Radio Italiana

The Hon. J.S. LEE (16:55): I move:

That this council—

1. Congratulates Radio Italiana 531AM for reaching the special milestone of its 50^th anniversary in 2025 and celebrating its groundbreaking first broadcast, believed to be the first Italian voice heard on air in Australia;

2. Acknowledges the founding members, current and past presidents, patrons, board members, staff, sponsors and volunteers of Radio Italiana 531AM for their dedication and contribution to serving the Italian-Australian community in South Australia;

3. Notes that Radio Italiana 531AM will be hosting their 50^th anniversary gala dinner on Saturday 1 March 2025 to celebrate half a century of outstanding community services and highlight their significant contributions and achievements;

4. Recognises Radio Italiana 531AM has initiated many humanitarian and philanthropic projects to support the wider community; and

5. Commends Radio Italiana 531AM for offering a wide range of programming that reflects the needs and interests of their diverse listeners, and its strong commitment to promoting Italian language, culture and traditions, fostering community engagement and enriching multicultural South Australia.

It is a great honour to move this motion to congratulate Radio Italiana 531AM on reaching the remarkable milestone of its 50^th anniversary in 2025. Radio Televisione Italiana 531, known as Radio Italiana, is South Australia's leading Italian language radio station, proudly serving the Italian-Australian community since 1975. It is proudly owned and run by the South Australian Italian community and is a volunteer-based station with approximately 100 volunteers who inform and entertain listeners in the Italian language. Their dedicated volunteers represent a mix of generations, including first-generation migrants and children of Italian migrants, as well as new arrivals from Italy, reflecting the vibrant diversity of the Italian community.

Radio Italiana 531 reaches metropolitan and most regional areas of South Australia, including Whyalla, Port Pirie, Port Augusta, Murray Bridge, Berri and Renmark via the 531AM signal. This is a true testament to how far-reaching our Italian community is. Their influence reaches not just the metropolitan area but also regional and country South Australia. They continue to grow their audience through new digital platforms, including the Radio Italiana 531 app and online streaming via their website and TuneIn. Through their diverse programming and active volunteer involvement, they work hard to create a space where tradition meets the contemporary aspirations of their listeners.

Since the first broadcast went to air on Monday 3 March 1975, 50 years ago, Radio Italiana has been committed to broadcasting Italian language music, culture, current affairs, news, event live broadcasts, community engagement and more. One of the many programs presented is Comuni & Council, which focuses on local government and politics and is hosted by the very wonderful Cavaliere John Di Fede AM. I have had the great pleasure of appearing on his talk show many times over the years and greatly enjoy the opportunity to speak directly with the Italian community and listeners.

It is my privilege to acknowledge the remarkable legacy of Radio Italiana today. It first began as Radio Paesano, with founding members Rosetta Colanero, Alex Gardini, Rosa Matto, Romano Rubichi and Sue Kitto—assisted, of course, by Keith Conlon, the respected journalist—gathering around a table at the home of Luciano Barteletti. Radio Paesano was a one-hour weekly show aired from the studios of 5UV, the predecessor to 5EBI. It is believed to be the first non-English community radio program in Australia, with Enzo Dobrilla the first Italian voice on air in this country. I understand that Mr Gabriele Damiani was soon appointed to the station. Incredibly, Gabriele is still conducting weekly programs with Radio Italiana in 2025. I caught up with him recently at the gala event and he is still as passionate about radio as he was when he started back in around 1975.

The station slowly grew its broadcasting to eventually 15 hours weekly with 5EBI and changed its name to Radio Italiana in December 1978. They then moved to their own office on Portrush Road in 1982 and then again in 1988 as they expanded to Wright Street. Today, of course, they have a very beautiful studio. They are in this home today on Port Road, Hindmarsh.

In 2001, Radio Italiana began broadcasting on the 92.7 community frequency, but unfortunately they lost the frequency to Fresh FM. They were off air for a few months before eventually, through active fundraising and lots of challenges, in August 2002 they actually raised enough money, bid for a new station and bought 531 AM, with a record price of $400,000. What an incredible achievement by some exceptional community and generous leaders in the Italian community.

Today, Radio Italiana 531 is supported by a large group of sponsors and over 400 members, including local clubs and associations. They broadcast to a passionate audience that comes primarily from the nearly 100,000 South Australians of Italian heritage. This long-term success would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of the board and staff at Radio Italiana, whose leadership has helped guide Radio Italiana over five incredible decades.

Thank you to all the past patrons, presidents and board members. I would like to especially highlight the current leadership team. Let me begin with the patron, Commendatore Don Totino OAM, whom many honourable members in this house would know. Don has been a stalwart of the Italian community since he migrated to Australia in 1968 at age 18. Many may not know that in Adelaide he worked as a barber and was awarded Australia's youngest master barber and hairdresser. In 1974, Don sold the barber shop and opened a family pizza bar.

In the ensuing years, he invested in a range of businesses, including founding Festival City Wines and Spirits, which he still manages to this day. Everyone knows Don Totino, an amazing entrepreneur and a well-respected community leader with a very big heart. In 2007, Don was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the Italian community. In 2009, he was awarded Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the third highest ranking in the Order of Merit, for his continued and outstanding service in business and charity fields. Since 2020, Don has been Patron of Radio Italiana and an active member of the community, lending them his many years of experience and knowledge to grow the community radio station.

It is also my pleasure today to acknowledge the current President of Radio Italiana, Mario Romaldi, who has served as president for 5½ years. In addition, he also wears many hats. He is an active member of many community-based clubs, associations and professional organisations and actively supports a wide range of philanthropic causes, such as the Leukaemia Foundation, Salvation Army soup kitchen, Dream Ride, Special Olympics, HYPA (Helping Young People Achieve), the Living Without Limits Foundation, Saint Hilarion Aged Care, Variety Bash and, recently, Nonna's Cucina. Mario was also instrumental in the construction of a new studio and community room at the Radio Italiana premises.

In thanking so many people, I would love also to acknowledge the many life members, sponsors and supporters of Radio Italiana for their enormous contributions, along with the current members of the board, including vice-president, Dominic Reppucci; secretary, Giuseppina Belperio, also called Josie; treasurer, Armando Cirillo; program director, Mario Bianca; communications director, Lina Scalfino; special events director, Pat Scalzi OAM; Cavaliere Maria Maglieri; Tania Milohis; and Clementina Maione. Special acknowledgement and gratitude goes to the over 100-strong volunteers who work passionately and diligently on many radio shows and also work behind the scenes at so many events.

I would like to express my thanks to a very dedicated group of full-time staff at the radio station: their general manager Marco Petta, engagement coordinator Eleanora Finoia, and production manager Stefano Pratola. These three wonderful people form a lively and vibrant pack, and are certainly very loud and proud about their Italian culture and language. They inject energy and passion into the station and are always welcome at the community events when they do live broadcasts. They are also active members and supporters of the wider multicultural community, and are often involved with festivals and activities run by other community groups.

It is a privilege to join with dignitaries to honour Radio Italiana and the team at their 50^th anniversary gala dinner last Saturday 1 March. It was a spectacular celebration, and showcased Radio Italiana's history alongside some wonderful operatic Italian music and performances.

So many things could be said about Radio Italiana, but it is just a great honour to be able to put some of their achievements on the public record today and acknowledge their wonderful work and the contribution they make to South Australia and to enriching multicultural South Australia, in all aspects of society, by their volunteer contribution as well as supporting so many good causes across South Australia.

With those remarks, I once again congratulate Radio Italiana 531 and thank them for fostering tradition and community engagement, and for making sure we value multiculturalism and celebrate our diversity in South Australia.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.