As a young girl growing up in Wollongong I remembered some of the Italian Associations/Organisations that were formed by those in our local community. The one event that stands out to me the most was the Saint Giovanni Battista festival. I think the reason that I remember it the most was that on a number of occasions, we as a family went along to celebrate their annual festival at the then Wollongong Show Ground. There would be entertainment, activities for children and of course, food.
Most associations held events yearly. Occasionally some groups would have picnics, sometimes twice or more in a year. Over time other groups formed that represented different regions and traditions as well. There were religious celebrations, military corps and choirs groups, all from our beloved Italy. However, as the population aged these groups inevitably got smaller and smaller. Some groups finished all together, others amalgamated and some new ones formed as more of a social get together.
Most associations were formed as a way of staying connected to each other and celebrating their ethnicity and culture. One such group was the St. Andrea - Irpinia Association. St Andrea di Conza is a small town that is part of the greater region of Irpinia. It is situated in the province of Avelino in Campania, Italy.
I first became aware of them when I interviewed Vince Cappetta about his family who were the last owners of Bruno`s Reception Centre in Tarrawanna. Vince began to tell me the story of the St. Andrea - Irpinia Association and I was impressed to say the least. An organisation that is still going after 40 years!
The Association was formed in 1982 and it became official in 1983. Vince and his wife Maria were an integral part of the Association and they held the first Association Dinner at Bruno`s in Tarrawanna, when the Cappetta family were running it. It just so happened that the Mayor of the town back in Italy was in Australia visiting family. He also attended the inaugural Association dinner, making it all the more special. The following year they were able to purchase their very own club house: as I said, I was impressed. The group donated money towards their goal and soon they found a perfect place at 180 - 182 Wentworth Street, Port Kembla. The purchase price was $80,000.
It used to be a YMCA in it’s day. It had internal toilets, a large hall and parking. It was perfect. The group, with many members and volunteers worked together and raised the funds to renovate their club house. Internal fixtures were attended to and a kitchen was built once they acquired council permission. They also in time built an movable wall so they could close off the space if need be, but had the option to open it up for bigger functions.
When they first began the Association, they had picnics and gatherings and many people bought food. They worked constantly to get to their goal of purchasing their own building and they built up their membership.
St. Andrea - Irpinia Association represents the region and it is well known for their pasta dishes: Cappalletti and Cavatelli. Each year they would celebrate with dinners at their club house and the wonderful women would recreate these beautiful pasta shapes all done by hand. They would raise money for the club and had the most remarkable dinner at their Wentworth Street, address with up to 120 people attending. Catered by the group, served by the group and totally enjoyed by all. Everyone helped out and often grandchildren would assist with serving the food and other duties.
Typically they ran two large events per year. The first one was in August were it coincided with the three day festival of the region in Italy. They usually cooked Cavatelli. The next event was held in November in honour of (The Saint) Sant`Andrea, in Italy and at this event they cooked Cappelletti. They were also bottling their own pasta sauce. With Vince Cappetta, there was never any shortage of hospitality experience as well. With the running of the reception centre at Tarrawanna, he was just as passionate with his involvement with the Association. Saturday nights were reserved for Briscola and Tombola with raffles and prizes given such as pasta, olive oil, passata, wine, beer & chocolates.
When Covid hit, things changed dramatically and when people had to stay home and shelter in place, not much was happening at their club house and they had to find a way to pay the utilities. Part of the club was divided into office space and leased. This gave them an income that was used towards land rates, water and electricity.
Slowly, with time, they went back to operating and running their Saturday night social gathering. Men often play Briscola and the ladies Tombola with the addition of a pool table and table top soccer for all to enjoy. They are also licensed to sell beer and wine along with light snacks and it is still frequented by the members.
On the 25th of February 2023 the association celebrated their 40th year anniversary, but without a full sized venue to run their annual dinner, they decided to celebrate their anniversary at the Fraternity Bowling Club, in Fairy Meadow.
