Summary

Driver's Identification contained with other identification documents in a plastic document wallet dated between 1967 and 1969 belonging to taxi driver Michael (Mike, Michele) Attardi.

Mike Attardi migrated to Australia from Sicily, Italy through the Assisted Passage scheme in 1960 on the 'Roma'. He was placed in the Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre near Aubury before moving to Melbourne, where his family joined him on the 'Neptunia' in 1961. Mike worked as a fitter and turner in factories throughout Melbourne and took up taxi driving part-time between 1964 and 1968 to save for a house. His experiences of taxi driving reveal both the dangers of the industry, and its place at the heart of Melbourne's history.

Physical Description

Dark blue document wallet with two lines of gold lettering on the front cover. Inside the wallet are two clear plastic sleeves. The left sleeve contains one-third A4 size sheet of paper, folded in half, headed as 'Miscellaneous Receipt'. Document has printed black text and stamped black personal details. Receipt details are stamped in purple ink. Right sleeve contains two documents. Both are one-third A4 sheets of paper, folded in half. The first is headed 'Driver's Certificate' on one side and is printed with black ink. There are many stamps in green, red and black ink and signatures in blue and green ink. The reverse side of the document has printed black text on the left, and on the right, a black and white photograph of M. Attardi has been attached with clear tape. Above the photo is a back label with white embossed lettering stating the driver's ID number, and black ink printed text. The second document in the right sleeve is headed 'Vehicle Owner's Duplicate Only'. There is black printed text on both sides and black ink stamps and signatures in blue and green ink on the front side.

Significance

One of a small set of objects which contribute to representing the experiences of taxi drivers in metropolitan Melbourne during the 1960s and 1970s. In conjunction with an oral history interview it provides valuable insights into the history of the taxi driver industry in Australia and the daily working lives of taxi drivers. It also further contributes to narratives of European post-World War II migration through the Assisted Passage scheme, and specifically Italian and Sicilian migrant experiences.

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