6 September 2025

Renzo Mazza interview- life in early Gwalia

 Norma King interviewed Renzo Mazza in 1979. The Mazza family ran the local store in Gwalia, which is now part of a State Heritage listed property part of an incredible museum.  Norma King was also a resident of Gwalia. Her parents moved there around 1930, Her father treated the slime dumps for gold.  

Renzo tells of an old miner called Peg Leg, gambling priests, police, a shooting, Italian cooking - little birds of polenta - and underground horses. This is part one of a series of interviews Norma had with Renzo Mazza. The following episodes will be released when they have been restored.

With regards to the shooting incident, the person shot was Nicola Rho, aged 53, and the shooter was George Maravich (aged 33). Rho was shot in the base of the spine after an argument about the war. He was taken to hospital where he died 2 days later.  Maravich handed himself into the police at Leonora, and he was eventually charged with murder. Witnesses stated he was a quiet, sober man, Rho was drunk at the time of the shooting and attacked Maravich.The jury found Maravich not guilty of murder as they believed he intended to disable him, not murder him. (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36410932)

Part 2 is currently being restored and produced, so please follow to find out when it has been released.




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