Society of Saint Hilarion

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. J.S. Lee:

That this council—

1. Congratulates the Society of Saint Hilarion on their significant milestone, celebrating their 60^th anniversary in 2015;

2. Pays tribute to the Society of Saint Hilarion's service to Italian migrants and the wider community, especially through their aged care facilities which improves the lives of older people by providing high quality aged care facilities within a culturally diverse community; and

3. Acknowledges the importance of their establishment and the work they have done over the last 60 years in the promotion and preservation of Italian heritage and, in doing so, their contribution to enrich the multicultural landscape of South Australia.

(Continued from 18 November 2015.)

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (17:48): I rise to speak in support of this motion. This year, the Society of Saint Hilarion marks the 60^th anniversary of celebrating the feast of Saint Hilarion in South Australia. For six decades, generations of migrants from Caulonia, Calabria and other Italians and their families have celebrated this important feast in our state.

The place of the Cauloniesi in the proud story of South Australia's Italian community is well recognised. Indeed, it has been the subject of detailed research. Connections with the homeland: community and individual bonds between South Australian Italian migrants from Caulonia (Calabria) and their hometown by Daniela Cosmini-Rose states that 'the Cauloniesi in Adelaide are a visible and enterprising Italian community, well known for their devotion to their patron saint, Saint Hilarion, as well as for their contribution and commitment to aged care'.

The Society of Saint Hilarion has played a pivotal role in the life of the Cauloniesi in South Australia. Of course, the traditions on which the society have been built go back many centuries. Each year the Cauloniesi in Adelaide celebrate the miracle of rain worked by Hilarion at Afroditon at around 330 AD and which, most notably for the Cauloniesi, was repeated at Caulonia more than 1,500 years later.

In May 1855, due to an exceptional drought, the people of Caulonia pleaded for rain from their Patron Saint Hilarion by carrying the relics in a procession. The procession took place on 13 May and it is said that on the 14^th rain miraculously arrived. From that year onwards, therefore, Saint Hilarion's Day, which occurs on 21 October, is also repeated on 13 May among the Cauloniesi.

The afternoon is always a continuous feast of activities and entertainment, sometimes with a fun filled spaghetti-eating competition. Here in South Australia, the Society of Saint Hilarion has a well-earned reputation for its special role in providing aged care services.

In 1987, the Society of Saint Hilarion had the foresight to recognise the growing need for aged care services for the large South Australian Calabrese community. It was then that the society resolved to take action to provide much-needed aged care services. They determined that they would provide culturally specific aged care in Adelaide which would provide for the residents' cultural and spiritual needs. Saint Hilarion aged care would not have been possible without the time and effort of the many volunteers involved in the feasts of Saint Hilarion.

Here in South Australia the Society of Saint Hilarion continues the tradition and celebrates the Feast of Saint Hilarion. This festa plays an important role in maintaining many of the religious, social and cultural traditions of the Italian community. It is an occasion when the Cauloniesi and other Italians meet together, enjoy each other's company, share cultural and culinary traditions and, of course, pay homage to Saint Hilarion.

The festa has traditionally commenced with a procession through the surrounding streets of Seaton, commencing from the Mater Christi Parish, followed by Mass celebrated with the Scalabrini Fathers and the Mater Christi Choir. By midday the volunteers are cooking up everyone's favourites: barbecued pork and chicken, pasta, trippa and everyone's special favourite, the traditional zeppole.

In 2010, Saint Hilarion's most recent aged care facility, the House of Saint Hilarion at Seaton, was completed and formally opened. This marvellous multimillion dollar state-of-the-art facility complements Saint Hilarion's aged care villas at Fulham. Congratulations are due to the presidents and members of the society who have driven its many achievements over the past six decades.

I also congratulate the society's current president, Jassmine Wood, and members of the executive committee, volunteers and all devoted parishioners of Mater Christi Parish for their involvement in this year's diamond anniversary celebration. The Society of Saint Hilarion certainly has made a significant contribution to the lives of South Australian Cauloniesi and other Calabrese and Italians over several generations. The government supports the motion.

The Hon. J.S. LEE (17:53): I would like to thank the Hon. John Gazzola for his wonderful contribution. I thank him and other honourable members in this council for paying tribute to the Society of Saint Hilarion for their outstanding service to Italian migrants and the wider South Australian community.

I also want to thank and acknowledge all the wonderful people who have contributed to the legacy of the society. This 60^th anniversary is indeed a great milestone of celebration. It is also a celebration of leadership in multiculturalism in South Australia. I commend the motion to the council.

Motion carried.