Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014 Auguri Società Dante Alighieri 118 anni • 118 years Dante Alighieri Society Branch office: 308 Drummond Street (PO Box 1124), Carlton VIC 3053 Telephone: (03) 9349 1143 Email: [email protected] Website: www.dantemelbourne.com.au Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Dante-Alighieri-Giovani-Official/230422960363492 President’s Annual Report 2014 The new year presented the committee of the Dante Alighieri Society with the challenge to continue and even improve on the good work of past years despite a touch of anxiety and apprehension related to our forthcoming role to host the Biannual National Conference of the Dante Societies of Australia. Indeed our aim was to plan and produce a useful and effective program and in my opinion, we achieved this for all participants. Once again I thank you all for entrusting me with the leadership of the Dante Society Melbourne that is supported by a very enthusiastic, efficient, hardworking and dynamic committee. This year they took on comprehensive individual tasks and worked collaboratively as a great dedicated team. The committee consists of Paolo Baracchi (Secretary), Tania Barbati (coordinator of Primary Schools’ Poster Competition), Agata Bonfà Colosimo (events), Teresa Colaianni (Dante Giovani), Marco Lacivita (Films), Claudia McLean (Administration), Ester Marcuccio (Coordinator of Poetry and Literary competitions), Mary Marcuccio (Vice President), Donna Salera (Multimedia competition) and Christina Siciliano (Treasurer). Mille grazie to each of these persons for the great success achieved this year. I am honoured to welcome the new Consul General of Italy Dr Marco Maria Cerbo and the newly appointed Ambassador His Excellency Dr Pier Francesco Zazo and their respective consorts. The Dante Society is very grateful for their support and their appreciation of our activities in promoting the Italian language and culture. The year’s activities began with the promotion of our major competitions. One can only but be impressed with the enthusiasm of the students that is supported by their dedicated teachers who work so hard to meet the challenges put before them. Such evidence is noted by an ever increasing number of participants which reached 4008 students from 130 schools who took part in the Literary, Poetry and Poster Competitions. The quality of work was outstanding. Thousands of certificates were given and then prizes of books and trophies were awarded to the final winners in each category. I consider this activity and its final event, The Presentation of Awards Night as “ The Jewel in the Crown” of all our activities when all the hard work of almost a full year comes to completion and the immense satisfaction that is felt by the organisers, students, parents and teachers. Here I must express my sincere gratitude to the coordinators Ester Marcuccio & Tania Barbati, who amongst their full time employment find the time to keep up the regular communication to the schools, organise timetables, write letters and perform numerous other tasks that ensure the program is successful and runs efficiently. I also thank Claudia McLean for all her clerical work and for the assistance she gives to Ester and Tania from the office. The committee is grateful for the collaboration of the University of Melbourne represented by Prof John Hajek. I appreciate the support of Mr Fernando Cardinale, president of the Casa D’Abruzzo Club in Epping who sponsors every year the trophies given to prize winners. A sincere thank you to Cav. Giovanna Guzzardi President of A.L.I.A.S for the interest she demonstrates in the competition program and thank you also to Mr Sergio Fazio, President and Avv. Tony Iacovino, Secretary of the Italian Club Cavour for their contribution to the multimedia competition. I am grateful to Donna Salera and her creativity and for selecting the theme for this year’s competition 60 Anni della Rai ; 60 Years of Rai Radio/TV . It was good to see the good quality of work produced by primary and secondary students. Many thanks to all the teachers who prepared the students for all the competitions, to the professional body of persons who were asked to judge the various competitions and to the band of young university students who took time from their study period to act as 2 ushers during the Poetry Recitation days. All this assistance is so important for the smooth running of each competition. The Conversation classes for students who study Italian at the VCE level were carried out in 8 different locations as well as in Mildura. I am very grateful to the school principals for allowing the Society access to the school and the use of a classroom facility. I also wish to thank the teachers who facilitate this program after school hours. Their professional assistance and knowledge of the requirements for the preparation of students for the final exam is invaluable. Once again awards were given to students who attend the universities of Melbourne, Monash, LaTrobe and Swinburne who excelled in their Italian studies. The presentations were made at the annual Garden Party that was held at the Assisi Centre for the Aged in Rosanna. I thank the “Centre” and our sponsors Dr George Santoro , the family of the late Prof. Colin McCormick and the Italian Medical Society for this yearly well worthwhile and generous contribution. I also thank Mrs Elsie Valmorbida and Mr & Mrs Eusebio & Giovanna Marcocci for their sponsorship of $5000.00 each awarded to Patrick Burns ,(Music Director) and Mark Maliakal, (Arts Commerce student) respectively for additional study and immersion into the Italian culture in Italy. Mark is presently at the Scuola Dante Alighieri in Firenze, Italy. I thank Patrick Burns for organising with us a Christmas Carols concert that will be held next Sunday 14th December at St Mary’s Church at 5.30pm I hope to see many of you there. Thank you to Marco Lacivita for arranging to screen a series of Italian films. These were well attended by members and friends and the social aspect was truly enjoyable. His expertise in the selection of films is an asset to us. A new initiative Il salotto di Dante was implemented and thankyou to Mrs Laura Tresoldi for giving her time each fornight. It is hoped that such gatherings can continue next year so that participants can continue to share their understanding and appreciation of good Italian literature and to mingle socially for a few hours. Lessons on La Divina Commedia continue via skype with Prof Carlo Pennarola and I commend the students for their dedication and enthusiasm. The Lectura Dantis was once again a huge success and thank you to all the readers, the musicians and especially to Mr Nicolas Panayotis who organised the presentation. The visits to the National Gallery of Victoria for the exhibitions Italian Masterpieces from Museo del Prado in Spain and Illustrations from La Divina Commedia by William Blake were very informative. I thank Claudia McLean who liaised with Ms Caterina Sciacca, events organiser and historian from NGV, who gave a comprehensive presentation of the Italian Masterpieces on display. The Dante Society is proud to be of assistance to NOMIT (Italian Network of Melbourne) a recently formed group of professional people targeting young Italian migrants, some of them on temporary working visas. The annual lunch to celebrate Dante Alighieri Society’s foundation was held at the Gelobar – L’ Amour Room in Lygon Street Brunswick. Mille grazie to Avv. Pino Acquaro for his hospitality and the service from his staff. The day was attended by over 60 people and a significant number had to miss out because of limited space – a sign of its success and a warning for future events!!! It was an enjoyable occasion to celebrate 118 years and I thank our Giovane Dante representative Teresa Colaianni for her preparation of the birthday cake – a true Masterpiece! A National Conference subcommittee was established and met monthly prior to our ordinary committee meeting. I thank Tom Hazell, President Emeritus and Anna Cavedon for accepting our request for Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014 their input to the program. Joining the team were Federica Cologni and Pina Iappozuto as well as Mary Marcuccio, Tania Barbati, Claudia McLean, Paolo Baracchi and Donna Salera. The Dante Alighieri Societies of Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand were invited; but unfortunately these could not attend. Dr Alessandro Masi General Secretary of Dante Alighieri Society Rome accepted the invitation to attend but subsequently apologised for his inability to attend due to unexpected circumstances. I thank Dr Masi