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Download (14Mb) - VUIR - Victoria University

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the wedding of Charlie's eldest daughter Josephine, Violetta Perini was among several<br />

Swiss friends who helped to decorate the church with floral arches and wedding bells.<br />

Josephine's three sisters were her bridesmaids and a neighbour, Mrs Scheggia,<br />

provided the music."*' Performing the role of family 'patriarch', when Josephine and<br />

her husband settled in Hepbum after first spending time in Western Australia, Charlie<br />

provided them wdth a house; also building homes for some of his other children ~<br />

completing most of the physical work himself *^ ~ the network of kin he established<br />

near Biasca reinforced community attitudes about the close family relationships of the<br />

ItaUan speakers.<br />

Other positive attitudes were revealed in 1928 when, at Florence Vanina's<br />

send-off interstate, she was extolled by Councillor Zelman for her high qualities of<br />

character and generous charity contributions. Likewise, Charles Ferrari, who rose to<br />

the rank of sergeant during World War One and won a bravery medal, eamed the<br />

community's esteem. A tribute to ffilda Ferrari, which appeared in a St Peter's Church<br />

newsletter, claimed:<br />

Hilda is the youngest of the large family of Mr. and Mrs. A. Ferrari,<br />

early Swiss settlers in this district, who together with the Vanina family,<br />

close relatives, brought to Australia all the best virtues of the Swiss ~<br />

firm family ties, industry, love of beauty and forthrightness of<br />

character."**<br />

The additional remark, that 'Swiss women are skilled needlecraft workers and Hilda's<br />

skill is seen at every fete held in the parish', revealed support for another commonly<br />

held stereotype. As staunch members of the Roman Catholic community the Vaninas<br />

eamed further respect, especially after the tragic bushfires in 1906, when Charlie<br />

donated a piece of land on to which St Bernard's Church from Franklinford was<br />

290

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