Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last year marked the 70th anniversary of the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Community of Newton and the important role of the Capuchin friars in the parish throughout those years. The history and growth of the parish was recorded in a 320-page commemorative book published in 2024, titled 70 Years: A Celebration of Faith, Mission and Fraternity. On 26 July, the Campania Sports and Social Club in Modbury celebrated its 50th anniversary with a sold-out gala dinner, at which the member for Sturt and I were privileged to attend. Later this month, on 28 September, the annual religious celebration of the Madonna Di Montevergine held at the St Francis of Assisi Catholic centre—possibly the largest religious event of its type in Australia—marks its 70th anniversary. At Adelaide's Glynde Corner proudly stands an award-winning landmark stone monument as a symbol and reminder of South Australia's migration story.

The common thread and primary driver of the examples I've just cited have been the Italian migrants from the Campania region of Italy, who came to Australia in the 1950s and 1960s and settled predominantly in the eastern and northern suburbs of Adelaide. They came with very meagre possessions but with a will to succeed in the land of opportunity, and succeed they did. Today Italian Australians of Campania origin can be found in successful businesses, professions, academia, trades, food production, politics, entertainments, sports—in nearly every sector of South Australian life. But they did not just succeed for themselves; they made a real difference to life in South Australia. For example, their community facilities at the Campania club at Modbury, San Giorgio La Molara Club at Payneham, Altavilla Club at Beulah Park and Molinara club at Holden Hill are regularly used by the wider community. In 2003, a book was published titled I Campani in South Australia, documenting their extensive history and contribution to South Australia.

At the recent 50th anniversary celebration of the Campania club, the large number of dignitaries—which included Governor of South Australia, Her Excellency Frances Adamson; Premier Peter Malinauskas; and Italian consul Ernesto Pianelli, with congratulatory messages from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Senator Francesco Giacobbe from Italy—highlighted the deserved recognition of the migrants from Campania in South Australia. The Campania club, initially developed through the drive of John Di Fede and some 14 other founding members and now led by a next generation club president Ross De Ieso, today stands as a visual example of the presence, determination and influence of the people who came from Campania.

My thanks to all of them for all they have done. They have so much to be proud of.