for his support in spirit as well as for providing us with beautiful medallions to present to the attending presidents of the Dante Societies in Australia and to distinguished guests. We tried to incorporate a new direction into the conference program in an effort to create an action plan in promoting our “raison d’etre” (our purpose). “Quo Vadis? The Future of the Italian Language in Australia” became the theme of our National Conference. We proposed to debate current trends, barriers, opportunities, the political involvement of policies and to inform the community of our presence and our findings, coupled with some solutions for the future viability of the Italian language. To this end we invited Victorian and Federal politicians, Italian diplomats and politicians, principals and teachers, university academics, teaching organisations, CoAsIt, presidents of Italian Social clubs and others. I thank our distinguished guests for their attendance and their support of the Dante Alighieri Societies in Australia. I felt encouraged and deeply moved as each of the speakers emphasised the important role that the Societies have in preserving the presence of the Italian language and the culture in Australia. I am therefore grateful to: Hon. Senator Concetta Fierravanti–Wells, Hon Matthew Guy; Dr. Marco Cerbo, Sir James Gobbo. Dr Lina Panetta and especially to Dr. Joseph Lo Bianco, Prof John Hajek and Mr. Matthew Absalom for their comprehensive and informative presentations. A special thank you must be extended to the students who delighted the audience with their excellent recitation of canti from La Divina Commedia and their personal writing. I particularly wish to thank CoAsIt for providing the conference room and other facilities in the venue that made it comfortable and accessible to the interstate participants and their accommodation arrangements. Thank you to University Café for providing excellent catering; to Brunetti Café for providing morning tea and breakfast and to Il Gambero on the Park Restaurant for an excellent Gala dinner. I am especially grateful to Lina Kadziela President of the Dante Society of Mildura who was present at the Conference (photo below). I wish our newly found “brother/prodigal son” every success in their work. It is our aim to work collaboratively with them for the benefit of our common purpose. As I attended various functions during the year I came to realise that the general community and the Italian Government authorities place a great deal of importance on the work of our Dante Societies in Australia. More recently I felt very honoured to have been invited to participate at the Italians Down Under Conference hosted by the Italian Ambassador in Canberra and subsequently to meet the Hon. Matteo Renzi (see photo), Presidente del Consiglio, during his visit in Sydney during the G20. Recently we were saddened by the news of the passing of our beloved President of Dante Alighieri Society in Rome, Ambasciatore Bruno Bottai. He lived a brilliant diplomatic and political career, followed by a long and effective leadership of the Society. He will be missed by all. Our condolences are extended to his family. In closing, I would like to acknowledge the hard work of Ms Tania Barbati who is retiring from the committee after 5 years of volunteer service. I thank her for her interest and involvement in all the activities of the Society. I commend Tania’s passion for the Italian language and I appreciate the contribution and energy with which she has worked especially as coordinator of the poster competition. Tania will be sadly missed by me and the other committee members. Grazie di vero cuore! We of the Society are indebted to the work and assistance given by Mr Pat Rocca our honorary Accountant and Auditor and to his staff and for their collaboration with our treasurer Christina Siciliano who carries a big responsibility. Thank you to each of you; all the work is very much appreciated. Mille grazie also to all the co-opted members who have been of great assistance throughout the year. Finally, I thank Mary Marcuccio, Vice President for the support and assistance she gives me and the other committee members in their role and organisation of events. I thank my wife Leanne and Mary’s husband Angelo for the work they do behind the scenes to assist in every way possible so that “it all happens”. Thank you to you the membership for your support. I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo Dr. Dominic Barbaro, AM President Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014 3 PRIMARY SCHOOL POSTER COMPETITION Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Coburg 3rd Enrico Mascioli Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Mill Park DAY SCHOOL Year 1 1st Angelina Pollard Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Box Hill 2nd James D’Agostino Associazione Culturale L’Aurora East Keilor Equal 3rd Josephine Accardo Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Coburg Jordan Calderone Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Coburg WINNERS 2014 Prep 1st 2nd 3rd George Papazoglou Northcote Primary School Suri Nguyen Mont Albert Primary School Annika Lim Mont Albert Primary School Year 1 1st Malia-Rose Ferraro St. Peter Julian Eymard School Mooroolbark 2nd Laila Mammarella St. Margaret’s School, Maribyrnong 3rd Bodhi Temple St. Mark’s School, Fawkner Year 2 1st Angelina Duong St. Margaret’s School, Maribyrnong Equal 2nd Sophie Vos St. Peter Julian Eymard School Mooroolbark Cassandra Lennon St. Peter Julian Eymard School Mooroolbark Equal 3rd Lucy Pellegrini St. Anthony’s School, Alphington Eden Fraser St. Bede’s School, North Balwyn Year 3 1st 2nd 3rd George Kardaras St. Bede’s School, North Balwyn Amy Bartolo St. Carlo Borromeo School, Greenvale Sandu Weerasinghe St. Francis Xavier School, Box Hill Year 4 1st 2nd Equal 3rd Timothy Mallidis St. Andrew’s School, South Clayton Giorgia Rivans St. Andrew’s School, South Clayton Rocco Pitruzzello St. Carlo Borromeo School, Greenvale Ella Van Schaaik St. Francis Xavier School, Box Hill Year 5 1st Equal 2nd 3rd Grace Palumbieri Glenferrie Primary School Tracey Trinh St. Augustine’s School, Yarraville Sabrina Nguyen Northcote Primary School Hannah Kelly Northcote Primary School Year 6 1st 2nd 3rd Maggie Enniss St. Francis Xavier School, Box Hill Ella Minuzzo St. Francis Xavier School, Box Hill Paris Glover Glenferrie Primary School AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM Prep 1st Emma Lazzaro Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Coburg 2nd Kate Puopolo 4 Year 2 1st Daniela Lorenti Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Fawkner 2nd Marco Barotta Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Altona 3rd Alessia Rossi Associazione Culturale L’Aurora East Kew Year 3 1st Julia Chaperon Associazione Culturale L’Aurora East Keilor 2nd Isaac Borg Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Bundoora 3rd Isabella Chaperon Associazione Culturale L’Aurora East Keilor Year 4 1st Sienna Pietrosante Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Mill Park 2nd Daniela Morali Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Box Hill 3rd Alexandra Montano Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Bulleen Year 5 1st Luke Solano Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Coburg 2nd Stefania Rossi Associazione Culturale L’Aurora East Kew Equal 3rd Nicolas Spataro Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Coburg Elena Bonomo Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Box Hill Year 6 1st Mia Ranalletta Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Coburg 2nd Giulia Perri Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Mill Park Equal 3rd Olivia Hatzidakis Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Bulleen Lara Partridge Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Bulleen POETRY RECITATION COMPETITION WINNERS 2014 Year 9 Madre Lingua 1st Patrick Ferro St. Bernard’s College, Essendon 2nd Clarissa Polifroni Marymede Catholic College South Morang 3rd Noela Ido Bayside P-12 College, Altona Year 9 Italian Australian 1st Laura Misale Our Lady of Mercy College Heidelberg 2nd Sienna Malavisi Our Lady of Mercy College Heidelberg 3rd Olivia Condina-Hibon Avila College, Mount Waverley Year 9 Non-Italian Equal 1st Martin Ahumada Mazenod College, Mulgrave David Tonkich St. Bernard’s College, Essendon Equal 2nd De’Arne Cvetkovic Avila College, Mount Waverley Clarissa Smith Siena College, Camberwell Equal 3rd Benjamin Field-Papuga Scotch College, Hawthorn Tess Plowman Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar Canterbury Year 10 Madre Lingua 1st Sarah Rosi Mercy