109
Antonio Casella arrived in Wittenoom in September 1966, when
unbeknown to
workers, the decision had already been made to close the mine. Casella, employed as a
scraper, had a sense that he was working in a dangerous situation. However, his fear had to
do not with disease, but rather the possibility of a cave-in, because they were two or three
hundred feet underground. He spurred himself on with “if other people can do it, so can I”!
(see figure 30).
38
There were varying reports about the amount of dust in the mine among the
participants. These seemed to depend on whether the miner used water to wash down the
walls in preparation for mining the ore. Water was available to wash
down the faces, but not
all miners did, in order to speed up the process to earn more money. The poor ventilation,
dustiness and heat made the task an onerous one. Giacomo Bevacqua, a machine miner,
recalled using the hose to have a drink, wash himself and the rock face down and then
continue working. His focus was on making enough money to go back to Italy. There was an
area assigned for eating lunch, but as Bevacqua explained: “There was a lot of
people who
was workin’ on contract basis. So you couldn’t afford to spend your time there... You keepin’
goin”. (see figure 31).
39
Attilio Oprandi told a similar story. He explained to a visitor to his home, years after
his time in Wittenoom, that he was never concerned about the dust. They had hoses to
dampen the rock to keep down the dust. In contrast, inside and outside the mill the dust was
always thick. What was difficult for the over six foot tall Attilio was the very low roof levels,
requiring him to work bent over.
40
Once the miners and
scrapers had finished, Pio Panizza
entered with his locomotive towing 40 or 50 wagons. Another man sat behind him to ensure
each wagon was filled with the ore. From the mine the ore was then transported and placed
on conveyor belts to the mill. This process went on during the two shifts in the mine. Pio
Panizza recalls it was so dusty that “you could see where you were excavating and that’s
it”.
41
38
Interview with Antonio Casella conducted by Susanna Iuliano, Perth, 2005.
39
Interview with Giacomo Bevacqua, Perth, November 2008.
40
Interview with Francesco and Emilia Oprandi, Perth, October 2009.
41
Interview with Pio and Miriam Panizza, Italy, November 2008.
110
The Italians’ reputation for high productivity was widely acknowledged. This included the
Johns-Manville
representative, C. D. Borror, who commented during his 1952 visit to
Wittenoom:
Whereas an Australian might drill 20 holes with a
jackhammer, an Italian miner during the same period of
time will drill 35… the Italians seem quite happy with their
situation and… are sending back to Italy for their
brothers, uncles, etc. If this condition should continue, it
is possible that the future labour situation at Wittenoom
will not present a great problem despite the isolated
location.
42
Nevertheless, workers’ transience would continue to be an issue throughout the life of the
mine. Two men, Toni Ranieri and Joe Potalivo, stood out as top miners during their time in
Wittenoom, earning the respect of everyone in the town.
43
One newspaper report revealed
another — Umberto Favero. Favero told a journalist, “One year I earned more than
the mine
manager. The boss earned $11,000 and I took home $12,000”.
44
By 1963 miners were
earning an average of £10/10/- [$21] and the scrapers £ 9 [$18] per shift.
45
In contrast, at
least one experienced Lombard miner reported being dissatisfied with the pay.
Evaristo
Scandella wrote home that “the work is soul destroying and the remuneration is not
adequate”.
46
Those with specific goals such as marriage, the purchase of a home, business, car or
the return air fare to Italy tolerated the conditions and the persistent
coughs they developed
for the financial reward. Attilio Oprandi believes two things saved him from becoming ill:
firstly, he left Wittenoom very soon after his arrival and secondly, he was in the mine, where
the dust levels were kept down with the use of water, unlike in the mill.
47
42
Motley Rice Plaintiff’s Exhibit no. 10908.00: Johns-Manville memorandum 18 April 1952. C. V. Miller
to various executives re: Johns-Manville representative, C. D. Borror’s visit to Australia.
43
Interviews with Rosa Tamburri, Perth, October 2009; Tony and Gina Martino, Perth, November
2010.
44
Hugh Schmitt, 1990, 'WITTENOOM: race for survival',
The West Australian, Saturday 8 September,
sec. Big Weekend.
45
Motley Rice Plaintiff’s Exhibit no. 10554: The ABA Story (1963), Chapter 12.
46
Covelli et al., Op Cit. p. 127.
47
Interview with Francesco and Emilia Oprandi, Perth, October 2009. The use of water in the mine
yielded conflicting stories from the workers and the Mines Department Inspectors. There were reports
of some using water and others not. See Motley Rice Plaintiff’s Exhibit no. 10261: Mines Inspector
Boyland’s report to the State Mining Engineer, 14 February 1950. It was certainly an issue for the
AWU secretary who brought the high levels of dust in the mine and the mill to the attention of the State
Mining Engineer. See Motley Rice Plaintiff’s Exhibit no. 10146: A.W.U. secretary Oliver’s letter to the
State Mining Engineer, 19 April 1948.
