and his brother co-signed a letter addressed to the Fremantle Council requesting shelter for the Fremantle Fishing Boats in the form of an adequate breakwater.

Fedele’s Father, Francesco is listed on the ships manifest re-entering Fremantle, together with Vincenzo Miragliotta, on 11 May 1915, onboard the Osterley. By then, Francesco had decided to permanently move to Fremantle. His wife Concetta (and Teresa Miragliotta – sister of Filippa Miragliotta who married their Son Vincenzo) are said to be the first migrant women from Capo D’Orlando to arrive and stay in Fremantle. From 1920/21 until 1972/73, no.12-14 Duplex on Norfolk Street was owned by Francesco Camarda and his descendants. They lived in 14 Norfolk Street and leased out the other property.

Tragically in later life, Francesco Camarda was hit by a train on 2 September 1933 whilst walking on Marine Terrace. He died in Fremantle Hospital from his injuries on 4 September 1933. The following year his wife Concetta died in Fremantle Hospital on the 8th of January 1934.

During World War II, the Bruno, together with all other Italian boats were prohibited from fishing. It was one of the first vessels to re-enter fishing in 1944. They weren’t allowed to crayfish and initially had to line fish. At the end of “Dagoes Jetty”, a Navy Control Office was established with a board showing areas where you could fish, and each boat was assigned a number and an area to fish. The area was usually confined to a radius of 10 miles or less. Boats were expected back at a certain time. The Bruno had no engine, so often large 24-foot paddles would be needed to row the boat back in time, especially when winds weren’t favourable, and often vigorously as the crew battled to keep off the deadly reefs. Prior and during the war period, the boats would slip at Petersons Slipway at the eastern end of Victoria Quay.

At that time, the shareholders on the boat included Fedele Camarda and his cousin Antonino Pensabene – Antonino later sold out his share to his brother Filippo. They would sail out from Fremantle to fish the inner reefs and had to pull pots by hand. They would use landmarks, and through trial and error, find better fishing grounds. The Bruno was the last boat in the fleet to get a motor and winch in the 1940s.

Fedele’s older brother, Vincenzo Camarda (b. 1885 d. 1943) married Filippa Miragliotta (b.1892 d. 1976) in Sicily in 1914.

They had 6 children;

1. Francesco – Married Teresa Librizzi
2. Vincenzo Jnr – Married Grazia Galipo. He re-married June Brown (nee Doig) after the death of Grazia. June’s family were the people who owned the tannery in Howard Street and were well known in Football circles.
3. Concetta – Married Cono Glorioso (See Glorioso Family Story)
4. (Salvatore) Antonio (Tony) - Married Gwenyth Beverley Robins
5. Francesca – Married Joe (John) Minervini (See Minervini Family Story)
6. Lina – Married Calogero Giuffre

Francesco, Vincenzo Jnr and Cono Glorioso operated the fishing boat Hood. In 1947 it worked from the Southern Group area of the Abrolhos Islands. In 1955, under the rule of fishing south or north of the line, boats could change areas from January 1st onwards if they hadn’t crayfished elsewhere in that year. In January, four Fremantle boats notified the Fisheries Department of their intention to crayfish in Geraldton/Abrolhos waters for the 1955 season. They were Silvery Wave (Steve and Ron Lo Presti, Giuseppe Graziani and Rosario Galiano), Hood (Cono Glorioso, Francesco Camarda, Tony Miragliotta and Senzio Collica), Cinderella (Frank Paparone, Frank Camarda, Giacomo Camarda, Antonio Paparone and Calogero Iannello), and the Buongiorno (Luigi Santaromita, Fedele Vinci, Stefano Camarda and Salvatore Basile).

Fedele Camarda (b. 1896 d. 1973) had returned to Capo D’Orlando to marry Francesca Lo Presti (b. 1904 to d. 1948) circa 1920. Francesca re-entered with daughter Maria Concetta on 3 November 1926 onboard the Regina d’Italia.