College, Coburg 2nd Simone Carrivale Lalor Secondary College Year 10 Italian Australian 1st Massimo Mattioli Whitefriars College, Donvale Equal 2nd Gerome Curcio St. John’s Regional College Dandenong Briana Pappalardo Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar Equal 3rd Josephine Mazzeo Mount St. Joseph Girls College Altona Sofie Barass Notre Dame College, Shepparton Xavier Livingston Strathmore Secondary College Year 10 Non-Italian 1st Natasha Seegan Sacred Heart Girls College, Oakleigh 2nd Samuel Kerr Scotch College, Hawthorn Equal 3rd Devika Panicker John Paul College, Frankston Deborah Placidi Killester College, Springvale Year 11 Madre Lingua 1st Gaia Siligato St. Monica’s College, Epping 2nd Sarah De Fazio Marian College, Sunshine Year 11 Italian Australian Equal 1st Heidi Bula Academy of Mary Immaculate Fitzroy Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014 Lavinia Antoniazzi Sacred Heart Girls College, Oakleigh Equal 2nd Joshua Mezio St. Monica’s College, Epping Ilaria Matruglio Victorian School of Languages Brunswick 3rd Cartia Pisano Siena College, Camberwell Year 11 Non-Italian 1st Georgia Pollard Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon 2nd Raphael Canty De La Salle College, Malvern Equal 3rd Caterina Apostolakos Siena College, Camberwell Rebecca Singleton Strathmore Secondary College Year 12 Italian Australian 1st Laura Mascitti Our Lady of Sion College, Box Hill 2nd Amelia Sfameni Victorian School of Languages Brunswick 3rd Loredana Marchione Victorian School of Languages Brunswick Year 12 Non-Italian Equal 1st Constantinos Kavadias Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon Equal 1st Korey Kavadias Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon 2nd Demi Tran St Albans Secondary College Equal 3rd Charalambia Demetriou Emmaus College, Burwood Bethany McKay St. Joseph’s College, Echuca DISCORSO WINNERS 2014 Year 11 Italian Australian - Individual Section 1st Amanda D’Arienzo Mercy College, Coburg 2nd Sophie Brugliera Strathcona Baptist Girls’ Grammar Canterbury 3rd Lavinia Antoniazzi Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Oakleigh Year 12 Italian Australian - Individual Section 1st Andrea Carnevale Our Lady of Sion College, Box Hill Equal 2nd Brianna Gatto Marymede Catholic College Sth Morang Natasha Pieri Marymede Catholic College Sth Morang 3rd Nicholas Musto Marymede Catholic College Sth Morang Year 12 Italian Australian - Pair Section 1st Anthony Chiodo Jeremy Costa Whitefriars College, Donvale Year 12 Non-Italian - Individual Section 1st Alyssa Jopling Our Lady of the Sacred Heart ORIGINAL POETRY WINNERS 2014 Year 7 Italian Australian 1st Emilia Rossi Associazione Culturale L’Aurora East Kew Primary 2nd Isabella Solano Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Coburg 3rd Klarissa Theophanous Gladstone Park Secondary College Year 7 Non Italian 1st Ella Johnston Gladstone Park Secondary College 2nd Stephanie Vita Brunswick Secondary College Year 8 Italian Australian 1st Carly Ams Associazione Culturale L’Aurora East Kew Primary 2nd Stephen Franzese Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Coburg Year 8 Non Italian 1st Merna Harboly Gladstone Park Secondary College 2nd Brittany Duff Gladstone Park Secondary College Year 9 Italian Australian Equal 1st Olivia Condina-Hibon Avila College, Mount Waverley Lorna Pellegrino Associazione Culturale L’Aurora East Kew Primary 2nd Anthony Guida Gladstone Park Secondary College 3rd Vanessa Cincotta Avila College, Mount Waverley Year 9 Non Italian 1st Taylor Parker Mc Guire College Shepparton 2nd Tanisha Rupesinghe Avila College, Mount Waverley 3rd Katharine Parker Mc Guire College, Shepparton Year 10 Non Italian 1st Justin Seymour Associazione Culturale L’Aurora Box Hill Year 11 Madre Lingua 1st Riccardo Serbolonghi Victorian School of Languages, Watsonia Year 11 Non Italian 1st Sasha Hermosa Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Bentleigh Year 12 Non Italian 1st Chrisoula Sotidis Our Lady of Sion College, Box Hill 2nd Aaron Wall-Rickwood Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon 3rd Jennifer Parker Mc Guire College, Shepparton Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014 5 6 Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014 Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014 7 Il congresso 2014 della Società Dante Alighieri in Australia rafforza l’unione delle sezioni e ne rilancia il ruolo di portabandiera della lingua e della cultura dell’Italia. Si è svolto a Melbourne dal 10 al 12 ottobre scorsi, nella sala convegni del Coasit, il congresso biennale 2014 delle sezioni australiane della Società Dante Alighieri in Australia. Organizzato dalla sezione di Melbourne, il congresso si è incentrato sulle sfide che la Dante si trova ad affrontare nel portare avanti e rendere sempre più efficace la sua opera di tutela e diffusione della lingua e della cultura italiane in Australia. Un compito che si va facendo sempre più arduo per via del declino demografico degli australiani di madrelingua italiana. Agli italiani di prima generazione sono subentrati i loro figli e nipoti nati in Australia che, pur sentendosi legati all’Italia, non hanno sufficiente familiarità con la lingua italiana e in molti casi stentano a trovare la motivazione per acquisirla. Per pura coincidenza il congresso ha avuto luogo con una settimana di anticipo rispetto alla XIV edizione della settimana della lingua italiana nel mondo e al grande convegno, sempre sulla lingua italiana nel mondo, tenutosi a Firenze dal 20 al 22 ottobre per iniziativa dei ministeri italiani degli Esteri e dei Beni Culturali. Il congresso di Melbourne non ha potuto certamente competere con simili avvenimenti ma la Dante d’Australia ha una storia ed un’esperienza che poche altre istituzioni impegnate nella promozione e nell’insegnamento della lingua italiana all’estero possono vantare, se si pensa che la prima sezione australiana nacque a Melbourne nel 1896, appena sette anni dopo la fondazione della sede nazionale di Roma. Intitolato “Quo Vadis? The future of the Italian language in Australia”, il congresso si è aperto la sera di venerdì 10 ottobre con una breve cerimonia formale seguita da un rinfresco che ha generato un clima di grande giovialità e affiatamento tra i delegati. A fare gli onori di casa è stata il vicepresidente della Dante di Melbourne, Mary Marcuccio ,che dopo avere dato il benvenuto ai partecipanti e alle autorità presenti alla cerimonia, ha letto i messaggi di auguri inviati dal presidente della sede centrale Ambasciatore Bruno Bottai, dal segretario generale dott. Alessandro Masi e dall’Ambasciatore d’Italia in Australia dott. Pier Francesco Zazo. É passata poi la parola al presidente della Dante Il dott. Dominic Barbaro che nel suo discorso introduttivo ha messo in evidenza le numerose attività della Dante in Australia ma ha anche parlato delle difficoltà nelle quali essa si trova ad operare in un contesto culturale ed educativo che privilegia lo studio di materie scientifiche e tecnologiche disincentivando l’apprendimento delle lingue che, come quella italiana, hanno un alto valore formativo e culturale. “Non c’è dubbio che i problemi ci sono” ha affermato il dott. Barbaro invitando i congressisti a prenderli seriamente in esame e ad elaborare assieme strategie per contribuire a superarli. Il congresso, infatti, per la prima volta ha adottato criteri di analisi e discussione che, come illustrato più avanti, non si sono limitati, come succedeva nei congressi precedenti, ad un consunto delle attività ma hanno aperto una visione più generale e più tesa al futuro. Al discorso del dott. Barbaro ha fatto seguito un vibrante intervento di Tom Hazell, figura di rilievo storico della Dante di Melbourne essendone stato socio per quasi mezzo secolo e presidente per oltre trenta anni. Parlando in italiano, Tom Hazell ha voluto lasciare ai soci della Dante il suo testamento morale, radicato nell’esperienza di un uomo che, pur non essendo di origine italiana, ha fatto proprie la lingua e la cultura dell’Italia, eleggendo quest’ultima a sua patria di adozione. 