Q: Rugero? I haven’t heard that name before?
A: Rugero is Roger in Tasmania.

Q: How old were you when you came here?
A: 23

Q: And what year did you come to Tasmania?
A: We left Italy in 1955 and got here in 1956. On the 6th of January 1956 I arrived in Melbourne. We went to Bonigila and stayed there for about a
month and then after that I came down to “the bush”… Wayatinah. I worked there for 4 years.

Q: I heard the sleeping quarters were ah….
A: Well you had a little hut for yourself. And ah.. you had a sack of straw. Well I went and bought my self some seeds so that I wouldn’t sleep on the straw that would poke you in the skin! I did 4 years out there then came to town. In the meantime I bought a house in Murray St. So I came to town, had a couple of months holiday and then I went to work at the brewery.

Q: Which one?
A: (laughs) They had only one! Cascade. And ah… well I put 37 years in there.

Q: Wow… Were there many other Italians working with you there?
A: Oh there were another 2 or 3... After that I finished my working days. After I retired at 61 they payed me off and they gave me retirement and I’m still doing it!