On the grapevine

“It was an extremely difficult decision for us as a club to postpone the actual ceremony for Australia Day but we have postponed, not cancelled, and will align a new date alongside Moira Shire who have also postponed their awards ceremony,’’ said Rotary president Ellie Stephens.

“While it may not be held on Australia Day it will be a celebration of who we are as a community and an occasion to congratulate the district’s award winners and nominees.”

Thompsons Beach is being considered as a likely venue to host the community event, hopefully in a month or two.

The Rotary Club has invited award-winning author Clancy Tucker as guest speaker, who looks forward to catching up with residents of Cobram and district at the re-convened celebration.

Meeting Clancy for the first time last week was indeed a pleasure. Now here is a man of many talents, a man never short of words or knowledge of the lives of people which he relates successfully in his written work. While aimed particularly at young adults, his books are found to attract mature adults too!!

The 71-year-old has had a somewhat eclectic work life as a farmer, public servant, truck driver, speech writer and so on. While working at Ayre’s Rock Resort 20 years ago he was unfortunately diagnosed with chronic fatigue. Owing to this enormously debilitating condition, he made the decision to move back to Victoria and while living in Eildon, he wrote his first book Gunnedah Hero, which became hugely popular. Six years ago he moved to Cobram when his mother passed away.

Since launching Gunnedah Hero he has not looked back and has written more than 12 books, some of which have been short-listed and highly commended in the Australian National Literary Awards, in fact he was an award winner in 2006, 2007 and 2011.

He is a human rights activist, a social justice campaigner, a published poet and recognised photographer.

Clancy’s title for the Australia Day celebrations is The Community, a topic he will address when a new date is set for the community to get together and celebrate our town and its people.

Clancy has experienced life in many countries including the US, England, Thailand and other parts of South-East Asia and speaks three languages and will undoubtedly be an interesting and inspirational speaker

PROBUS LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS

The Cobram/Barooga Probus Club, a mixed club for both men and women, seeks new members for its energetic and progressive club.

Having experienced difficulties in organising meetings and catching up with members over the past two years, acting president Heather du Vallon and secretary Kath Gregory believe the club’s motto “Tomorrrow’s vision for active retirees” outlines what the club represents and hope this will attract new members to join them.

Probus is an excellent avenue for people to discover new interests and form new friendships, particularly those who have recently retired yet struggle to keep busy and stimulated after years in the workforce.

It also offers a great resource for newcomers to the district to meet new people and network with other newcomers.

Meetings are held on the first Monday in each month with interesting guest speakers, a morning tea and often followed with lunch at a local venue.

Probus aims to advance intellectual and cultural interests and to be seen as a worthwhile organisation within the community. It is non-political, non-sectarian and is not a fundraising body. The aim is to treat all members equally, irrespective of race, religion or politics.

On Monday, February 7, the club will hold its first meeting for the year in the beautiful Barooga Botanical Gardens, commencing at 10am. Interested newcomers will be warmly welcomed and all attendees are asked to please bring along a chair and a drink. The group will then move on to the Barooga Hotel where they can enjoy a delightful luncheon.

If you would like further information on Probus, please contact acting president Heather du Vallon on 0407 641 163.

YOUNG ITALIANS EMBRACE THEIR NEW LIFE

At the age if 14 years Giovanni (John) Artavilla journeyed to Australia from his home in the small Calabrian town of Oppido Mamertina with mum Teresa and four siblings to join their father who had arrived four years earlier.

Dad Giuseppe initially grew vegetables locally and later went to work for the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission. Sometime earlier he had met a local dairy farmer who suggested that if he brought his family out from Italy he would build them a hut. True to his word he built a two-bedroom hut for the family of seven.

Young John had trained as an apprentice hairdresser back home in Italy and keen to complete his qualification went along to see Cobram hairdresser and tobacconist Wally Shadford to ask for a job. Communication was difficult, young John knew very few words of English, yet the Aussie and Italian pair managed and a job was offered.

From the outset John’s boss was supportive and gave him many opportunities to advance himself and learn about this new way of life in Australia. The young Italian learnt quickly, despite not having attended school in Australia as his siblings did. He listened and learnt about the hairdressing business and became determined to own his own business in his new country, one day!

Completing his apprenticeship, John went to Melbourne, took his exam and received his diploma to become a fully qualified hairdresser under Mr Shadford. Noticing John had limited English, a local taxi driver would often take time to call into the shop and if he wasn’t busy would help him to learn at least two-three words each day. “If you do this you will have learnt many words by the end of the week,” the driver suggested.

One day John’s boss discussed that there may be an opportunity to buy the business from him when he retired and just a few years later he did just that.

In 1967 John Artavilla and his beautiful young wife Giovanna (de Maria) whom he married in 1965, became the proud owners of their first business in Cobram.

However, retirement was not what Mr Shadford hoped and went in to see John one day and when he asked how he was doing, replied “I’m bored!” John responded with, “You can come here and help us out any time you like” and his old friend and mentor did!

The business by this time was not only hairdressing and tobacco sales but bicycle sales and repairs and an increasing homeware department. It didn’t take long for the couple to realise that the shop at 37 Punt Rd was just not large enough.

When the shop next door became vacant, the couple’s trusted bank manager Ian Scott suggested they purchase it and make the shops into one. They discussed it and after careful consideration they agreed with the manager. “Mr Scott was always very helpful and gave us good advice.”

Among a steady increase in their range of merchandise the couple introduced manchester and the store became the go-to for the homeware needs of Cobram and district. It had become a one-stop shop.

The couple worked hard and John employed staff to take over the hairdressing while joining Giovanna in running the larger store. Working side by side, they concentrated on the retail side and buying his own van John would travel to Melbourne to purchase new stock.

The business employed young apprentice hairdresser Peter Vazzochi who just loved it and was awarded the recognition of ‘Apprentice of the Year’ in Melbourne. A proud moment for Peter, his family and his employers too.

The Artavilla family grew with the arrival of three children to John and Giavanna, Joseph who runs the business today, while Mark and Tracey have their own careers in Melbourne. There are also six grandchildren.

One particular recollection John has from his early days in the town as a young lad was overhearing clients in the shop whispering and pointing at his pointy toed black patent leather shoes. It was obvious they were unused to seeing stylish Italian fashion shoes.

In reality John wanted to fit in and while visiting Mr Mantovani in his shoe store to buy a new pair of shoes asked for a pair of brown leather shoes. The shopkeeper was astonished for he had a special pair of Italian shoes he wanted to show him and had hoped he would buy. No, he didn’t want to stand out.

John and Giovanna Artavilla purchased the building at 5-11 Station St to fully expand their popular business and after a total transformation emerged Artavilla Emporium.

The stylish premises sit proudly prominent in Cobram and remain as a tribute to the dreams of a young Italian immigrant couple who worked hard for success while the people of Cobram took them to their hearts and proudly supported their endeavours.

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