8 Alla cerimonia si era proposto di intervenire l’on. Marco Fedi, deputato nel Parlamento italiano per la circoscrizione estera Africa, Asia, Ocenia e Antartide, che però si è trovato costretto a cancellare l’impegno per sopravvenute incombenze parlamentari ed ha affidato all’amico e collaboratore Ivano Ercole il compito di rivolgere ai partecipanti al congresso un suo messaggio di saluto e di vivo interesse e sostegno per l’opera svolta dalla Dante Alighieri in Australia. Ha concluso la serie degli interventi il console generale d’Italia per il Victoria e la Tasmania, dott. Marco Maria Cerbo che ha manifestato un forte apprezzamento per l’impegno della Dante nella promozione della lingua italiana ed espresso parole di auspicio per un congresso ricco di contenuti e prospettive. I lavori del congresso hanno preso avvio nella prima mattina di sabato 11 ottobre con le relazioni del primo gruppo di sezioni operanti in Australia. Assente la sezione di Tasmania e di Townsville che si è trovata impossibilitata a partecipare ma va segnalato che lo Stato del Queensland era ampiamente rappresentato dalle sezioni di Brisbane, Cairns e della Gold Coast. Sono intervenuti nell’ordine, il vicepresidente della sezione di Melbourne, Mary Marcuccio; il presidente della sezione di Canberra, Franco Papandreu; il presidente e vicepresidente della sezione di Brisbane, Elizabeth Jarvis e Rosalia Miglioli; il presidente della sezione della Gold Coast, Giovanna Santomauro, e il presidente della sezione di Cairns, Pauline Morris. Sarebbe oltremodo lungo fare un resoconto di ogni singola relazione ma nell’insieme si può dire che le sezioni del primo gruppo, come quelle del secondo gruppo le cui relazioni sono state tenute nel pomeriggio, nei due anni intercorsi dal precedente congresso, hanno svolto un programma ricco di attività sulla base delle risorse umane e materiali di cui hanno potuto disporre. Gli sforzi di tutte le sezioni si sono concentrati su attività destinate soprattutto a stimolare l’interesse dei ragazzi e dei giovani per la lingua italiana tramite concorsi poetici e artistici e l’organizzazione di gruppi di conversazione per gli studenti delle scuole superiori. Uguale impegno è stato posto nell’elaborare attività culturali e sociali per i soci e simpatizzanti, riuscendo in alcuni casi ad aumentare il numero degli iscritti e in altri ad arrestare il declino del numero delle iscrizioni. Se si tiene presente che l’opera dei comitati della Dante si svolge su base volontaria, la quantità delle attività e delle iniziative realizzate è davvero ragguardevole e degna di lode. Le varie relazioni, oltre a dare conto dell’operato di ogni singola sezione, hanno messo in evidenza la tenacia e la determinazione con cui i dirigenti di sezione portano avanti il loro lavoro. Dopo le relazioni del primo gruppo di sezioni, vi è stata una serie di interventi da parte di rappresentanti del mondo politico e istituzionale australiano e italiano. Ha parlato per prima la senatrice Concetta Fierravanti Wells, sottosegretaria del ministero federale dei servizi sociali, venuta appositamente da Canberra per rendere omaggio al lavoro svolto dalla Dante in Australia e all’alto contributo da essa dato alla realtà multiculturale di questo Paese. Dopo l’on. Fierravanti Wells hanno parlato, ciascuno esprimendo commenti altrettanto lusinghieri, il ministro statale per la pianificazione, gli affari multiculturali e la cittadinanza, on. Matthew Guy; il presidente emerito del CoAsIt ed ex governatore dello Stato del Victoria, Sir James Gobbo e la direttrice dell’Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Melbourne, dott.ssa Lina Panetta. Ad ognuno di loro, come alle altre personalità intervenute al congresso, il dott. Barbaro ha consegnato, in riconoscimento del loro sostegno, un libro sul centenario della Dante di Melbourne e una delle medaglie di benemerenza inviate alla sezione di Melbourne dal comitato centrale di Roma. Il congresso è quindi giunto ad uno dei suoi momenti più significativi e qualificanti con l’atteso intervento del relatore ospite, dott. Joseph Lo Bianco, professore di scienza e funzionalità del linguaggio presso la Melbourne Graduate School of Education della University of Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014 Melbourne. Sulla base della sua lunga esperienza accademica e delle sue ricerche, il dott. Lo Bianco, si è posto come tema del suo intervento, l’interrogativo “Può la lingua italiana continuare a prosperare nel sistema educativo australiano?”. Dopo aver preso in esame il rischio che la lingua italiana subisca in Australia lo stesso avverso destino cui è andata incontro in altri paesi come gli Stati Uniti, il Canadà e l’Argentina dove, nonostante una cospicua presenza di cittadini di origine italiana, è scarsamente parlata e scarsamente insegnata nelle scuole, ha proposto come metodo educativo che ne assicuri la sopravvivenza il modello denominato con l’acronimo COD, derivante dalle iniziali delle parole inglesi “Capacity”, “Opportunity” e “Desire”, che per felice coincidenza riflette anche le iniziali delle corrispondenti parole italiane “Capacità”, “Opportunità” e “Desiderio”. Il dott. Lo Bianco è ricorso anche ad un po’ di umorismo quando, traducendo in italiano la parola “cod”, ha parlato di modello “baccalà” riuscendo a destare il sorriso e a tenere vivo l’interesse del pubblico. Il modello COD è frutto di una ricerca condotta nell’Università di Ginevra alla quale ha contribuito lo stesso Lo Bianco e introduce un approccio innovativo all’insegnamento linguistico basato su tre elementi fondamentali senza i quali il processo di apprendimento tende ad entrare in crisi e inaridirsi. I tre elementi si esprimono appunto nella necessità di infondere nell’allievo fiducia nella sua “capacità” di apprendere una lingua, dargliene la “opportunità” e accenderne il “desiderio”. La sfida, dunque, per le sezioni della Dante in Australia – ha concluso il dott. Lo Bianco – è di adoperarsi affinché questi tre elementi essenziali costituiscano il perno dell’insegnamento dell’italiano in Australia. Solo così la nostra lingua “potrà continuare a prosperare nel sistema educativo di questo Paese”. L’insegnamento dell’italiano a livello universitario è stato il tema affrontato da John Hajek e Matthew Absalom, due brillanti docenti di lingua e letteratura italiana presso l’Università di Melbourne, i quali hanno preso in esame una serie di dati statistici per fare il punto sul flusso di studenti nei corsi di laurea rilevando una graduale decrescita del numero delle iscrizioni collegabile al calo del numero degli studenti delle scuole secondarie che portano l’italiano agli esami di maturità. Come cambiare questa tendenza è uno dei problemi che la Società Dante Alighieri non può certamente risolvere con le sue sole forze ma che richiede uno sforzo comune da parte di tutte le istituzioni che operano nel settore dell’insegnamento linguistico. Dopo la pausa per il pranzo il congresso ha presentato un dibattito sulla presenza della lingua italiana nei curriculi scolastici. Moderato dal dott. Lo Bianco, il dibattito ha offerto la possibilità a numerosi operatori e insegnanti di scambiarsi esperienze e idee disegnando un quadro che, pur presentando difficoltà e problemi, ha dimostrato la vitalità che continua ad animare quanti sono impegnati nell’insegnamento della lingua italiana e nella promozione della cultura italiana in Australia. Sono intervenuti nella discussione: Ferdinando Colarossi, direttore del dipartimento scolastico del Coasit di Melbourne; Gabriella Bertolissi, direttrice del programma di didattica linguistica del Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority; Frank Merlino, preside del Victorian School of Languages; Piero Genovesi, direttore dell’Italian Australian Institute; Paolo Baracchi, coordinatore della Società Storica Italiana; Patricia Sweeney, responsabile dei programmi di studio delle lingue dell’Our Lady of Mercy College di Heidelberg; Gail Amato, vicepresidente dell’Associazione Culturale Aurora; Ivana D’Aprano, coordinatrice del programma di insegnamento linguistico della Brunswick South Primary School; Teresa Colaianni, insegnante della St Andrew’s Primary School di Clayton South; Pina Iapozzuto, insegnante di italiano dell’Our Lady of Mercy College di Heidelberg; Kathy Marino, coordinatrice del programma di insegnamento delle lingue del De La Salle College di Malvern; Maria Calandro, responsabile del programma Lote del McGuire College di Shepparton e Pina Dunne responsabile del programma di insegnamento delle lingue del St Monica’s College di Epping, una delle poche scuole secondaria del Victoria dove la lingua italiana viene insegnata con il metodo CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) ovvero integrando lo studio di una materia con l’apprendimento della lingua. La giornata si è conclusa con le relazioni delle restanti quattro sezioni di Perth, Mildura, Adelaide e Sydney. Hanno parlato, nell’ordine, Carlo Pennone, vicepresidente della sezione di Perth; Lina Kadziela, presidente della sezione di Mildura; Luciana d’Arcangeli, presidente della sezione di Adelaide e Daniela Shannon e Ernesta Dias, rispettivamente presidente e direttore della scuola della sezione di Sydney. Le loro relazioni come quelle presentate