Menu - MS Aurelia, Cogedar Line, Cold Buffet, 18 Feb 1959

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A Manufactured For Genoa, Italy
B User Port Melbourne, Australia

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Menu - MS Aurelia, Cogedar Line, Cold Buffet, 18 Feb 1959

Summary:: Cold Buffet Menu from the ship MS Aurelia on the Italian Cogedar Line (Compagnia Genovese D'Armamento Genova). The Menu was used on the 18th February 1959. It is part of a collection of ship menus collected by Margaret Wood an officer in the Department of Immigration from 1951-1960. As part of her role Margaret often met migrant ships arriving at Station Pier in Melbourne if the ships arrived at mealtimes, she would be invited on board to join people for a meal.

Margaret first worked in the Department of Alien Assimilation which focused on migrants post arrival, before moving to the Assisted Division which handled the reception of assisted European migrants arriving in Melbourne. Her final position was working for the General Assisted Passage Scheme, assisting migrants from the US, Scandinavia and Switzerland who came individually on general ships as opposed to migrant ships. She recalls her time with the Department with great pleasure. She was a young single woman and had just finished an Arts degree at Melbourne University. When she applied to the Public Service, she was placed with the Department of Immigration, as she spoke German. She left when she married in 1961 as per the policy at that time.
Description:: White card menu features colour illustration of a ship at sea on cover. Back cover features blue and red flag with three white stars and central horse design.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from Mrs Margaret Wood, 2003

Discipline:	History
Dimensions:	14.60 cm (Width), 22.00 cm (Length)

More information

Tagged with:	immigration, shipping, station pier, women s work, immigrant shipping, immigration policies, ship memorabilia, shipping lines, menus
Themes this item is part of:	Margaret Wood, Department of Immigration Officer (1951-1961), Cultural Diversity Collection, Migration Collection, Transport Collection, Margaret Wood Immigration & Shipping Collection
Primary Classification:	MIGRATION
Secondary Classification:	Travel - Shipboard Life
Tertiary Classification:	menus
Inscriptions:	Text, front: Menu/COGEDAR LINE-GENOVA/m/s Aurelia.
Manufactured For:	Compagnia Genovese D'Armamento Genova, Genova, Italy, 1959
Place & Date Used:	MS Aurelia, 18 Feb 1959
User:	Mrs Margaret Wood, Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1959

Comments

Mauro Azzano Posted on 06 Apr 2012 2:51 PM

Good people:
I believe I was one of the young passengers on the Aurelia when Ms. Wood collected her menu.
As a three year old Italian boy, I still remember the sights and sounds of Melbourne before being sent on to Bonegilla.
This picture brings back many memories.
Cheers.

Trish. Cirillo Posted on 01 May 2012 11:05 PM

Omg Mauro.. My mum & dad & 4year old twin girls & 1 year old boy(being my older sisters n brother) also left Italy at that time & they all ended up in Bonegilla 2.!! Same time.!! My folks came from Rome.(Fondi) do u hav any other information for me??

Trish. Cirillo Posted on 01 May 2012 11:06 PM

My family arrived 1st may 1959..?

Donald Novak Posted on 27 Aug 2012 8:13 AM

At the end of May, 1967, I returned from a year of study in Lyon on the Aurelia (9 days, LeHavre-New York). Some 800 students from several nations, if I remember correctly, on a perfectly calm sea (although Israel and Egypt were at war...). At the time the staterooms were fitted with eight bunks each. Still, a most memorable and delightful experience all together. The cuisine was superb--really, not just student fare. The captain's dinner on the last night was capped with flaming baked Alaskas paraded into a darkened dining room. Total cost of the voyage: $156!

Jic Clubb Posted on 07 Sep 2012 9:31 AM

I also sailed as a student on the MS Aurelia. The exact dates escape me, but we left New york in June, 1964, and returned from Le Havre to New York in August of '64. I remember the capacity as 600 students and 100 professors, traveling under the auspices of the Council on Student Travel. The crew was Italian and there was a Scottish Bursar who had a very distinctive way of announcing meals. The food was exceptional, and was served à la Française - to each individual from a large dish. I learned so much about proper eating etiquette from the Italian waiter. I don't remember the cost, but it was under $400 for the round trip!

Konrad Janson Posted on 11 Dec 2012 3:20 AM

My Mother sailed on the Aurelia from Pyraeus to Sydney in 1958. She paid 200 Greek Drachmas and that was a lot of money, subsistence for a month. She was told of the facilities and great food. The reality was different. Squeezed into a cabin of 12 people, 1 toilet. Soup for lunch and dinner. Soup was generous a broth more accurate description. The Ships owners and crew were not supportive of the plight of the poor immigrants they carried.

Ralph Bremer Posted on 17 Feb 2013 11:22 AM

I came from Germany to Australia on her in October/November 1962 on the assisted Passage Scheme, as I was only 8 at the time my memory of the trip is somewhat fuzzy.
I do remember as we were a family of six kids we caused quite a stir,thanks for the fond memories Ralph.

Sylvia Kliska Posted on 15 Apr 2013 1:15 PM

We sailed on the Aurelia from Genoa back in 1957 arriving in Melbourne April 1958, longest journey of my then very young life, remember going through the Suez Canal, swimming pool on deck and many crammed laces. Lots of pasta and mortadella, powdered milk, and little fresh fruit. But adventurous one the less for a 11 yo . Flying fish, dolphins, crossing the equator etc. and of course the at times rough and choppy seas. I thought we would never get here (Melbourne) nice to see the research about her on Google, fond memories.