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Giuseppina's neglect of EngUsh was her biggest handicap in settling back into
Australian life. FamiUar with little more than the words 'yes' and 'no', she applied for
re-entry to the Blampied school in order to leam EngUsh but was told that at seventeen
she was too old. Instead she joined her mother and sisters workings in the hotel:
Olunpia, who was now 34, and Florida and Margherita, both in the mid 20s. Victoria,
IsoUna and GigUa were apparently married by this stage, Victoria to a Mr Martin,
Isolina to a Mr Blain and Giglia to a Mr Clohesy. None had married Italian speakers,
the tradition of endogamy having lessened in importance with the second generation.
The women remaining on the farm shared the chores, Olimpia (now known as Olie)
tending the vegetable garden and all assisting with the milking. At one stage a
yardman, Lawrence Soretti, was also employed.'*^ As well as working in the bar and
doing the baking, Florida, who was a talented pianist, gave music lessons at the local
school and privately to students, such as Lena Tomasetti. With the independent spirit
of her mother she rode side-saddle many kilometres around the district to her music
students, sometimes staying overnight at her pupils' homes or at the Dean Hotel. She
thought nothing of driving the horse and buggy to Daylesford or Ballarat, on occasions
aUghting from the buggy to enable the horse to scale Springmount Hill more easily. In
their spare time the women worked on various handcrafts, Margherita dressmaking
and knitting, and Olimpia making hats, embroidering and crocheting. Many decades
after OUmpia's death, a niece continued to display her tablecloths ~ a material
reminder of treasured skills and techniques representing a venerable peasant tradition.
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