dalle altre sezioni nella sessione mattutina, hanno ulteriormente confermato la passione e la dedizione con cui tutte le sezioni della Dante in Australia svolgono il loro compito. Una menzione particolare merita la sezione di Adelaide che si cura per tutto il territorio nazionale australiano del PLIDA (Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri), un’iniziativa della Dante italiana che offre a chi insegna e impara la lingua italiana un insieme di opportunità fra cui la possibilità, tramite esami, di ottenere la certificazione della competenza linguistica. La sera di sabato tutti i congressisti si sono ritrovati al ristorante Il Gambero on the Park di Lygon Street, via centrale del quartiere di Carlton storicamente collegato all’immigrazione italiana in Australia, ed hanno dato vita ad un allegro convivio durante il quale giovani e meno giovani hanno unito le loro voci intonando motivi tradizionali italiani e generando un clima di solidarietà e fratellanza. I lavori del congresso sono ripresi e si sono conclusi la mattina successiva dopo che i delegati avevano consumato assieme la prima colazione da Brunetti, il caffè italiano più noto e più frequentato di Melbourne. La sessione finale, presieduta dal dott. Barbaro, è stata animata da una libera discussione volta a stabilire una linea di azione comune, ferma restando l’autonomia di ogni singola sezione. Molte le idee che sono scaturite dalla discussione al punto che non è stato facile per il dott.Barbaro sintetizzarle in una omogenea dichiarazione d’intenti. La vastità geografica dell’Australia e i diversi contesti educativi, sociali e culturali in cui operano le nove sezioni della Dante rendono difficile dare compattezza ai loro sforzi e indirizzarli verso obiettivi comuni. C’è stato chi ha suggerito di tenere il congresso ogni anno anziché ogni due anni ed è stata riconosciuta da tutti l’importanza di mantenere vivi e costanti i rapporti, sfruttando al meglio gli odierni strumenti di comunicazione elettronica come l’internet e, qualora sia possibile coprirne la spesa con sponsorizzazioni pubbliche o private, arrivare alla pubblicazione di una rivista online che potrebbe fungere da anello di congiunzione fra tutte le sezioni. Alcuni partecipanti alla discussione hanno messo in risalto l’opportunità di sostenere il modello educativo COD illustrato dal dott. Joseph Lo Bianco diffondendone la conoscenza e promuovendone l’efficacia nelle scuole dove si insegna la lingua italiana. Il congresso ha chiaramente indicato che la Società Dante Alighieri in Australia è viva e vegeta e più che mai motivata ad assolvere la sua funzione di portabandiera del patrimonio linguistico e culturale italiano. Impeccabile l’organizzazione, curata in tutti I dettagli dal presidente della sezione di Melbourne Dominic Barbaro e dalla sua gentile consorte con l’ausilio del vicepresidente Mary Marcuccio e degli altri membri del comitato, in particolare Claudia McLean. Da segnalare infine l’ottima prestazione di Teresa Colaianni nel ruolo di maestro di cerimomia e l’entusiasmo con cui Ester Marcuccio, insegnante di storia, geografia e italiano (CLIL) del St Monica’s College, ha organizzato e presentato le esibizioni di studenti di italiano che si sono cimentati con grande coraggio nella recitazioe di brani della Divina Commedia e studenti vincenti del Poetry Competiton. Il prossimo congresso sarà organizzato e ospitato dalle sezioni di Brisbane e il Gold Coast in data da definirsi. Ivano Ercole Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014 9 The 2014 Biennial Conference enhances the role of DAS Australia as a major Italian cultural institution The 2014 Biennial Conference of the Dante Alighieri Society in Australia took place from the 10th to 12th of October in the Conference Rooms of Museo Italiano – CoAsIt in Melbourne. Organized by the Melbourne branch, the conference focused on the challenges that lay ahead of DAS Australia as it was clearly indicated in the title “Quo Vadis? The future of the Italian language in Australia”. Even if Italian is one of the foreign language most taught in Australian schools, the number of people who can speak it is steadily declining as a consequence of the gradual disappearance of first generation Italian immigrants. The great majority of their children and grandchildren, while remaining culturally connected to Italy, do not speak the Italian language and in many cases are struggling to find the motivation to learn it. By a mere coincidence the conference happened a week before the 14th edition of the week of the Italian language abroad and a few days ahead of the largest conference ever on the Italian language in the world, convened in Florence by the Italian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Arts, Culture and Tourism. The Melbourne conference could not certainly compete with such events but it is worth mentioning that DAS Australia has a history and a background that few other Italian cultural institutions can boast considering that the first Australian branch was born in Melbourne in 1896, just seven years after the founding of the Society in Italy. The conference was opened on October 10th with a brief ceremony followed by a reception that allowed the delegates to socialize and enjoy each other’s company. The vice president of the Melbourne Dante, Mrs. Mary Marcuccio, welcomed the delegates and the authorities invited to the ceremony and read the messages of good wishes sent by the President of DAS headquarters in Rome, Ambassador Bruno Bottai, the Secretary General, Dr. Alessandro Masi and the Italian Ambassador to Australia Dr. Pier Francesco Zazo. This was followed by an introductory speech by the president of Melbourne Dante Dr. Dominic Barbaro, who highlighted the many activities of DAS in Australia, but also acknowledged its difficulties in the current cultural context that emphasizes the study of science and technology, neglecting the importance of language learning despite its high cultural and educational value. “There is no doubt that we are confronted with problems,” said Dr. Barbaro urging the delegates to consider them seriously and to draw strategies aimed at overcoming them. For the first time the conference program was not limited to an overview of the activities held by the various branches but it also included a few sessions dedicated to analysis and discussion on how to ensure a future to the Italian language and culture in Australia. Dr. Barbaro’s opening address was followed by a vibrating speech by Tom Hazell, an historical figure of Melbourne’s Dante of which he has been a member for almost half a century and president for over thirty years. Speaking in Italian, Tom Hazell pronounced what can be described as his moral testament, rooted in the experience of a man who, while not of Italian origin, has embraced the language and culture of Italy, electing the latter as his adopted country. The ceremony was to be attended by the Hon. Marco Fedi, member of the Italian Parliament for the electoral district of Africa, Asia, Oceania and Antarctica but he was held in Italy by an important parliamentary meeting and entrusted his friend and collaborator Ivano Ercole with the task of reading a message of congratulations and support for the work done by Dante Alighieri Society in Australia. The Italian Consul General for Victoria and Tasmania, Dr. Marco Maria Cerbo, ended the opening ceremony with words of appreciation for the Society’s pivotal role as a 10 major Italian cultural institution and wished the delegates a fruitful and productive conference. The conference works started in the early morning of Saturday, October 11th with the reports by a first group of branches operating in Australia. The Tasmania and Townsville branches sent a message of apology for being unable to send delegates to the conference but it should be noted that the State of Queensland was amply represented by the branches of Brisbane, Cairns and the Gold Coast. The reporting speakers of this session were the vice president of Melbourne, Mary Marcuccio; the president of Canberra, Franco Papandreou; the president and vice president of Brisbane, Elizabeth Jarvis and Rosalia Miglioli; the president of the Gold Coast, Giovanna Santomauro, and the president of Cairns, Pauline Morris. An account of each report would be a longsome exercise but on the whole it can be said that, in the two years since the previous conference, the branches of the first group, such as those of the second group whose reports were presented in the afternoon, have carried out a program full of activities notwithstanding their limited human and material resources. The efforts of all branches have focused on