Download (14Mb) - VUIR - Victoria University

Bergamask seminary), but also of the enormous respect the emigrants to AustraUa had
eamed among the viUage population. It would seem to many that Carlo's life had
come full circle when he was buried just a few hundred metres from his ancestral
home.
Many in the Italian-speaking community in Yandoit were saddened by his
sudden death, as they were by the deaths of his brother Luigi in 1908 and wife Augusta
in 1912. After 45 years in AustraUa, during which time he had served on the Mount
Franklin Shire Council for several years, Luigi left a substantial land holding to his
offspring, three of whom followed him as farmers in the district. Most of his property
remains in the family's hands to the present day. Annie Gervasoni died in 1920, after
which time her home ~ in accordance with the terms of Carlo's will ~ was divided
equally among the sons. The 'old stone house' was later purchased by Nichol and
leased to his brother Carlo. Sold in 1925, it was finally purchased by Luigi's son
Giovanni (Jack) and later remained the property of his descendants. The period saw
the further decUne of Yandoit Creek's population, the school closing its doors in 1930.
Of Carlo's children, three married Italian speakers ~ one to another member of the
Gervasoni clan ~ and several remained in the local district. When the last of Luigi's
daughters left Bergamo, she scratched her name into a sitting-room window as a
symbol of the many happy years she had passed there.
In later years John Gervasoni operated a large vineyard in northem Victoria
and sold wine under the label Bergamo; his sons Carl and Jack drew upon the musical
skills they had leamed in Yandoit Creek to form an orchestra which attracted
336