Rooney Galloway
Channel: Museum Riverina
Date: 2016-12-06

Rooney’s parents emigrated from Scotland to Capetown, prior to World War II.  Rooney’s father enlisted in the 8th Army, and served in North Africa.  He was in the army for 5 years, and was invalided home to Capetown prior to the end of the war.  

Rooney completed year 12 (matriculation) at school, and then undertook an Apprenticeship in Capetown as a toolmaker (plastic moulds).  During this time Rooney also underwent stints of National Service, the longest term being 9 months duration – but totalling 2 years in all.

With a desire to travel, Rooney then saw as much of Africa as he could on a South African passport.  Rooney then went overseas in 1969, and was able to pick up work in his field whilst he travelled.  He took a job as a coach driver for the Transit Travel Company which lasted 3-4 years, and was able to see a lot of Europe in this capacity.  When his mother became ill, back at home in South Africa, Rooney decided to give the job up, but the company asked him to do one more trip to fill in for a driver.  It was on this last trip that Rooney met his future wife, Trish, who was on a 10 day tour. 

After leaving his job with Transit Travel, Rooney went to New Zealand, where his girlfriend lived.  He worked in NZ for 6 months, then came to Australia – travelling on a Russian cruise ship, and landing in Sydney.  Rooney came to Wagga to catch up with Trish, and they were engaged within 6 weeks, and married within 3 months. 

The biggest decision in Rooney’s life was when he made the decision to marry Trish, as he knew Australia would then be his home.  Trish and Rooney married in Australia, but then moved back to South Africa, where Rooney started his own business in Capetown, and then opened a business in Johannesburg.  The Galloways then decided to make the move to Australia as Trish was homesick for her family.  

Rooney opened his business in Sydney, where they lived for three years.  They then moved to Wagga, where the business lifestyle was less frenetic, and bought some land on Trish’s father’s farm (old Narrandera Road).  

Rooney has now been in Wagga for approximately 20 years, and his business fills a niche in the community.  

This film was made as part of From All Four Corners, an exhibition at the Museum of the Riverina in partnership with the Migration Heritage Centre in 2007. 

Find out more at http://museumriverina.com.au/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/from-all-four-corners