A Maker and a Risk-Taker: The Story of Božo Mandić
The man who started Mandic Shoes.
Behind Mandic Shoes was a man who loved making things, loved people and, perhaps most of all, loved Australia.
That man was our dad, Božo Mandić.
As Anita and I gradually wind down Mandic Shoes after more than 60 years, we thought it was time to tell you a little more about the man who started it all.
From Croatia to Australia
Dad was born on the beautiful Dalmatian coast of Croatia, in what was then Yugoslavia.
As a young man living under communist rule, he dreamed of a different future. After completing his military service, he made the brave decision to leave.
In his early twenties, he crossed the border from Slovenia into Austria, looking for a new beginning.
He had already been introduced to shoemaking while working in Zagreb. After spending a few years in Austria, the opportunity came to immigrate to Australia, where he would go on to learn his trade in footwear manufacturing.
His first stop was Melbourne, which had a thriving footwear industry. He worked there for a while, but apparently Melbourne's weather wasn't quite to his liking!
So he moved to Sydney.
He was the first of his family to arrive in Australia. His two brothers and several friends would eventually follow.
It All Started in a Garage
By the time Dad met and married Mum, Gerardina, he was living in Leichhardt, Sydney.
And like so many Australian businesses, Mandic Shoes had rather humble beginnings.
It started in the family garage.
Some of the first products Mum and Dad made were kangaroo-fur slippers, or scuffs.
These were hand-stitched slippers made from kangaroo skins with the fur still attached, finished with leather soles.
Gerardina worked alongside Dad, helping stitch the slippers at home. It was very much a family effort from the beginning.
Eventually, the business grew, and Dad opened his first factory at 13 Shirlow Street, Marrickville.
For us children, the factory became our second home.
I've written about those early memories in our previous story, Growing Up in a Shoe Factory, but this time I wanted to share a little more about Dad himself.
A Man Who Gave Everyone a Go
Dad worked incredibly hard. Six days a week, long hours, always thinking about the business.
But he also had a warm, easygoing nature and genuinely enjoyed meeting people and getting to know them.
He had a good sense of humour, loved a joke and was wonderful with children. He always seemed to find time for a conversation, whether it was with a customer, a member of staff or someone he'd just met.
I honestly can't remember anyone who didn't like him.
He was also incredibly generous with opportunities.
Over the years, many migrants worked in our factory. Some would simply knock on the door looking for a job.
If Dad thought someone was willing to learn and prepared to work, he'd often give them a go.
Perhaps he remembered what it was like to arrive in a new country and need someone to give you that first opportunity.
He believed in people, encouraged his staff and genuinely enjoyed seeing others succeed.
The factoy he built in Monto
The factory he built in Minto.
Four Girls in a Holden Station Wagon
Although Dad worked long hours, he always made time for family.
We lived in Randwick, close to Coogee Beach, and I remember summer evenings when he'd finish work and we'd head down to the beach for a swim.
But some of my happiest memories are our Christmas holidays.
Every year, Dad would close the factory for four weeks, pack up the family and we'd head off to explore Australia.
Picture four girls piled into the back of a Holden station wagon, windows wound down, wind blowing through our hair, laughing and having a wonderful time.
Seatbelts? Well, it was a different era!
We camped, explored and had adventures.
We spent many holidays around Forster-Tuncurry on the Mid North Coast, but we also travelled to places like Cooma and the Snowy Mountains.
Dad absolutely loved Australia.
For someone who had travelled halfway around the world to make this country his home, he seemed determined to see as much of it as possible.
And he took us along for the ride.
Taking risks! Dad with us, his four daughters. Right - The Holden on one of our many holiday trips.
A Maker and a Risk-Taker
Looking back, Dad was an adventurer at heart.
After all, it takes a certain kind of courage to leave your homeland, cross a border into the unknown and eventually travel halfway around the world to begin again.
But he was also a maker.
He loved his craft.
He took enormous pride in producing footwear here in Australia, using quality materials and Australian materials wherever possible.
For him, making shoes wasn't just about business. It was about creating something with your hands, taking pride in your work and knowing you'd made something worthwhile.
He regularly travelled back to Europe, visiting footwear trade fairs and catching up with family.
He was always curious, always learning and always looking for new ideas.
A Lesson I Never Forgot
When I first started working full-time in the factory, I remember asking Dad how to do something.
To my frustration, he wouldn't tell me.
I remember getting quite annoyed with him. How was I supposed to learn if he wouldn't show me?
But that was Dad. He wanted me to work it out for myself.
To think, experiment, make mistakes and find a solution.
Looking back, I understand why.
That's exactly how he'd built his own life.
Nothing had been handed to him. He'd taken chances, worked things out and kept going.
His Greatest Legacy
Dad passed away in 1995, but the business he created continued.
As Anita and I now gradually wind down Mandic Shoes after more than 60 years, we often reflect on just how much he achieved.
He came to Australia as a young migrant with determination, a willingness to work hard and a passion for making footwear.
He built a business, employed people, raised a family and created opportunities for all of us.
But what I remember most isn't simply the business.
It's his laughter, his generosity, his love of adventure and the enormous pride he took in making something here in Australia.
He loved this country and everything it had given him.
And he gave so much back through his work, his family and the people whose lives he touched.
He was a maker and a risk-taker.
And we're incredibly proud to be his daughters.
Julie and Anita
Mandic Shoes