ITALIANS OF WOLLONGONG: SONIA RUBBO

Antonietta Galella arrived in Australia December 14,1958 aboard the ship Roma along with her mother Maria and her sister Vicenza. Antonietta was 13 years old. Her father Rocco was already here in Australia, having arrived the year earlier with daughter Angela and son Giuseppe. They arrived August 31, 1957 on the ship Sydney. Rocco was working at the Port Kembla Steel Works. He purchased a house in Cringila.

Sonia, (as most people knew Antonietta) attended Berkeley High School for approximately two years before leaving and getting a job in Wentworth Street, Port Kembla working as an assistant in a Chemist. She was 16 years old.

1961 and Wentworth Street was a buzz with activity. Across the road from the Chemist that Sonia worked at (which was one of several in the street) was the Capri Restaurant, there were also several Tailors, Italo Cafe was next door and Lidia Lebrocchi had an agency for travel. Contarin Italian deli was always busy and the street was full of people. Thousands of people were working at the steel works and Wentworth Street was thriving.

Sonia was enjoying her life and her job. Sonia met Vittorio De Dominicis. He came into the chemist because he had the flu and needed some medicine. They soon began courting. Vittorio was working at the Port Kembla Steel Works as a Fitter & Turner/Mechanic. Vittorio arrived in Australia in 1959, a year after Sonia and actually travelled on the same ship the Roma, arriving December 1st and lived at the Unanderra Hostel upon arrival. He later moved to Flagstaff Road, Warrawong.

In 1963 they married. Vittorio and Sonia had their wedding reception at Luccarda`s in Tarrawanna. Not only were they married, but they had a double wedding with Sonia`s sister Angela. It was one of the very few double weddings at the function centre. Sonia`s wedding dress was made by Liliane Ballesi, who was the wife of Bruno Ballesi the photographer from Photo Roma, who also did their wedding photos.

Vittorio and Sonia lived with Sonia`s parents whilst they built their house in Weringa Avenue, Lake Heights. It was a brick house with an apartment underneath. Their home was built by well known local builder Armando Fabrianesi. Sonia was still working at the Chemist but left before the birth of their son Roberto in 1965. In 1966 they moved in to their new home.

After a short while Sonia got a part time job at the Frascati Restaurant in Wollongong. She was front of house, and a waitress. The Frascati was run by the Comelli family and was very successful. They also held many functions there and could seat up to 120 people. Sonia recalls how busy Saturday nights were especially as the Latin Beats were playing and people were loving the music and the dancing. The Frascati was open seven days per week, for lunch and dinner. Sonia worked up until 1968.

The family decided to move to Italy with the intention of staying. Vittorio had no family in Australia. They rented a small apartment near Pescara, close to Vittorio`s family. They tried to make it work for a few years before returning to Australia in 1972. Vittorio was able to get his job back at the Steel Works and again they lived with Sonia`s parents in Cringila until they found themselves a home to live in.

They found a place in Corrimal and moved in as soon as they could. Tragedy struck in December of that same year. Vittorio died in a work place accident. They had only been living in their new house for approximately 6 months. Roberto was seven years old and Sonia was now on her own. Vittorio passed away December 4th and he was only 36 years old.

After a while Sonia decided to return to work and she also got her drivers licence. It certainly gave her a lot more independence. She got a job at The Fraternity Club behind the bar, and with the help of family looking after young Roberto she was able to get ahead. After about 12 months met she Ernie Rubbo.

Ernie was working with his father Armando at the Corrimal Fruit Market, situated on the Princes Highway, who along with two others (Frank and Vince) were partners in the business. Prior to this he and his father were working at the FVM fruit market in Kenny Street, Wollongong.

The fruit market at Corrimal was an old service station that had closed for quite some time. They remodeled it and made it into a fruit market. It had ample parking. They also added a small Italian delicatessen inside. The fruit market was open 7 days per week. Sonia was no longer working at the restaurant as she was busy with the business and also being a wife and mother as in 1976 she and Ernie welcomed their son Marco.

After several years at the Corrimal Fruit Market, it was sold and Ernie and Frank went into business together again. They saw an opportunity in Warrawong and turned an existing empty warehouse into a fruit market on King Street. They ran the fruit market for approximately two years before leaving all together. Ernie and Sonia then purchased a set of small four shops that were for sale on Farmborough Road, Farmborough Heights. There was a butcher, a deli, and takeway/fish and chip shop and a green grocer. Ernie and Sonia took over running the green grocer. The green grocer was open 7 days per week, 8am - 5pm. It was a lot of work, but the shop was doing well, they all were.

A few years later they purchased an existing block of land next to the original four shops and built another 4 shops. Of the new shops one was rented out as office space, one a small hardware store and Sonia and Ernie had a garden ornament store that took up the other two shops. They sold sculptures, garden furniture, assorted decorative pots in a variety of sizes and other items that were perfect for adorning one`s garden and yard. They were still running the green grocer. Over time different businesses changed hands at one stage a hairdresser moved in.

After approximately six years they decided to develop the site. They knocked down all but the takeaway shop and built a series of modern town houses and sold them all. Sonia officially retired in 2005

Sonia enjoys her life and loves being around people and you will often see her out with friends or socialising at the Fraternity Club. Sonia lives with her family close to the ocean. She is in great heath and loves spending time with her three grandchildren.

She has been very involved with the Catholic Federation of Wollongong for the last 25 years and continues to do so. The Federation has raised funds for charity, the community and the church.