History

Sir Gino Zannoni.

November 8, 1967

The Italo-Australian Club was formed in Mount Gambier upon the decision of a general meeting of the Italian Community of Mount Gambier convened for this purpose by the late Sir Gino Zannoni, an Italian Knight, when a provisional committee was elected.

Sir Gino Zannoni, awarded a knighthood for his services assisting with the arrival of Italian migrants, was elected the inaugural President of the Italo-Australian Club at Mount Gambier and was a Consular Representative for the Italian Government.

December 5, 1967

A delegation of the already established International Soccer Club of Mount Gambier composed of Rocco Di Rito, Vic Gentile, Italo (Tony) Moretti, Vince Caiazza, Angelo Greco, Rocco Di Cesare and Camilo Gatto was invited to discuss the possibility of amalgamation with the newly formed association. This resulted in a unanimous decision for an immediate union. The International soccer team became the official team of the Mount Gambier Italo-Australian Club and its members adopted the rules and constitution of it.

March 17, 1968

The provisional Committee of the new association called the members of the Italian community of Mount Gambier to officially elect the first effective Committee. Twenty-nine candidates stood for election – the first 13 with the highest votes were elected.

The members of the new Committee then assigned themselves to the following duties:

Directive Committee

Sir G Zannoni, President
Mr A Falcone, Vice-President
Geom. G Constantini, Secretary
Mr R Morandini, Vice-Secretary
Mr G Bottos, Treasurer

Social Committee

Mr A Falcone, Director
Mr A FerraroMr L Persello
Mr L Pugliarini
Mr A. Amoroso

Sports Committee

Mr R Morandini, Director
Mr C Dragone
Mr V Caiazza
Mr V Gentile
Mr A Scungio

View a list of all our Presidents.

The first Committee. From left to right: G Bottos, L Persello, R Morandin, A Ferraro, C Dragone, L Pugliarini, Geom. G Constantini, G Zannoni, A Scungio, A Falcone, V Caiazza (obscured), V Gentile, A Amoroso.

April 19, 1968

The Club was put under the patronage of the Italian Consulate in Adelaide. Membership reached 113 members.

May 12, 1968

A general meeting of members took place with the participation of the Italian Vice-Consul, Dr F Migliorini, and a subscription of foundation members for the purpose of buying some land for the new premises of the Club reached $2,329.

View a list of the Foundation Members.

September 27, 1968

The Rules of Constitution were incorporated.

November 24, 1968

The annual election of a new Committee was officially held in November, 1968, instead of March 1969. In a general assembly of the members directed by Italian Vice-Consul Dr F Migliorini, the number of Committee members was elevated to 15.

Second Committee of the Mount Gambier Italo-Australian Club were the following:

Directive Committee

Sir G Zannoni, President
Mr A Bonitatibus, Vice-President
Mr I (Tony) Moretti, Secretary
Geom. G Constantini, Vice-Secretary
Mr A Ferraro, Treasurer

Sports Committee

Mr R Di Rito, Director
Mr R Di Cesare
Mr A Scungio
Mr F Iarossi
Mr G Vadori

Social Committee

Mr V Gentile, Director
Mr A Amoroso
Mr G Bueti
Mr S Pacor
Mr S Filomena

March, 1969

Opening of the ground.

Together the Clubs purchased land at Moorak with money raised by debentures from their members. The debentures were later repaid, with most of the members electing to leave the money to the Italo-Australian Club. With this money and a lot of voluntary labour from their members, they began building the clubrooms.

As a consequence of the general meeting in January, 1969, 6 ½ acres of land on Bay Road was bought for the amount of $3,900.

The Italian Government contributed towards this good cause and donated $1,000.

At the end of 1969, the purchase of the land was finalised.

On the occasion of the general election for the third Committee, the new Italian Vice-Consul, Dr D Ferrari, was officially presented to the Mayor of Mount Gambier, Mr S H Elliott, OBE.

The third Committee comprised the following:

Directive Committee
Mr A Bonitatibus, President
Mr C Gatto, Vice-President
Geom. G Constantini, Secretary
Mr V Gentile, Vice-Secretary
Mr A Ferraro, Treaurer

Sports Committee

Mr P La Rosa, Director
Mr U Ferraro
Mr F Eramo
Mr G Pasquazzi
Mr G Carbone

Social Committee

Mr S Pacor, Director
Mr V Dell’Orifice
Mr A Ferro
Mr S Letizia
Mr C Dragone

The construction of the clubhouse in progress.

This Committee accomplished erection of toilets, soccer field and the provision of reticulated water for the amount of $3,000.

November, 1969

Committee members were as follows:

Directive Committee
Mr G Versace, President
Geom. G Constantini, Vice-President
Mr V Pinneri, Secretary
Mr S Piacucci, Vice-Secretary
Mr G Bottos, Treasurer

Sports Committee

Mr I (Tony) Moretti, Director
Mr R Rossi
Mr R Di Cesare
Mr A Scungio
Mr D Catalano

Social Committee

Mr V Gentile, Director
Mr C Michielan
Mr V Dell’Orefice
Mr D Mulraney
Mr G Pasquazzi

Under this Committee the construction of the clubhouse was organised and started and the main part of the building erected under the supervision of Mr C Michielan, Mr A Scungio and Mr G Bottos.

March 15, 1970

Lieutenant Casadio.

Unanimously it was decided by the Italian community to name the site “Casadio Park” in memory of Lieutenant Anthony Austin Casadio, Vietnam hero.

In an impressive ceremony Casadio Park was opened by Cr W Clark, Chairman of the District Council of Mount Gambier. Reverend Dean Travers blessed the park.

Official guests at the opening were:

Mr J D Corcoran, MP
Mr A R Burdon, MP
Mr S H Elliott, Mayor of Mount Gambier
Very Reverend Dean Travers
Brother Aiden, Principal of Marist Brothers’ College
Mr and Mrs, and Miss, Casadio
Mr and Mrs L W Hobba
Sir Ralph Zanello and Lady Zanello, Consulate Representative for Millicent
Mr and Mrs A S Farnden, President of South East Soccer Association

November, 1971

An interim Committee was elected and carried out the completion of the exterior building.

Directive Committee

Mr G Versace, President
Mr G Kljun, Vice-President
Geom. G Constantini, Secretary
Mr A Scungio, Vice-Secretary
Mr G Bottos, Treasurer

Sport Sub-Committee

Mr V Gentile, Director
Mr G Vadori
Mr D Catalano
Mr C Gatto
Mr V Dell’Orefice
Mr M Baggio
Mr E Castignani
Mr G Ferrazzola
Mr P Greco

Social Sub-Committee

Mr A Della Giustina, Director
Mr C Michielan
Mr G Pasquazzi
Mr A Ferraro
Mr S Placucci

March 19, 1972

Dr Paolo Canali.

This Committee extended the water reticulation, laid new roads, car park and generally beautified the area in preparation for the visit of the Ambassador (Dr Paolo Canali) and the laying of the foundation stone.

All the members of the Club contributed greatly by voluntary labour, also the District Council of Mount Gambier.

The complete cost of the project was estimated to be in the vicinity of $80,000.

Directive Committee

Mr I (Tony) Moretti, President
Mr R Di Rito, Vice-President
Geom. G Constantini, Secretary
Mr E Castignani, Vice-Secretary
Mr A Ferraro, Treasurer

Sport Sub-Committee

Mr V Gentile, Director
Mr C Dragone
Mr R Di Cesare
Mr M Cella

Social Sub-Committee

Mr G Ferrazzola, Director
Mr A Amoroso
Mr A Bonitatibus
Mr S Letizia