Weeks prior to the event the ladies of the Association began preparations for the dinner. I went along to the club house to see the ladies in action and to speak with them about the work involved. Let me tell you that the youngest woman in the kitchen was over 50 with others being seventy and eighty years plus.! It truly was a sight to behold watching them all roll out the Cavatelli . The kilos of flour and the kilos of Cavatelli was just amazing.
I first spoke with Gerardina Scioscia who was overseeing the kitchen. Gerardina told me that the ratio for each serving was 120 - 125 grams per serve. It would take 1 x kilo of flour to serve eight people and each kilo of flour needed one egg. The ladies used approximately 55 kilos of flour to make the Cavatelli. Gerardina was a wiz in the kitchen. She has been cooking all her life. As a young 7 year old girl in Italy, twice a week she was making pasta.
Next I went into the hall where I met Vito Esposito. Vito was placing all the ready made Cavatelli on the tables to dry out. There were trays and trays of them. Once they were ready, into the large freezers they would go. They had several freezers to fill and the plan was to take the Cavatelli to the Fraternity Club kitchen the day before the dinner. It still was unknown how many people would be attending the dinner at the Fraternity Club. They would end up being surprised at the tickets sales. A total of 320 people attended. The community were ready to go out and celebrate!
I attended the dinner at the Fraternity Club and it was a great night. People had so much fun catching up with old friends. The dinner was wonderful with the delicious Cavatelli There were lucky door prizes, raffles to be won and folks danced the night away, It truly was wonderful to see such a gathering of the Italian community. The St. Andrea - Irpinia Association are returning to the Fraternity Club for their annual dinner on Saturday February 24, 2024 with a four course meal.
With a once membership of almost 240 and the reliance of donations, over the years many foundation members have passed away. The once strong group of 21 women in the kitchen are sadly now just 10 yet they still remain optimistic about the future. The Association is hoping to start doing smaller function/dinners at the their club house. You can often see them raising money at Bunnings with their sausage sizzles on
a Saturday morning.
Most associations held events yearly. Occasionally some groups would have picnics, sometimes twice or more in a year. Over time other groups formed that represented different regions and traditions as well. There were religious celebrations, military corps and choirs groups, all from our beloved Italy. However, as the population aged these groups inevitably got smaller and smaller. Some groups finished all together, others amalgamated and some new ones formed as more of a social get together.
Most associations were formed as a way of staying connected to each other and celebrating their ethnicity and culture. One such group was the St. Andrea - Irpinia Association. St Andrea di Conza is a small town that is part of the greater region of Irpinia. It is situated in the province of Avelino in Campania, Italy.
I first became aware of them when I interviewed Vince Cappetta about his family who were the last owners of Bruno`s Reception Centre in Tarrawanna. Vince began to tell me the story of the St. Andrea - Irpinia Association and I was impressed to say the least. An organisation that is still going after 40 years!
The Association was formed in 1982 and it became official in 1983. Vince and his wife Maria were an integral part of the Association and they held the first Association Dinner at Bruno`s in Tarrawanna, when the Cappetta family were running it. It just so happened that the Mayor of the town back in Italy was in Australia visiting family. He also attended the inaugural Association dinner, making it all the more special. The following year they were able to purchase their very own club house: as I said, I was impressed. The group donated money towards their goal and soon they found a perfect place at 180 - 182 Wentworth Street, Port Kembla. The purchase price was $80,000.
It used to be a YMCA in it’s day. It had internal toilets, a large hall and parking. It was perfect. The group, with many members and volunteers worked together and raised the funds to renovate their club house. Internal fixtures were attended to and a kitchen was built once they acquired council permission. They also in time built an movable wall so they could close off the space if need be, but had the option to open it up for bigger functions.
When they first began the Association, they had picnics and gatherings and many people bought food. They worked constantly to get to their goal of purchasing their own building and they built up their membership.