They had 9 children; Maria Concetta was born in Capo D’Orlando, the rest in Fremantle

1. Maria Concetta – Married Luigi Santaromita (See Santaromita Family Story).
2. Francesco (Frank)– Married Francesca Iannello.
3. Calogera (Gloria) – Married Frank Paparone
4. Stefano (Steve) – Married Nunziata Russo
5. Francesca – Married Giuseppe Arangio
6. Elvira (Vera) - Married Con Cangemi
7. Antonina (Nina) – Married Peppino D’arrigo
8. Salvatore (Terry) – Married Alice Kowalski
9. Giacomo (Jim) – Married Anna Zucaro

Francesca Lo Presti was born in 1904 to parents Giacomo Lo Presti and Calogera Paparone. Her older brother Stefano died at age 19 in Fremantle in 1919. Calogera later arrived in Fremantle in 1926 as a widow and lived with her daughter in Norfolk Street.

Giacomo (Jim) Camarda, the youngest of the Camarda’s, lost his Mother Francesca Lo Presti from an illness when he was just 7 years old. His older sisters and nonna played an important role in his upbringing on Norfolk Street. Attending St. Patrick’s Primary School and later Christian Brother’s College, he became widely known as “Jim”. Although he has many fond memories growing up by the sea, there are mixed feelings about his school days, where his mischievous ways often led to trouble. By the time he was 11, Christmas holidays were spent fishing off the Cinderella, heading to see alongside his Father, 3 brothers, and brother-in-law Frank Paparone on the 45-foot Cinderella. These were tough days, but his efforts did not go unrewarded, and he gratefully received payment in the form of a pushbike. On a side note, that same bike was seriously damaged and needed repairs when his brother Terry rode it through a pile of blue stone, completing his stunt by colliding with a wall. At 13 years of age, Jim left school and began fishing fulltime on the Cinderella, working mainly out of Fremantle but often anchoring in places like Seabird. They would return home once their onboard well was filled with lobster.

A favourite memory of Jim’s dates to 1955, when four Fremantle boats headed for the Abrolhos Islands. These boats were the Cinderella, Buongiorno, Hood and Silvery Wave. The crews lived on board for this period and there are many stories to be told from this adventure.

Jim was also involved in the formation of St. Pat’s Football Club. The club traces its origin back to a group of local boys that used to kick a football around the Fremantle Esplanade. The team included many fishermen, and their games were followed closely by the local community. Ultimately the club was quite successful and won several flags.

He would continue to work as a deckhand until 1970, when he was given the opportunity to skipper the Seaward for Stuart Ward. His brother Terry joined him, and the pair worked as a team for the next 20 years.

After spending 18 years fishing onboard the Cinderella, Jim and his wife Anna purchased their first boat, the Minnamurra, in 1972. It was followed by the Alice in 1974. Since then, the Neptune name has become synonymous with Jim, starting with the build of the Neptune II in 1976. In 1993 the Conquest hull Neptune III was built. It is still in use today.

Giacomo’s eldest Son, Fedele James, was 18 years old when he joined his Father on the Neptune II against the backdrop of the America’s Cup in 1986. In the first year, Fedele openly admits he struggled, and he found it tough. He got his teaching degree at Murdoch University, but managed to get back onboard the next Summer, and never looked back. In 1990, Jim was commissioned as skipper to survey the coast of Vietnam in search of lobster. This unique opportunity was not without dangers, as they weathered two typhoons and experienced a close call with the Vietnamese Navy. When returning home, his son Joseph (Joe) joined the crew, and they continued to work the coast of Fremantle. Fedele would teach in the off-season, and eventually took over as Skipper on the Neptune III. He became involved with the Western Rock Lobster Council, currently holding the Deputy Chair position. He is also a Councillor for East Ward in the City of Fremantle, championing for his community.

Jim and Anna have been married for over 50 years, together raising four children who have since given them ten grandchildren. He is an active member of the Fremantle bowls club and still has a keen interest in sports. Although he’ll tell you “he never liked fishing”, he will still regularly head out to sea with his Sons, Fedele and Joe, and his Grandson James whenever he can.

The Camarda’s continue to make a significant contribution to their respective communities, enduring as an early pioneering fishing family, and now calling Australia home. Like so many other migrant families, they have made a positive and important contribution to the social and cultural fabric of Fremantle, and this state