Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (12:43): I move:
That this house—
(a) recognises that 2015 is the 40th anniversary of the Campania Sports and Social Club;
(b) 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
(c) pays tribute to the activities of this club, and others like it, which enrich the life of our state as a whole and contribute to a better and more diverse South Australia.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Campania Sports and Social Club. On Saturday 20 June, I and many members in this place will have the pleasure and honour to attend a fun day at the Campania club to celebrate its 40th birthday. We will assemble at the Benevento hall and be welcomed by Cavaliere John DiFede and Steve Maglieri, who is president of the 40th anniversary committee. We will hear from a number of dignitaries, especially the president of the Campania club, Roberto Corsini. I want to thank Roberto for the wonderful work that both he and the committee have done not only this year but also in the years before, especially the original founders of the committee.
Migrants from the Campania region maintain their local and regional identity through clubs like this, through clubs they have established. It is a very special club. Many members may have visited the club in the past, perhaps just for a pizza or a bowl of tagliatelle, fusilli, orecchiette or any other wonderful pasta that they serve. But, it is not just about the food, it is also a meeting place—there are many halls there. The club is a successful club, and it has opened its arms to the wider, broader Australian community so that they may also share in it. It also features a wonderful library. The library is important because they keep so much of our history.
The Hon. A. Piccolo: And who funded it?
Mr TARZIA: Absolutely, and governments, of both sides, in a bipartisan manner have over the years contributed to the club, and I do appreciate and thank them for that. Language classes have also been undertaken at the club as well.
I wanted to talk a little about the Campania migrant story to Australia and South Australia particularly. When you look at the estimated resident population of Australia as at 30 June 2014 with regard to Italy, it said that we have about 1 per cent of Australia's population. It said that 201,800 people born in Italy were in Australia as at 30 June 2014. When you look at the estimated resident population of South Australia, as of 2011, it said that still in South Australia alone there were 22,100 who were born in Italy.
From Campania, obviously migrants came from an array of towns and villages, namely: originally Benevento, where there were 6,315 migrants; Avellino, where there were 2,522; Napoli (of course, we like the Napolitano) 570; Salerno, 379; and, Caserta, 359. Members will note that an array of clubs from this region have since set up, not just the Campania Club but a range of other clubs in the region, namely, San Giorgio La Molara, the Molinara Club, the Altavilla Club, and, close enough, but a little bit into another region, Le Marche Club and Fogolar Furlan up north. It is a wonderful migrant story that we have these clubs here in South Australia that promote their regions, their origins, so that future South Australians can share in that proud migrant heritage.
From the viewpoint of regional origins, it is said the highest ranked, in terms of comparative percentage of birth place of South Australia's Italo-Australians, is: Campania, 27.9 per cent; followed by Calabria, 23.5 per cent; Veneto, 10.5 per cent; and Abruzzo, 8.6 per cent. I wanted to quote some of those figures, because it puts things into perspective and shows how many in the community, especially in my area, fit into that picture, and especially myself and my grandparents, and many residents in my area who were products of this post World War II migration to Australia.
We are grateful to the people of Campania, who have made an array of sacrifices to leave their mother country many years ago, the sacrifices they made and the contribution they have made to South Australia. South Australia is certainly much more diverse, much more culturally sound and certainly has many more food options available to it since the people of Campania chose to migrate to South Australia. We are very grateful to the Campania Club for all that it does. I wish them well in June, when they have their 40th year celebrations, and I commend motion to the house.
