Maurie Rodeghiero may have been born in Italy but as far as he is concerned Bowral is his home town.
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In fact, Bowral has been his home since he settled in Australia in 1948.
It’s where he went to school, where he began his working life, where he met his wife, where he raised his children and where he recently celebrated his 80th birthday.
Maurie was born in Northern Italy on January 15, 1938.
He was only one month old when his father moved to Australia.
Maurie said war broke out soon after his father’s move and it was another 10 years before he and his mother were also able to relocate to Australia. “We had no contact with my father until just before our move to Australia,” he said.
He said his family settled immediately in Bowral and it was the town he had called home ever since.
Maurie attended St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in Bowral and Chevalier College.
He began his working life as a Motor Mechanic in Bowral after leaving school in 1954.
He then took up a job mining for opals in Coober Pedy for about seven years.
Maurie said he returned home to Bowral every chance he got.
It was on one of those return trips he met Avoca girl, Ruth Jackson. It wasn’t long before the couple married in 1967 and Ruth joined Maurie in Coober Pedy.
Their first two children, Carla and Allen, were born while Maurie was still working in the South Australian mining town. Their third child, Anita, was born after the family moved back to Bowral to live.
All three children followed in their father’s footsteps attending both St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School and Chevalier College.
The return to their Highlands home also resulted in Maurie beginning work in coal mining. He continued to work in the mines until his retirement in 1998.
In his spare time he enjoyed playing and coaching junior soccer.
He has also been a keen fisherman for more than 50 years.
Maurie said he took every opportunity to drop a line.
His favourite fishing destination is in Vincentia and as far as he is concerned the best fish to eat is flathead.
Maurie is a proud father of three and grandfather of six children.
He celebrated his 80th birthday with about 30 family and friends at a surprise birthday held at Bowral Bowling Club on January 12.
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