north east regional extra | 1 - 7 August, 2018
nemedia.com.au
1.
01 - 07 August 2018
By KYLIE WILSON
exploring
common humanity
IT is a long way from the small Italian village of San Ginese to the quiet streets of Myrtleford. But author Moreno Giovannoni, who was born in the village but spent much of his formative years living in Buffalo River – has strong ties to both places, as well as indelible memories of his experience as an immigrant. “I grew up at Buffalo River on a tobacco farm, just past what we used to call Johnson’s Bridge, so I basically spent all my time there,” Moreno said. “I mostly came into town to go to school and that was it – the rest of the time I was fishing, or riding my horse. “I did a bit of ferreting too. “I spent a lot of time sitting on river banks and daydreaming, and I also spent a lot of time listening to Beatles records on the back verandah, looking out over the river flat where the tobacco grew to the hills on the other side of the river.” Moreno has vivid memories of the community in the 1960s and 70s. “In those days, Myrtleford and district was buzzing with share farmers and seasonal labourers at tobacco picking time” he said. “The Italian community was enormous. “At the end of tobacco season dances were big occasions when the grown ups would let their hair down. “The dances would be held in the grading sheds and there would be trestle tables covered with food and drinks, and the kids would be playing hide and chasey under the tables and outside in the dark.”
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◆ BACK IN TOWN: Moreno Giovannoni in Mytleford during a recent visit to launch his new book, The Fireflies of Autumn. PHOTO: Tate Spiteri
GARDEN HINTS
PET CARE
WINE TALK
TECH & SCIENCE
with MANDI
with MOOSE
with ANITA
with CHRIS
TV GUIDE REVIEW POINTLESS
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