Raffaele Martelli

Martelli did not keep a diary, but his personality and humour shines through his regular correspondence with his friend Bishop Rosendo Salvado of New Norcia.

He had to rely on the goodwill of his parishioners for a roof over his head and food on the table, while a pair of woollen winter socks from Salvado brought him untold joy.

Martelli’s path to Western Australia started with his appointment at the Monastery of Santa Scolastica in Subiaco, Italy where he taught rhetoric.

Salvado had travelled from Western Australia to seek funds from Rome and resources for his Benedictine monastery at New Norcia where he planned to establish a mission for Aboriginals.

He is a distinguished professor of literature and Italy has applauded many of his publications … he is a priest of exemplary virtue, of firm will and capable of the most heroic sacrifices.In April 1853 Martelli accompanied Salvado on the John Panter for the journey to Western Australia.

Salvado had visited the town in 1855 and with the assistance of a ticket-of-leave man had marked out a site for a church and petitioned the governor for 10 acres of land.

He requested assistance from the government, and by November 1856 with help from volunteers the walls of the chapel had been erected, but the church needed a roof; lack of funds caused a lengthy delay.

He lived a very happy and active life there before Bishop Martin Griver transferred him back to Toodyay in 1872, where he again served the Avon Valley district.

By then the new town of Newcastle had been established at the depot, and a new St John the Baptist Church constructed, where Martelli conducted an unofficial school in a back room.