Sceusa, Francesco

Socialist and activist, founder of Italian benevolent society, Italian Working Men's Benefit Society, the first Italian newspaper in Australia, Australian Socialist League. "After traveling in India, Singapore, China and North Queensland, Sceusa arrived in Sydney on 5 December 1877. He worked as a draughtsman for the Department of Lands and was a foundation member of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia. During his years in Australia he campaigned vigorously for the rights and welfare of Italian immigrants. ... On 17 June 1882 he organized a commemoration of Garibaldi's death, attended by over 10,000 people. He founded in 1885 the first Italian newspaper in Australia, the Italo-Australiano, and was a founder of the Australian Socialist League in 1890. He published The Glorious House of Savoy : The Socialists' Tribute to the Memory of Humbert 1 in 1900. Sceusa became an Australian citizen in 1892, but eventually returned to Sicily." [Major source : Australian Dictionary of Biography (Online)]