Born and raised in provincial Catalonia, Jeroni (Jerome) Rodoreda was 17 when he joined a Benedictine missionary group in 1849. He sailed for Western Australia possessing not much more than baking skills, musical training, unswerving faith and abundant fortitude.

Rodoreda re-entered secular society after three testing years, building a successful bakery business in central Perth. As one of the colony's earliest non-English speaking migrants, he exemplified the character of many who would follow, participating fully in its social, economic and spiritual life, and ultimately leaving a rich family legacy.

By Ken Spillman