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ushfires which raged through Hepbum that year. Already suffering poor health due
to miners' complaint, on the day of the fire his family had taken him dovm to the cellar
of his house for safety. His children Emest and Elsie worked throughout the day to
keep his property hosed down and protected from the flames. Virginia's house was
also in danger, she being assisted by her neighbours to remove her fumiture to a safer
distance. While the press was later able to report Pietro's losses as only vines, grass
and fencing to the value often pounds, Virginia lost everything.'*
Following her father's death, and while waiting the three months for her
cottage to be rebuilt, Virginia moved back to live with her mother. This would have
been a comforting arrangement for Loretta who stmggled to overcome her grief with
the practical and emotional support of her eldest daughter. Her son John also came to
her assistance, building a new kitchen at the back of her home which comprised the
first stove ~ a 'colonial cooker' ~ the family had ever owned." John also shifted the
stahcase closer to the kitchen and may have been responsible for building the walls
which established bedrooms at either end of the living area. Loretta did not remarry
but managed, through her ingenuity and frugality, to provide for the needs of her
family. Among her most useful assets were her ability to produce cheap and nutritious
meals and her skills with a sewing machine.
The family continued to make its own cheeses and to eat pasta from Lucinis'
macaroni factory, one of Loretta's simple sauce recipes combining only finely cut
onions and chopped tomatoes fried in butter. Butter featured heavily in the Gaggionis'
and other Italian speakers' diet, it having been a hallmark of Lombard cooking since
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