Farewelling a Beloved Father, Grandfather, Founder of Rivoland and MBA Member
ANTONIO (TONY) GUGLIELMIN By Jeanette Guglielmin
Antonio Guglielmin, who was known as Tony was born on the 31st of October 1938 in a small town in Northern Italy called San Zenone Degli Ezzelini. As a young boy, Tony had a love for the building industry. He left school at the tender age of 12, and as his parents could not afford to send him to study architecture as he dreamed, Tony found work with building contractors, where he learnt the art of bricklaying and rendering. Tony was very hard working and ambitious, and when he was 14, he enrolled himself in a building course which would teach him all aspects of building. He completed this course in the evenings, whilst he worked fulltime throughout the day. At 17, Tony migrated to Switzerland to pursue a career with a major construction company. After a short time, his abilities were recognised, and Tony was made supervisor.
Many people, including the local council building inspector were left in awe as they saw what Tony had built.
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In 1960, Australia was calling. Tony and his brother Lino re-united with their older brother Aldo in Queanbeyan. Immediately he found work as a bricklayer. Work conditions were not pleasant, and wages were extremely low, so Tony looked for other work. After a stint in Innisfail QLD, where he was cutting sugar cane, Tony returned to Queanbeyan, where he returned to bricklaying. Wanting to use the skills learnt in Italy and Switzerland, Tony, with the help of his brothers, built a home for Aldo. In 1963, Tony married his beloved Gabriella. Soon after, Tony, together with his brothers, brother-in laws, and a cousin formed their own Bricklaying company called “Grappa Constructions”. They went on to complete the brickwork in many major sites in the Canberra/Queanbeyan region. Grappa Constructions also provided work to many new immigrants.
MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWS EDITION 1 2021