activities designed mainly to stimulate the interest of children and young people towards the Italian language through poetry and arts competition and with conversation groups for high school students. The same commitment has been put in to cultural and social activities for members and sympathizers which allowed some branches to increase and some other to halt the number of their members. If one keeps in mind that the work of the Dante’s committees is done on a voluntary basis, the amount of activities and initiatives is truly remarkable and worthy of praise. The various reports highlighted the tenacity and determination of the committee members of each branch. After the reports of the first group of branches, the conference welcomed its special guests including Senator Concetta Fierravanti Wells, undersecretary of the Federal Minister of Social Services, who especially came from Canberra to pay tribute to the high contribution by DAS to the multicultural reality of Australia; State Minister of Victoria for Planning, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, Matthew Guy; President Emeritus of CoAsIt and former Governor of the State of Victoria, Sir James Gobbo and the director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Melbourne, Dr. Lina Panetta. Each of them expressed their appreciation for the work of DAS in Australia and, in recognition of their support, Dr. Barbaro presented to each of them a book on the centenary of Melbourne’s Dante and a medal of merit sent by the Central Committee of Rome. The conference then came to one of its most significant and qualifying moments with a lecture by the guest speaker, Dr. Joseph Lo Bianco, professor of Language Science at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education of the University of Melbourne. On the basis of his long academic experience and his research work, Dr. Lo Bianco, used the following question as the title of his lecture: “Can the Italian language continue to thrive in the Australian education system?”. After taking into consideration the risk that the Italian language in Australia might experience, the decline it experienced in other countries like the US, Canada and Argentina, where, despite a conspicuous presence of citizens of Italian origin, it is poorly spoken and poorly taught in schools, Dr. Lo Bianco proposed as an effective way of teaching the language, i.e. a method identified by the acronym COD, from the initials of the English words “Capacity”, “Opportunity” and “Desire”, which by a rare coincidence also reflects the initials of the corresponding Italian word “Capacità”, “Opportunità” and “Desiderio”. Dr. Lo Bianco also resorted to a bit of humor when, translating “cod” into Italian, he used the word “baccalà” raising a laugh in the audience and holding its interest. The COD method is the result of a research conducted at the University of Geneva and introduces an innovative approach to language teaching based on three basic elements without which the Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014 learning process tends to fade away. The three elements are expressed in the need to instill in the student confidence in his “capacity” to learn a language, give him the “opportunity” and kindle his “desire”. The challenge, then, for DAS in Australia - concluded Dr. Lo Bianco - is to ensure that these three essential elements constitute the pivot of Italian language teaching in Australia. Only then our language “will continue to thrive in the education system of this country.” The teaching of Italian at university level was the topic addressed by John Hajek and Matthew Absalom, two brilliant lecturers of Italian language and literature at the University of Melbourne, who showed statistical data indicating that the number of enrolments of undergraduate students has been decreasing as a consequence of the decline in the number of secondary school students who chose Italian as a subject for their matriculation exams. How to change this trend is one of the problems that the Dante Alighieri Society cannot solve on its own and requires a joint effort by all institutions working in the field of language teaching. After the lunch break, the Congress moved to a debate on the presence of the Italian language in school curricula. Moderated by Dr. Lo Bianco, the debate offered an opportunity for many educationalists and teachers to exchange experiences and ideas, and showed the passion and drive that continue to inspire all those engaged in teaching Italian in schools. The speakers who took part in the debate were: Ferdinando Colarossi, director of the department of education of CoAsIt Melbourne; Gabriella Bertolissi, director of the school language program of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Board; Frank Merlino, dean of the Victorian School of Languages; Piero Genovesi, director of the Italian Australian Institute; Paolo Baracchi, coordinator of the Italian Historical Society; Patricia Sweeney, head of the language program at Our Lady of Mercy College in Heidelberg; Gail Amato, vice president of the Cultural Association Aurora; Ivana D’Aprano, coordinator of the language teaching program at Brunswick South Primary School; Teresa Colaianni, teacher of St Andrew’s Primary School, Clayton South; Pina Iapozzuto, Italian teacher at Our Lady of Mercy College in Heidelberg; Pina Dunne, head of Languages and teacher at St Monica’s College Epping, one of the schools that operates the CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) program; Kathy Marino, coordinator of the language program at De La Salle College in Malvern and Maria Calandro, head of the Lote program at McGuire College in Shepparton. The day ended with the reports of the remaining four branches of Perth, Mildura, Adelaide and Sydney. The speakers were: Carlo Pennone, vice president of Perth; Lina Kadziela, president of Mildura; Luciana d’Arcangeli, president of Adelaide and Daniela Shannon and Ernesta Dias, president and director of the school program of the Sydney branch. Their reports as those presented by the other branches in the morning session, further confirmed the great commitment by all DAS branches in Australia. A special mention goes to the Adelaide branch that looks after the PLIDA scheme across Australia which offers those who teach and learn the Italian language a set of opportunities including the possibility of obtaining through examinations a certification of their linguistic competence. On Saturday evening, all delegates and members gathered in the Italian restaurant Il Gambero on the Park in Lygon Street, a street of Melbourne historically connected to the Italian presence in Australia, and had a great time together, so much so that at the end of dinner many of them joined their voices and sang traditional Italian tunes in a most joyful atmosphere. The conference resumed and reached its conclusion on Sunday morning after the delegates had breakfast together at Brunetti, the most popular Italian cafè of Melbourne. The final session, chaired by Dr. Barbaro, allowed a free discussion aimed at establishing a common line of action. Many ideas and proposals emerged from the general discussion to the extent that it was not easy for Dr. Barbaro to combine them into a homogeneous mission statement. There were those who suggested holding the conference every year instead of every two years and all delegates recognized the importance for the branches to remain in contact, making the most of today’s electronic communication tools and possibly getting to the publication of an online magazine. Some delegates highlighted the opportunity to support the educational model COD illustrated by Dr. Joseph Lo Bianco, by promoting its adoption by schools where Italian is taught. The conference demonstrated that the Dante Alighieri Society in Australia is alive and well and more motivated than ever to fulfill its role as a leading Italian cultural institution. The organization of the conference by the Melbourne committee was excellent as well as the performance of Teresa Colaianni in the role of MC and of Ester Marcuccio who organized and presented readings from the Divine Comedy by Italian language students. The next conference will be hosted jointly by the DAS Gold Coast and Brisbane branches at a date to be decided. Ivano Ercole Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014 11 12 Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014 A Tribute to my father, Soccorso Santoro 1902 - 1961 My father, Soccorso Santoro, was born near Naples, Italy in 1902. After graduating in medicine from the University of Genoa and internship at Allessandria, north of Genoa, he was called up for