Social Life

There was more to life than work, even in Wittenoom, and the town had an active social life. The population was ethnically diverse and the entertainments on offer often reflected the passions of the different migrant groups. Listen to former workers and residents talk about Wittenoom’s social life.

Though Wittenoom was later to became associated with sickness and death, it was for some families, young and old alike, a delightful place to live, set as it was in the most breathtaking countryside. Its remoteness gave daily life a certain quirkiness as it lacked many of the facilities that city dwellers take for granted. Researcher and former resident Sylvia Lovenfosse describes the social life of the town.
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The Sunday soccer matches were a weekly highlight. John Kafarela, who worked at Wittenoom as a 22-year-old in 1958, describes the challenges of the minesite matches.
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Like so many of his workmates who had migrated from war-ravaged Europe, Robert Vojakovic spoke no English. This meant the newcomers felt quite socially isolated in the town, and with most of their pay going in company deductions to cover clothing and tools, there was not a lot of cash left over to save towards escaping from the clutches of the company. The dormitory card game eventually provided him with an unexpected lifeline.
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Wittenoom during Rod Powell’s time was a hard, tough place and fights were commonplace –  even a date with a girl could land you in serious trouble.
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For Carole Kagi, who was at boarding school in Perth, the town she visited for her school holidays didn’t offer a lot in the way of entertainment.
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