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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-07-01 Daily Xml
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Campania Sports and Social Club

The Hon. J.S. LEE (16:56): I move:

That this council—

1. Recognises that 2015 is the 40th anniversary of the Campania Sports and Social Club;

2. Acknowledges the wonderful work that this club has done over the years, in the promotion of Italian culture, food, language and support of Italian Australians and the broader community; and

3. Pays tribute to the achievements and social inclusion activities of this club, and others like it, which promote harmony and contribute to a better and more diverse South Australia.

I rise today to speak on this motion and to congratulate and pay tribute to the Campania Sports and Social Club for its 40 years of achievement this year. Special thanks go to the member for Hartley, Mr Vincent Tarzia, for moving a similar motion in the House of Assembly. The member for Hartley has a proud Italian heritage and is a great supporter of the Campania Club and the Italian community. The motion allowed many members to acknowledge the club. I found the speeches delivered by the member for Hartley and the member for Morialta, Mr John Gardner, both delightful and heart warming. They are such wonderful members and serve their communities with distinction.

As the shadow parliamentary secretary for multicultural affairs, and a big fan of the Campania Club, I had the great honour to attend the 40th anniversary celebration on Sunday 21 June. It was great to see the wonderful Orietta Borgia, the Acting Consul of Italy to Adelaide, at the event, together with many parliamentary colleagues from both sides of politics attending the special event. The Liberal Party was certainly well represented. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Steven Marshall, gave a fantastic speech in English and Italian. The Australian Italian community members appreciated his heartfelt and energetic 'Viva Campania' message.

We were joined by other Liberal members, including the member for Morialta (Mr John Gardner), the member for Unley (David Pisoni), the member for Hartley (Mr Vincent Tarzia) and a former member of the Legislative Council, the Hon. Julian Stefani. Julian Stefani is a great friend. We share many things in common, including the passion to serve South Australia and promote multiculturalism in the community.

Julian rang me that morning, explaining that he cannot drive to the Campania Club due to a sore, swollen foot. He also had a cold and was not feeling very well. Most people in his condition would have just stayed home, but not Julian. He recognised that the club was celebrating a significant milestone. He promised the organiser that he would be there.

My husband and I therefore had the pleasure of driving him to the Campania Club. Julian Stefani has had a long personal and professional connection with the Campania Club. He has helped the club with many appeals and fundraisers over the years. His presence and special contribution was acknowledged by one of the founders of the club, Cavaliere John Di Fede, on the day. This is an example that demonstrates the strong values that are upheld by the Campania Club. They will always find a way to recognise people who contribute to the club.

The club's history speaks volumes. Since 1975 the club has had 15 founders, 10 presidents, 2,000 people on committees, and thousands of volunteers who have given many hours of their time and skills to make the club a great community hub for all to enjoy. Approximately 2.5 million people have been through the door. I am sure honourable members will agree with me that people are the best asset of any successful organisation.

There are some remarkable individuals at the Campania Club, who provided the outstanding leadership and inspiration and whom I would like to acknowledge in parliament today. Founders of the club have put in enormous work and determination over many years to acquire the land, work with councils and organise countless fundraising activities in the community, and eventually, brick by brick, wall by wall, they helped to build a proud landmark, the Campania Club.

Let me place on the record of the Legislative Council the visionary founders of the Campania Club in 1975. They were: Cavaliere Giovanni Di Fede, Ezio Spina, Pompeo Ranaldo, Clemente Maione, Giovanni Di Matteo, Mario Mignone, Sabatino Ranaldo, Michele Luongo, Raffaele Barone, Feliciano Zirillo, Liberantonio Limongelli, Michele Carofano, Erminio Ranaldo, Antonio Rotolo and Nicola Minicozzi.

The Campania Club in South Australia is truly a success story of multiculturalism. So many have worked very hard for 40 years to give the migrant community from Campania a place of belonging, a place for families to share food, culture and fellowship. Thank you to the founders, past and present presidents, and committee members, together with their families, for providing the vision, sense of pride and resources to serve the South Australian community.

I would like to place my special thanks on the record for the wonderful work of the Campania Club 40 Year Committee 2015 for organising a spectacular event. The committee comprised Cavaliere Steve Maglieri, the president of the 40th anniversary committee (also a major sponsor); the current president of the Campania Club, Roberto Corsini; Cavaliere John Di Fede (who was one of the founders and first president and project manager), Luisa Greco, Michael Auciello, Anna Carreti, Franca Melisi, Marisa Baldino and Sonia Ricci.

They must have put in so many hours and months planning the anniversary event. They contributed great skills and expertise in every way. My heartfelt congratulations go to everyone who worked tirelessly to ensure that everything ran smoothly. In addition to moving speeches and tributes by dignitaries, the official anniversary program included amazing entertainment by Renae Albuino, Mira Sangregorio, Emilio Papa and John Casalbore, Daniela Fontanarosa, Zanzarini and David De Vito.

Migrants from the Campania region maintain their local and regional identity through special clubs like this. Many members may have visited the club in the past, perhaps to catch up with friends for a yummy pizza or a bowl of the wonderful pasta they serve. Weddings have been held there as well. I have been to a few multicultural events there, always most enjoyable. In addition to appreciating delicious Italian food, the club has many halls for people to meet at a professional or social level.

In 2011, the building committee of the Campania Club took on the task of the latest extension and renovations. The new Benevento Hall was built, with all new facilities, as well as the new Blackwell Bocce Drome, the Alessandro Minicozzi Cultural Room, the new Italian library and Caiazza Playhouse.

Children and families are a big part of the Campania Club. The Caiazza Playhouse is a great initiative to create a family friendly environment. I would like to make a special mention of my great friend, Danny Caiazza. He and his family have been passionate supporters of the Campania Club. His family members, through Caiazza Constructions and Rinaldi Extensions, are sponsors of the 40th anniversary celebration and always participate in the club's ongoing fundraisers and activities. They are such active contributors to the club, and we must acknowledge and thank them for their work.

Another worthy mention is the establishment of a radio program that takes on a two-hour segment every Thursday evening between 8 and 10pm on Radio Italiana 531. What do you think they talk about? Well, all things Campania, of course. The Campania Club is successful because it embraces the ethos that everyone is welcome. It promotes social inclusion and welcomes diversity. It opens its doors to the wider, broader Australian and multicultural community. The member for Hartley, in the other place, and the member for Morialta have already provided excellent information about the Campania migrant story to Australia, and South Australia particularly. Therefore, I encourage everyone to read their excellent contributions.

Since the establishment of the Campania Club, it is wonderful to see that so many similar clubs have since been set up in the north-east and eastern suburbs to serve the growing Italian community—for example, San Giorgio La Molara, Molinara Club, Altavilla Club, Marche Club, and Fogolar Furlan, just to name a few. As a migrant, I love to hear and talk about the many wonderful migrant stories in our community. As the shadow parliamentary secretary for multicultural affairs, it is a privilege to get to know so many social and cultural clubs that have been established in South Australia. These clubs promote their regions, their heritage and countries of origin so that the current generation and future South Australians can continue to be a part of our proud multicultural landscape, a place that we call home.

I consider myself to be very fortunate to be able to be living in a country and in a state like South Australia where one can appreciate so many cultures and can learn so much about the world because of our vibrant multicultural communities and our contributions. Happy 40th anniversary and viva Campania! I commend this motion to the council.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. G.A. Kandelaars.

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