military service as an officer in the ‘Battalion of Doctors and Pharmacists’. After completing his military service, he decided to travel around the world and as he spoke English well and Italy was an ally of Britain in the 1914-1918 war, he took the sensible precaution of registering his Genoa medical degree in London on 10 June, 1930. There was reciprocity of medical degrees with Britain therefore making his degree acceptable throughout the English speaking world. He sailed to Australia on the Orient Line’s “Orama” which left Naples on 29 June, 1930. He arrived in Melbourne well equipped with the appropriate medical, surgical, obstetrical and even dental instruments ( his degree gave him the rights to practice dentistry, which he never did). He commenced practice at ‘Professional Chambers”: 110 Collins Street, Melbourne in August, 1930. In 1933, he married my mother Vida Clancy. I was born in 1935 and the cost of the confinement was ten pounds, fifteen shillings and sixpence ($21.55). His gross income in 1934 was 761 pounds ($1522.00) and in 1935 he stated in his tax return that as his “…practice consists of mainly Italians…are scattered in all suburbs of Melbourne… (his) average monthly mileage is 1200”. He noted that petrol was 1 shilling and seven pence (15 cents) per gallon (3.5 cents per litre)! My father’s practice in Collins was not easy. Most of the patients were working class Italians who would on occasions sit on the floor along the corridor, to the surprise of the three piece suited, watch chained specialists in other rooms in the building. He spent a great deal of time translating for patients and accompanied them to specialists. My father was President of the Dante Alighieri Society (a society formed in 1889 to promote Italian culture and language) from 1931 to 1959. When he resigned, due to ill health he received a gold medal ‘Societa` Dante Alighieri’ for his long service to the society and promoting the Italian language. From 1933 to 1940 he was a delegate of the Italian Red Cross and was responsible for the collections of financial donations. Also, he was the official doctor of the Italian Consul General in Melbourne and the Italian shipping lines. This was an era of great respect for the family doctor who was the confidant of many families. Migrants had to turn to someone who could understand them and their family ties. As their children mixed with local children, family strictness and unity tended to break down; many children refused to speak Italian and were desperate to be considered Australian. This rejection of the older migrants became very upsetting especially as the young had to be relied upon as interpreters. My father took me on home calls around Carlton where the Italian families were roasting coffee or making spaghetti, ravioli, salamis or prosciutto. All work would cease and the whole family would become involved in prolonged quiet conversation with my father regarding some medical problem. It was unusual for him to complete a home call in under one hour. When war was declared he was interned in a camp at Tatura in Victoria. Due to my mother’s efforts as an Australian citizen he was interned for only 6 weeks, compared with other Italians interned for the duration of the war. He was released on condition that he reported to the Kew Police Station three times a week and did not travel more than 40 kilometres from Kew. He was not allowed near the beach on Port Philip Bay as there was a possibility that he would signal to enemy shipping! He was allowed to continue the practice of medicine at 110 Collins Street, Melbourne. However, he was advised that whenever he was seeing an Italian patient, no more than two other Italians were to be in the waiting room at the same time – any other Italians were advised to ‘go for a walk around the block’. This was to prevent any conspiracies from occurring. For the same reason tennis could not be played at the family home if it involved other Italians. Also, it was illegal to speak a foreign language Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014 on the telephone .Our house was searched for subversive literature by the Australian authorities but they did not find the complete Dante Alighieri Society library hidden under the house. Our family was nevertheless treated with great courtesy by the authorities and the few times I went to visit my father at Tatura camp, at the age of 6, I remember Australian soldiers giving me oranges and playing with me. After the war, in 1948, my father made his first trip back to Italy to see his family. The plane trip from Melbourne to Rome took 96 hours. My father worked tirelessly to promote the Italian community in Australia, for instance by mobilizing Italian Clubs and their members to donate to St. Vincent’s Hospital building programmed in 1953 and presenting Melbourne Public Library in 1956 with 200 books by Italian authors to demonstrate the rising importance of the Italian language in this city. 1956 he was given the responsibility to be the Official doctor for the ‘Squadra Olimpica Italiana’, in Melbourne for the 16th Olympic Games. In 1960 the Italian language was accepted as a subject at the University or Melbourne and an annual ‘Dr. Santoro Prize’ is donated to the best student in first year Italian at this University. My father received the honour of ‘Cavaliere Ufficiale’ from the Italian government. In 1961, on a trip to Genoa, he suffered a heart attack and was admitted to the same hospital in which he studied his medical course. In the months prior to his death, he had contacted many of the 1926 university of Genoa Medical School graduates and was well on the way to arranging a 35 year reunion. He wished to renew his acquaintances with his colleagues and hear their stories of medical practice throughout Italy’s turbulent years; it was not to be. He died on 10 July, 1961, aged 59. having practiced in Collins Street for 31 years. I graduated at Melbourne University the year after my father died. Internship at Queen Victoria Hospital and locums in a few Italian and Australian practices made me decide to commence practice in the inner, then industrial suburb of Richmond where many Italians lived and worked. I was on call 24 hours a day to a large group of patients, as my father was. Deputizing services were a godsend to the solo GP, so in 1970, I assisted in planning a successful service which still operates as a locum deputizing service today. The capacity to communicate in Italian is particularly satisfying, but the cultural understanding of illness is also vitally important. “Fire of St. Anthony” explains the excruciating pruritis of shingles nicely! I 13 enjoyed the numerous home visits which gave an enormous insight into patient care. I still found time for community service as office bearer of the Victoria Branch of the AMA (Australian Medical Association) and of the Medical Benevolent Association. In my year as president of the Victorian Branch of the AMA I formed the Italian, Greek and Chinese Medical Societies and was the inaugural president of the Italian Medical Society for 14 years. I have a particular interest in the aging migrant’s special needs and have been involved in providing specialized accommodation. I was very proud to be honoured by both the Italian and Australian Governments, as ‘Commendatore’ and Officer of the Order of Australia for my contribution to the health and welfare of the Italian community. Recently I have been involved with Dr. Tony Mariani current president of the Italian Medical Society in the production of a 300 page book on preventative medicine in English and Italian to assist migrants in lifestyle choices. With migration to Australia continuing there is still much to be done toward compassionate primary medical care. My family’s input gives me great pride. Dr. George Santoro AO DR. GEORGE SANTORO 1962 Graduated Melbourne University, MBBS 1965-2001 Solo general practice in Richmond, Victoria 1970-2001 Nominated Medical Officer for Italian government, assessing Italian pensions & past work injury claims from Italy 1976-1999 Treasurer & President Medical Benevolent Association of Victoria 1977 Cavaliere, Order of Solidarity of Republic of Italy 1983 President, Victorian Branch AMA 1983-current Director, Medical Defence Association of Victoria 1984 Cavaliere Ufficiale Republic of Italy 1983-1996 Inaugural president Italian Medical Society John Francis (Jack) Miller OAM 3rd May 1924 - 17th January 2014 14 Extract from Eulogy delivered by Justice Richard Tracey at the Requiem Mass for John Francis (Jack) Miller OAM on 23rd January 2014: “Once in a lifetime we may be fortunate enough to encounter a truly great person. Great