Rudolph Alagich
| Town/City | Broken Hill |
|---|---|
| First name | Rudolph |
| Last name | Alagich |
| Country of Origin | Triforna Dalmatia Yugoslavia |
| Date of Birth | 1920 |
| Year of Arrival in Australia | 1932 |
| Submitted by | Christine Adams |
Story
Rudi and his two brothers Marin and Slavka left Yugoslavia in 1932 to join their father, Joe in Broken Hill. He had migrated to Australia in 1924 and was working on the Broken Hill Mines
Rudi attended a local primary school as a twelve year old and was appointed the captain of the school when he was in Sixth Class. A letter was written by an irate parent to the headmaster stating that he did not want his son participating in sport while a dago was the captain and that this was the feeling amongst many other parents. When Rudi heard of this letter, he left Alma School, very disappointed, and enrolled in the Central School for a very short time.
Rudi became an apprentice tailor in 1936 and worked in that trade until he enlisted in the army in 1942. He was injured in an air raid in Darwin the same year and was discharged medically unfit for active service. Rudi returned to Broken Hill and married Millie Ravlich in 1943. He opened his tailoring business in 1950 and is still working as a tailor [2008].
He was elected Chairman of the Napredak Youth Club in 1936 and President of the Napredak Club in 1945-a position he held until 2008 except for the period between 1962 and 1976. In 1949 he initiated the first international soccer team visit to Broken Hill.
In 1991 he was presented with a medal from the Yugoslav Government for his work with the Slav community. In 2000 Rudi and his son Richard and received an Australian Sporting Achievement Medal.
He was also included in the Australia Day Honours that year and was awarded the Order of Australia Medal.
Rudi\’s love of Broken Hill means he will remain in Broken Hill. It has been good to him.