Q: Okay… and your name?
A: Rosa… maiden name? (which ever you like) Rosa Fantini and then Di Florio.

Q: So you came to Tasmania in which year?
A: In 1965. I left Italy the 9th of November 1965 and got to Hobart on the 29th November 1965.

Q: On the…?
A: Guglielmo Marconi. 20 days.

Q: And how old were you?
A: I was 13 years old. I came with mamma e pappa.

Q: And what was it like travelling on the ship at that age?
A: I suppose it was exciting as everything was new to me.

Q: And coming to Tasmania… your parents had friends here already?
A: Well I had my two brothers here and some friends and families. And I loved it from the first day.

Q Really? From the first day?
A: From the first day. I woke up the next day and I could smell all the beautiful flowers… and I said this is paradise. And everyone was bringing me chocolate, y’know everyday and I thought to myself “this is really America!” (laughs) I went to school at Ogilvie High School.

Q: So what was that like going to a school here, (obviously) full of Australian kids?
A: Yes… there were a couple of Italians and some Polish girls, different countries but not a lot.

Q: And did you all stay together as you were all different but similar?
A: Aaaah… not really, not really. Y’know I always said “treat people equally” and they treat me the same. We didn’t make more friends with them because they were Italian or anything like that y’know.

Q: So, how did you find it? Did you speak English?
A: Little bit, little bit. I remember the girls there at Ogilvie were really, really good. They helped me a lot and helped me to understand. Then after 2 years at high school I went to work at Calvary Hospital.

Q: After two years of high school?
A: Yeah I was not quite 17. I worked there for 7 and a half years as a domestic. Then I got married and went to work at St Johns Park where I worked there for another 7 years and then I had my 3 children and then went back to work as part time and then full time again.

Q: And you met your husband here?
A: Yes I met my husband in 1972. Got married here 3rd of February 1973. We just had or 45 year wedding anniversary.

Q: Congratulations!
A: Thank you.

Q: Did you ever think of going back to Italy to live? Your parents came here so you…
A: Yes my parents went back in 1973 after I got married and I had a few trips back to go and see them.

Q: Really? So your parents moved back? That’s kind of rarer wasn’t it?
A: Yes but my daddy was home sick. He was here for 14 years. He was here 7 years before us and then came back to Italy in 1964 then brought us all back here in 1965.

Q: Sorry, when did he come to Tasmania?
A: 1955

Q: So he was… he was one of the first that came out?
A: Yes. He went straight to work out at Poatina. Then he came back to Italy in 1964. (So roughly ten years) Yes and he never liked it.. he never liked Italy. That’s why he brought all the family back here.

Q: But then he moved back?
A: Then in 1973 he wanted to move back. He was getting older, y’know, he was missing Italy. I went back to visit them many times, my sisters, the rest of the family… they’re gone now… I had 3 sisters. I have one left and my brothers here.

Q: They didn’t come?
A: No. One of my sisters did come but they went back with mum and dad.

Q: For me growing up here, y’know I’ve got my brother here, my parents…. but you had siblings here and over there?
A: I had three sisters over there. Only one left now. But the two sisters, one was like my own mother, she was older with 16 years difference…. and I miss her. Still today I miss her… Yes… everything has a story.

Q: That’s a beautiful thing.
A: Mmm.. but y’know Tasmania very much reminds me of Abruzzo.

Q: Yeah?
A: Yeah… the mountains, the nature, the air. (Not a big city…) No… Just nice.

Q: Thank you Rosa
A: Thank you Graziano