in the sense of one who is utterly selfless and without guile and is devoted to his God, his Church, his country, his family, his friends and the many others who needed his help. We have all been blessed to have known such a man and we are here this morning to commemorate his life and commit him to the eternal care of God whom he loved and served so well. Jack made friends easily. Once made, those friendships endured. He sought out and found the best in everyone. Jack contributed to the work of so many organisations that it is impossible to refer to them all. For many years, Jack was a long-time member of the Dante Alighieri Society who served as treasurer and auditor on the executive committee for several years, and he very much enjoyed his 1986-1994 Federal Council, Australian Medical Association 1988-1989 Chairman, Lord Mayor’s Fund Metropolitan Hospitals and Charities 1989-1997 Board member & chairman, St.Carlo Complex for Italian Aged 1990 Member, Order of Australia (AM) 1994 Commendattore Order of Merit Republic of Italy 1994 Director and Treasurer, Melbourne Division of General Practice 1994-1999 Board Faculty of Medicine University of Melbourne 1996-2007 Member of Order of Australia Council (Governor General’s committee for Australian Honours) 2010 Officer, Order of Australia (AO) association with the Society. He was a member of the Society of Certified Practising Accountants for over 55 years and was the honorary auditor for many not for profit bodies. Jack supported many charities and in 1998 his community service was recognised with the award of an Order of Australia medal. A moving tribute paid by a teaching colleague follows: “Jack’s willingness to sacrifice himself at the meagre requests of any person requiring help will testify his readiness to aid any person. I can vouch for him one for the kindest and most considerate persons known to me. The world would be at a great loss to even attempt his replacement. Jack has aided and helped many with his philosophy and widespread knowledge of things available worldwide that anyone who has shared in this is indeed fortunate in the extreme.” I am sure, that all of us who have known Jack endorse and adopt this moving tribute to him.” Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014 Italian day at St Mark’s School, Fawkner Buongiorno a tutti, Thursday, 28th August, 2014 (giovedì, il ventotto di agosto) was definitely “una bella giornata”! It was one of the best Italian Days I have had the pleasure to organise. We had a fabulous performance by the comedic duo of James and Mario (from La Comica Variety); we had an interesting array of outdoor activities, assisted by students from John Fawkner Secondary College; we had art-themed and literacy-themed activities in the classroom; we had delicious gelato at recess; we were served tasty pasta and garlic bread for lunch, and finally we had plenty of happy visitors who came through our doors - all receiving excellent hospitality and genuine welcome by a band of extremely helpful St. Mark’s personnel. What a full day! My thanks go to my exemplary colleagues for joining in the jovial spirit of the day; to RMIT student Emma who did a fabulous job taking the fotografia during the performance; to the Parents and Friends volunteers who ran around with caffè e biscotti, tortellini e penne; to the students who helped set up the sala with decorations; to Francesca and Bianca who sang a Ricchi e Poveri song so beautifully in Italian; to the group of boys - Paul, Pasquale, Lochie and Connor - who led us in a whole-school chant (“Tortellini, I like tortellini!”); to the whole school population who behaved so well during the entire show and the outdoor and art/literacy activities; to Mr. Bourne, our “preside” who is always extremely positive about celebrating such important occasions around our school (wasn’t the sala just a perfect venue for the enthusiastic theatrics of Pippo and Pasquale with their frigo and their forno???!!): and last, but not least, of course our thanks go to our appreciative invited guests: genitori, nonni, presidi e insegnanti dalle scuole vicine a noi, e Signora Marcuccio. To everyone, I say a heartfelt GRAZIE for your collaboration. The Term 3, 2014 Italian Day will long live on in my memory, as will the gorgeous sunny weather. I feel I need to repeat myself: last giovedì really was una bella giornata!!! Donna Salera - taken from St Marks’s School Newsletter Students Celebrate All Things Italian Style The students at Glenferrie Primary School in Hawthorn celebrated Italian Day on Thursday the 30th of October. The sun came out, the parents came to assist and the students enjoyed the varied cultural activities and had lots of fun! ‘Evviva L’Italiano’ was the theme and it was a sea of verde, bianco e rosso! The students came to school dressed up as an Italian character or in the Italian colours. There were Ferrari drivers, La Befana, a giant gelato, pizzas and even ‘La Mona Lisa’ and Pinocchio the puppet made a presence. The day began with ‘Tarantella’ music. The students sang and the Vice President from The Dante Alighieri Society Melbourne, La Signora Marcuccio formally opened the day with the cutting of the ribbon. The turf was transformed into mini soccer clinics with the students practicing their soccer skills. Bocce was played, Pinocchio the puppet was created whilst others practiced their number skills with ‘Tombola’. The students learnt a little more about Michelangelo and about Mosaics and The Leaning Tower of Pisa activity was a challenging Maths session for the senior school. The students practiced their balancing skills with The Waiter’s Race as well as trying to throw ‘3 Coins into The Trevi Fountain’. The students were thoroughly engaged with all aspects of the day! Over 360 pizzas were delivered to the school for lunch and an Italian gelato was a treat in the afternoon. Looking back now and reflecting on the day, it was a wonderful feeling to know that we have such a wonderful school community who enthusiastically and strongly support our annual Italian cultural event and our Italian Program. All the students learn about the Italian language and culture as part of the Language and Literacy Curriculum of the school. Signorina Paladino Italian Teacher and Coordinator, Glenferrie Primary School Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014 15 DANTE ALIGHIERI SOCIETY - MELBOURNE VCE CONVERSATION CLASSES SEMESTER ONE, 2015 Commencing dates for Semester One, 2015 are as follows: Mondays: 16th February – 1st June (9th March public holiday) Tuesdays: 17th February – 26th May Wednesdays: 18th February – 27th May Thursdays: 19th February – 28th May Term 2 begins 13th April Locations for Term 1 and 2 are: Mondays: • Dante Alighieri Society Office 308 Drummond Street, Carlton • Parade College 1436 Plenty Road, Bundoora Tuesdays: • Our Lady of Mercy College 42 Cape Street, Heidelberg • Sacred Heart Girls’ College 113 Warrigal Rd, Oakleigh Wednesdays: • Siena College 815 Riversdale Rd, Camberwell • St. John’s Regional College 5-9 Caroline Street, Dandenong • St Monica’s S.C. 16 Davvison St, Epping Thursdays: • Strathmore Secondary College 400 Pascoe Vale Rd, Strathmore • Mercy College 760 Sydney Road, Coburg • De La Salle College 1318 High Street, Malvern 16 Dr Dominic Barbaro and Committee of Management wish all our members and supporters a safe and happy Christmas and a wonderful 2015. La storia del Panettone C’è una piccola storia legata al panetttone, poplarissimo dolce di Natale. Si racconta infatti che ai tempi di Ludovico il Moro, viveva a Milano un fornaio chiamato Toni. Un giorno si presentò a lui un giovane dall’aspetto gentile, che voleva apprendere il mestiere. Toni lo guardò un pò dubbioso e gli disse: <Le tue mani sono troppo delicate; scommetto che non hai mai lavorato!> <Perchè non mi metti alla prova? Ti mostrerò di che cosa sono capaci le mie mani> rispose il giovane con una cert’aria di sfida. A Toni piacque la risposta del giovane e acconsentì. In verità, il nuovo garzone era un nobile che si era innammorato della figlia di Toni ed aveva chiesto al padre per poter essere più vicino alla fanciulla. Il giorno dopo, si mise all’opera e, aggiungendo uva secca e noci all’impasto del pane, produsse un pane completamente diverso da quello iniziale. I clienti di Toni furono così piacevolmente sorpresi che cominciarono ad ordinare in quantità. Lo chiamarono Pan de Toni trasformato in seguito in panettone. Simo sicuri che, dopo il gran successo del Pan de Toni, il fornaio sia stato più propenso a perdonare l’inganno e vedere di buon occhio il nobiluomo. Buon Natale a tutti! Dante Alighieri Society - Melbourne Branch - Diecembre 2014