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Figure 116: Toni Ranieri in the early days of his business. Photo
courtesy Sue Ranieri.
Figure 117: Vermiglio, Trentino Alto Adige, the home of ten ex-Wittenoom
miners. It is located in the Val di Sole, part of the Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio:
home to several ski resorts and many walking tracks.
236
In the late 1950s, at age 30, Tullio Rodigari returned to his birth place, Montagna in
Valtellina, Lombardy and married his paesana, Lina Nesa. His father’s retirement as an
electrician with the nearby hydro-electric scheme paved the way for Tullio, also an
electrician, to replace him. Like his father, Tullio remained in the position until his own
retirement. Tullio and his wife’s many sacrifices allowed them to raise two children and build
a large home, divided into separate apartments, where their now adult children reside.
Nazzarena Mirandola and her husband, Gino Selle’s desire for their Australian-born
children to receive an Italian education motivated their repatriation in 1964 to their hometown
of Roverchiara in Northern Italy. The family stayed briefly with Nazzarena’s parents until they
found a home in nearby Verona. There, the internationally acclaimed Arena’s L’Ente Lirico,
the opera company, employed Gino as a carpenter — a well-paid and highly sought after
position.
50
Nazzarena remained a housewife. On Gino’s retirement, Nazzarena decided to
find a job and went to work for a pharmaceutical company. With both daughters married and
Gino retired, they gave their home in Verona to their older daughter who had commenced
work there as an architect, while the other daughter had married and settled in Rome. They
moved back to Roverchiara, where in June 2008, Gino passed away from an ischemia [a
blood disease]. Nazzarena still lives in her family home, having survived breast cancer.
51
Repatriation was not always the answer for homesick Italians. For some, returning to
Italy highlighted that nothing had changed, particularly in the south. Giacomo Bevacqua, his
wife, Lidia and daughter Francesca left Wittenoom with its closure in 1966. Having
successfully operated the Single Men’s mess, they decided to return to Sicily.
When I finish at Wittenoom we had $46,000 in the bank.
1966, it was a lot of money. [The] average house in
Perth, you used to buy about $3,000 - $3,500, a very
good house. So I said, “What I do with the money? Put it
in the bank and let's go to Italy.” See if we see
something over there. So I go back to Italy with the
intention to stay there — myself, my wife and my three-
year-old daughter. I didn't like it once I got there.
52
50
The Arena is an amphitheatre built by the Romans in AD 30. It is internationally famous for its
operatic and theatre performances and pop concerts.
51
Interview with Nazzarena Mirandola, Italy, November 2008.
52
Interview with Giacomo Bevacqua, Perth, November 2008.
237
Influenced by his life in Australia, Giacomo had changed. Meanwhile the social mores he had
left behind ten years earlier were still alive and well in Sicily.
I used to talk to friends like you. (He asks me:) What you
think of this? They want to be called “Sir” because they
have the title —
professore or ingegnere.
53
You went to
the shops (frustration in his voice). I went down there to
buy a jumper. He asked me 3,000
lire, at that time. This
guy say, “Hey, how you pay 3,000
lire for that jumper?”
“That's what the girl asked me for!” (more frustration).
“You didn't ask for the discount, take for 2,000? You have
to bargain for in Italy!”
54
Bevacqua’s parents were still experiencing financial stress — Giacomo’s reason for
emigrating in the first place. Since his search for a suitable business had proven
unsuccessful, Giacomo, his parents and siblings immigrated to Australia. In Perth, Giacomo
purchased a supermarket for his parents to manage in the suburb of Belmont. Their lack of
English highlighted the inappropriateness of the decision. Giacomo sold the business and set
up La Gondola — the first of the thirteen restaurant businesses he has opened during his
long restaurant career (see figure 118). He also currently owns a farm which supplies beef,
turkey and poultry to his restaurants.
53
Professor or engineer: the use of titles when speaking to educated people — university graduates
— was then and still is common practice in Italy.
54
Interview with Giacomo Bevacqua, Perth, November 2008.
238
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