Mazzarol Candido Celeste

**Fast Facts**
Type of person	Individual

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Mazzarol, Candido Celeste 1897 - 1960

Early Life

Candido Celeste Mazzarol was born at Mannum on 26th September, 1897, the second son of Giuseppe (Joseph) and Lily Mary Mazzarol. His father had emigrated from Northern Italy as a young man, a stonemason who worked on many buildings around Mannum. His family’s movements during his childhood are not known, but it is known that he was educated at Adelaide Boy’s High School and later obtained work as a clerk.

Army Service

He enlisted in the Army in 1915 and, after a training period at Gawler Racecourse, was sent to Maribyrnong in Victoria, prior to sailing overseas, embarking on HMT “Medic” on 20 May 1916. He was based at Larking Hill in England before serving in France as a despatch rider and in signals (3rd Signal Company). He served with 8th Field Artillery Brigade and, close to the battle of the Somme, was awarded the Military Medal on 27 April, 1918 for dauntless courage. He suffered shrapnel wounds and was repatriated to England. He returned to Australia 31 March 1919.

Marriage and family

Prior to leaving for France, he met Muriel Beasley, the youngest daughter of James and Clara Beasley. James was the Secretary/Librarian at the Gawler Institute. The young couple corresponded during his time overseas. He and Muriel were married in 1921 and set up home in a very small town called Alford near Kadina and Wallaroo, where they ran a general store. Their first daughter, Dorothy, was born at Nurse Green’s Nursing Home in King Street, Gawler in 1922, followed by the birth of Kathleen at Wallaroo Hospital in 1924. Their third daughter, Betty, was born after Candido began work as a commercial traveller for C. C. Wakefield & Co, an oil company. The family moved to Wattlebury Avenue, Mitcham and then to Trinity Gardens where Betty was born in 1928.

Working Life

As an employee of C. C. Wakefield & Co, Candido was transferred to Crystal Brook in 1929, having to drive through sand drifts to get there in their Morris Cowley motor car. His duties involved travelling over the mid north of South Australia, taking orders for fuel and oil from farmers and businesses.

The Great Depression hit hard and Candido lost his job, resulting in the family’s move to Gawler where they moved in with Muriel’s parents, James and Clara Beasley in their bluestone house in Jacob Street. This is now the site of the Foodland Supermarket. In the garden stood a young Norfolk Island pine which later, when fully grown became Gawler’s Christmas tree.

Muriel’s sister Winifred and her husband Joseph Smith had a farm at Smithfield and they came to an arrangement with Candido to let him set up a poultry farm in the back paddock where there was a creek running through. Candido set up a tent where he lived during the week, tending his poultry and coming home some nights and at weekends.

In 1932, the family moved to a rented house in Gawler South on the corner of 8th and 10th Streets. There was a vacant block alongside, where Candido set up his poultry and grew lucerne to provide green feed for the hens. He also helped his father-in-law, James Beasley with the Gawler Institute Library by doing the evening sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays. In 1933, James Beasley at age 74 was still working at the Institute, however in November, he became ill and Candido kept the Library going. James Beasley died on Christmas Eve and the Institute committee appointed Candido in his place.

Candido’s duties included taking bookings for the hall and the various rooms which were rented by local clubs as well as all the cleaning required. He had to pay for help with his duties out of his own pocket, so Muriel would look after the Library when he was busy. The Library was open Tuesday and Friday nights from 7 pm to 9 pm and almost every night there would be meetings so He would have to open up. He usually stayed to do book cataloguing et cetera.

In Derek Whitelock’s Gawler, Colonel Light’s Country Town (Town of Gawler 1989) page 164, Max Fatchen gives a description of Candido in the 1930s. He wrote, “On Friday afternoon I called at the Institute library where Mr. C. C. Mazzarol was always interested in the books I chose. He was a rotund, bustling, likeable man full of energy. He liked literature and liked people who liked it.”

In 1951 Candido and Muriel, in partnership with Dorothy and Len Graetz, purchased a small property in Loos (now known as Buchfelde), 6 km from Gawler. It had been originally farmed by Richard and Otto Schomburgk. (The brothers played a significant role in the Gawler community). The property was established as an egg producing poultry farm where Candido assisted Len, his son-in-law, as much as he could, especially making use of his knowledge of raising poultry.

Community Service

As well as these extensive duties, Candido found time to serve as secretary of the Gawler Agricultural, Horticultural and Floricultural Society and was made a life member in recognition of his service. In addition, he served as member and committee member of the Gawler Trotting Club, and was awarded life membership.

Final Illness

In June 1955, Candido collapsed with a massive stroke while working late at the Library one Sunday night. At the time, Muriel was in care because of her multiple sclerosis and he lived alone. Sadly, he lay in the Library from the Sunday night until a group arriving at 7pm on the Monday night found the door locked. They heard him cry out and broke a window to gain entry, finding him inside. After discharge from hospital, he was paralysed down his right side, and sent to Adelaide for rehabilitation. He regained the ability to walk, dragging one foot, but could not use his right arm. He was cared for by his three daughters, until further care was provided in the Julia Farr centre. Muriel was already there, because she was disabled by Multiple Sclerosis. They were able to visit each other.

Candido died on 23rd December, 1960, and his funeral was held on 24th December at Willaston Cemetery. He was a man of great courage who served his country in wartime and his community tirelessly for 21 years as Secretary-Librarian of the Gawler Institute.

Obituary

The Bunyip, January 1961. Death of Mr. C. C. Mazzarol GAWLER LOST A GREAT WORKER Gawler lost one of its most energetic community workers of earlier times on December 23rd, 1960 with the death of Mr. C. C. Mazzarol.

Mr. Mazzarol, who lived in Gawler for almost 30 years, will be remembered by those who knew him as an unselfish worker for the town, who took a keen interest in community organisations and joined as many as he could. Born at Mannum, he came to Gawler in 1931. He served with the third Artillery Division of the first A. I. F. and won the Military Medal for distinguished service.

LIFE MEMBER

He was a member of the Gawler A. H. and F. Society and Secretary for many years, finally being made a life member. He was also made a life member of the Gawler Trotting Club after being a member and committeeman for many years, and also for 21 years, Secretary and Librarian of the Gawler Institute. Mr Mazzarol was secretary of the Back to Gawler Celebrations Committee in 1939 when the centenary was held.

FAMILY

Mr Mazzarol leaves a wife, Muriel, and daughters, Dorothy, (Mrs E. L. Graetz), Kathleen (Mrs B. Smyth) and Betty (Mrs I. Nettelbeck). His funeral took place at the Willaston Cemetery on Christmas Eve.

Acknowledgement

This account of Candido Mazzarol’s life has been drawn from official war records, the Bunyip Newspaper and the memoirs of his eldest daughter, Dorothy Graetz, found in her book, Memories Dear. My Life Story printed in June 2000.

We thank Geoff Graetz for sharing his life history with us.

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