Thursday, 23rd February 2023
RWAHS Talks on “Spanish Benedictine Brothers in Western Australia”
by Fr Robert Nixon, OSB
The centre for the Royal Western Australian Historical Society in Nedlands was filled to capacity on 21 February 2023 in anticipation of talks on the Spanish Benedictine monks of WA. Three speakers, all of whom are descendants of Spanish men who had volunteered for missionary work in Western Australia, spoke about their respective ancestors and their life stories.
Gillian Rodorera spoke first about Jerome Rodoredo. A baker by profession, he was also a musician, and (after leaving the Benedictines) served as first organist at the Perth Cathedral. His musical style was described as “flamboyant and colourful”. He had a close friendship with Bishop Martin Griver, whom he had known in Barcelona, and set up his business as a baker and grocer in proximity to the cathedral. The story of his success in business, gradual deterioration of his prosperity and health after the death of his wife, and the lapse of one of his daughters into insanity, was fascinating and touching. Significant reference was made to the Marsa diaries as a valuable source of insights.
After a break for morning tea, Pat Mills spoke about Francisco Ventura. A show of hands demonstrated that a large part of the audience were his descendants. He was a stone cutter by trade and seems to have been widely educated with multiple skills. After leaving the mission, he married an Irish widow, established his own farm and was blessed with a large family. His life was touched by tragedy by the insanity of his wife, who would frequently wander off into the bush at night. She eventually met her death in this way. Towards the end of his life, he left farming and embarked on a new venture as a pearler. It is unknown whether this venture was successful.
Hilaire Nat then spoke on her ancestor, Isidro Oriel. Oriel was a furniture maker who set up his own business after leaving the monastic community. Eventually he came to own substantial commercial properties in Perth.
All of the ex-brothers continued as devout Catholics and maintained amicable relations with New Norcia. Ventura in particular often referred to it as his “home” and returned to it from time-to-time to volunteer. Rodorera and Oriel each had supportive long-term relationships with Bishop Griver and were leading figures in the Catholic community in Perth.
