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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-10-29 Daily Xml
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Italian Historical Society of South Australia

The Hon. J.S. LEE (16:24): I move:

That this council—

1. Congratulates the Italian Historical Society of South Australia (IHSSA) for celebrating the special milestone of its 10th anniversary in 2025;

2. Acknowledges the founding members, president, committee members and volunteers of the IHSSA for their dedication and contribution to preserving and promoting the history of Italian immigration to South Australia through traditional oral history and collecting original documents and photographs;

3. Congratulates the IHSSA on the publication of the first edition of La Partenza: Voyage to a New Beginning, generously supported by the History Trust of South Australia and launched at the Migration Museum of South Australia in April 2025; and

4. Commends the IHSSA for presenting the rich and enduring history of Italian immigration into South Australia and fostering awareness of the significant social, cultural and economic contributions Italian migrants have made to the development of our diverse multicultural state.

It is a great honour to rise today to congratulate the Italian Historical Society of South Australia on the special occasion of its 10th anniversary in 2025. The society's important work has captured the enduring legacy of Italian migration and the profound contributions of Italian Australians to the fabric of our society.

Over the past decades the society has grown from a passionate community initiative into a vital cultural institution, relying on generous sponsors and volunteers, without government funding. Its mission is clear and compelling—to preserve and promote the history of Italian immigration to South Australia through oral histories, original documents, photographs and community engagement.

The society's flagship project, A Trunk Full of Dreams, a Suitcase Full of Memories, is a powerful reflection of this mission. It captures the lived experience of Italian migrants, stories of courage, resilience and transformation. These stories are not just historical records, they are windows into the hearts and souls of our multicultural state.

I wish to acknowledge the founding members: the President, Mr Giuseppe 'Joe' Geracitano, the dedicated committee members and the many volunteers who have given their time, energy and expertise to this cause. Mr Geracitano's leadership has been nothing short of inspiring. He graduated from the University of Adelaide, majoring in economics, history, sociology and education. Throughout his career he has devoted himself to multicultural education and community development. His work spans decades, from founding the Dante Alighieri Society of South Australia and Italian community radio to advising on the establishment of the South Australian Ethnic Affairs and Multicultural Commission and the Migration Museum.

Under his guidance the IHSSA has conducted dozens of interviews, collected hundreds of documents and created a repository of stories that would otherwise be lost to time. These oral histories follow a whole-of-life approach, covering childhood in Italy, the reasons for emigrating, the journey to South Australia and the challenges and triumphs of building a new life in Australia. They are especially poignant because many of the migrants came from rural backgrounds with little formal education. The spoken word in these cases becomes a powerful tool of remembrance and recognition.

In addition to recognising the president (Joe), I would like to pay tribute to the co-patrons: Ernesto Pianelli, Consul of Italy in South Australia, and Cavaliere Dr Carmine De Pasquale AM. The executive members, in addition to Joe Geracitano, are Cavaliere Nick Fazzalari OAM, vice president (resigned); Councillor Dr Rachele Tullio, vice president; Giovanna 'Jenny' Geracitano (Joe's beautiful wife), secretary; and Tina Dichiera, treasurer.

The committee also work really hard behind the scenes. They are Rosina Peryk, Rosemarie Geracitano, Lorenzo Circosta, Franca Circosta, Angela Cutri, Anna Farrugia, Teresa Dall'Acqua Leonardi OAM, Nella Santo, Giuseppe 'Joe' Ienco OAM and Silvana Zerella. A lot of the historical content could not have been done without the editorial committee working really hard behind the scenes: Laura Di Martino-Kempt, Mario Russo and Cavaliere Associate Professor Angela Scarino. They are all beautiful people who work really hard and contribute their talents and time and efforts into helping the society. There are two wonderful ambassadors who are known to many in this chamber: Cavaliere Sebastian Galipo, from Galipo Foods, and Rita Bianca Palumbo, who is the President of the Sicilia Club on OG Road.

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Italian Historical Society on the publication of their inaugural edition of La Partenza: Voyage to a New Beginning launched at the Migration Museum in April earlier this year. It was an honour to attend to support the work of the society. This journal brings together written stories submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person interviews were paused, but research continued remotely. Supported generously by the History Trust of South Australia, this publication is a landmark achievement.

This journal not only preserves the voices of Italian migrants in academic and public memory but also provides a critical platform for ongoing scholarly exploration of Italian migration and its impact on South Australia, filling the gap left by the diminished academic focus on this subject. A special expression of gratitude is owed to the eight families who generously shared their remarkable migration stories in this first edition: Fulvia Caruso, Raffaele De Marco and family, the Di Martino family, Michele Donato and family, Francesco Fogliano and family, the Raffaele Racioppi family, Nella Santo and family, and the Giovanni Scalzi family.

Their willingness to share their own profound personal experiences have greatly enriched the collective understanding and deepened our appreciation of the Italian migration journey to South Australia. A major sponsor of the society has always been Sebastian Galipo, who arrived in Australia as a child in 1952, and went on to found Galipo Foods, a company which is now a multimillion dollar enterprise. I also paid tribute to Galipo Foods and the Galipo family in my other contributions in 2023.

Mr Galipo was the first major interviewee for the society in 2018 and his story was published in 2019 at a fundraising event attended by over 300 people. The society also honours women like Rita Bianca Palumbo, who immigrated at age 10 and, at just 16, became the first Italian secretary of the Good Neighbour Council in Woodville. Her leadership of the Sicilia Social and Sports Club for nearly two decades exemplifies the role of women in shaping community life. I will also be congratulating the Sicilia Social and Sports Club for their 50th anniversary under the great leadership of Rita.

Finally, I commend the Italian Historical Society for its unwavering commitment to presenting the rich and enduring history of Italian migration into South Australia. Their work fosters awareness of the significant social, cultural and economic contributions that Italian migrants have made to our state. One of the most visible impacts has been on South Australia's food culture. Italian migrants introduced new ingredients, new tastes and new ways of dining. From olive oil, once sold only in pharmacies as a laxative, to the rise of Italian restaurants, cafes and gelati, the transformation has been profound. The society's recent theme 'A Tavola: The Influence of Italian Immigration on Australian Food Culture' explores this evolution in depth.

The wine industry, too, has been reshaped. Italian migrants brought with them a love of table wines and introduced varieties such as nebbiolo and sangiovese. Wineries like Serafino in McLaren Vale are part of this legacy. The society also documented the history of Italian community radio, marking its 50th anniversary in 2025 with interviews and a report titled Radio Paesani. They continue to record stories from pioneers from all walks of life, in business and agriculture, ensuring that the contributions of Italian-Australians are recognised across all sectors.

The Italian Historical Society of South Australia exemplifies the spirit of community, resilience and cultural pride. Their work enriches our understanding of South Australia's multicultural heritage and ensures that future generations can embrace the legacy of migration with knowledge and respect. It is a great honour to move this motion. I wholeheartedly commend the motion and, once again, congratulations to the Italian Historical Society.

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