St. Andrea - Irpinia Association represents the region and it is well known for their pasta dishes: Cappalletti and Cavatelli. Each year they would celebrate with dinners at their club house and the wonderful women would recreate these beautiful pasta shapes all done by hand. They would raise money for the club and had the most remarkable dinner at their Wentworth Street, address with up to 120 people attending. Catered by the group, served by the group and totally enjoyed by all. Everyone helped out and often grandchildren would assist with serving the food and other duties.
Typically they ran two large events per year. The first one was in August were it coincided with the three day festival of the region in Italy. They usually cooked Cavatelli. The next event was held in November in honour of (The Saint) Sant`Andrea, in Italy and at this event they cooked Cappelletti. They were also bottling their own pasta sauce. With Vince Cappetta, there was never any shortage of hospitality experience as well. With the running of the reception centre at Tarrawanna, he was just as passionate with his involvement with the Association. Saturday nights were reserved for Briscola and Tombola with raffles and prizes given such as pasta, olive oil, passata, wine, beer & chocolates.
When Covid hit, things changed dramatically and when people had to stay home and shelter in place, not much was happening at their club house and they had to find a way to pay the utilities. Part of the club was divided into office space and leased. This gave them an income that was used towards land rates, water and electricity.
Slowly, with time, they went back to operating and running their Saturday night social gathering. Men often play Briscola and the ladies Tombola with the addition of a pool table and table top soccer for all to enjoy. They are also licensed to sell beer and wine along with light snacks and it is still frequented by the members.
On the 25th of February 2023 the association celebrated their 40th year anniversary, but without a full sized venue to run their annual dinner, they decided to celebrate their anniversary at the Fraternity Bowling Club, in Fairy Meadow.
Weeks prior to the event the ladies of the Association began preparations for the dinner. I went along to the club house to see the ladies in action and to speak with them about the work involved. Let me tell you that the youngest woman in the kitchen was over 50 with others being seventy and eighty years plus.! It truly was a sight to behold watching them all roll out the Cavatelli . The kilos of flour and the kilos of Cavatelli was just amazing.
I first spoke with Gerardina Scioscia who was overseeing the kitchen. Gerardina told me that the ratio for each serving was 120 - 125 grams per serve. It would take 1 x kilo of flour to serve eight people and each kilo of flour needed one egg. The ladies used approximately 55 kilos of flour to make the Cavatelli. Gerardina was a wiz in the kitchen. She has been cooking all her life. As a young 7 year old girl in Italy, twice a week she was making pasta.
Next I went into the hall where I met Vito Esposito. Vito was placing all the ready made Cavatelli on the tables to dry out. There were trays and trays of them. Once they were ready, into the large freezers they would go. They had several freezers to fill and the plan was to take the Cavatelli to the Fraternity Club kitchen the day before the dinner. It still was unknown how many people would be attending the dinner at the Fraternity Club. They would end up being surprised at the tickets sales. A total of 320 people attended. The community were ready to go out and celebrate!
I attended the dinner at the Fraternity Club and it was a great night. People had so much fun catching up with old friends. The dinner was wonderful with the delicious Cavatelli There were lucky door prizes, raffles to be won and folks danced the night away, It truly was wonderful to see such a gathering of the Italian community. The St. Andrea - Irpinia Association are returning to the Fraternity Club for their annual dinner on Saturday February 24, 2024 with a four course meal.
With a once membership of almost 240 and the reliance of donations, over the years many foundation members have passed away. The once strong group of 21 women in the kitchen are sadly now just 10 yet they still remain optimistic about the future. The Association is hoping to start doing smaller function/dinners at the their club house. You can often see them raising money at Bunnings with their sausage sizzles on
a Saturday morning.
 |
St. Andrea - Irpinia club house at 180-182 Wentworth Street, Port Kembla
All images from the collection belonging to the St. Andrea - Irpinia Association.
No comments:
Post a Comment