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one time or another) to deal in legal matters and were handicapped both through their
lack of education and theu- language skills. Messrs Minotti and Scheggia, among many
others, were Vincenzo's cUents. The appointment of informal legal assistants from
within the immigrant community reflected traditional suspicion of govemment
institutions, officialdom and the law (typified in another Bergamask saying: as 'soldi e
amicizia rompono il collo alia guistizi', money and friends break the neck of justice).^^
It reinforced the power stmcture emerging within the immigrant community which
gave those with education increased responsibility and status. Vincenzo took every
opportunity to exercise his English skills, his business records containing only the
occasional 'vedi' as a 'see' reference.
As a businessman and tovm identity, Vincenzo also began to take on more
responsibility within the general community. Standing for councU in 1869, he was
elected a member of the Central Division of the Yandoit and Franklin Road Board
which then acted as the shire council.^^ His family remained, however, his chief
concem, Anastasia giving birth to a fourth child Margaret Elizabeth on 22 April 1870.
A daughter Anastasia, named after her mother, was bom on 5 August 1871 followed
by Arnold Vincent on 8 October 1872. Unfortunately, both he and his sister Anastasia
were to die the foUowing year. By that time Vincenzo had been elected a councUlor on
the Shire of Mount Franklin.^^ He had also increased his land holding, purchasing
another block of land at Spring Creek opposite his business.^'* On 29 September 1873
a seventh child Emilia Louisa was bom and was given the first Italian name in the
family: coming after Vincenzo had been 20 years in the Colony, it symbolised the
strong affection he retained for his homeland. Another daughter Sarah Martha Teresa
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