The Sicilian Association of Australia Newsletter TSAA Inaugural

The Sicilian Association of
Australia Newsletter
June 2011 Edition Five
TSAA Inaugural Gala Dinner
The official launch of TSAA was celebrated on Saturday
30 April with our Inaugural Gala Dinner at the Abbotsford
Convent with special guests: Premier of Victoria, the Hon Ted
Baillieu and Mrs Robyn Baillieu; Consul General of Italy, Marco
Matacotta Cordello; Federal Member for Caldwell, Maria
Vamvakinou; State Member for Mill Park, Lily D’Ambrosio, and
representing the Hon Bill Shorten, Federal Member for
Maribyrnong/Federal Assistant Treasurer, Rod Gurry. Also in
attendance were representatives of the Famiglia Siciliana,
TSAA members and friends.
Guests were entertained by a variety of performances with a
Sicilian touch including opera, violin, mandolin, piano accordion
and comedy and were served a five-course Sicilian banquet
and wines.
Following the success of the Gala, TSAA has a line-up of great
events to keep you active and informed over the winter months
including our photography group, the much anticipated Sicilian
cooking classes and another of our popular wine appreciation
groups (see page 4 for details).
Photos: Everard Tarascio
Rita and Massimo, Editors
Destination Sicily for the school holidays
a passeggiata (stroll) with friends. For dinner
sometimes we’d drive to nearby towns like
Melbourne students, Miranda Price, 17
(left) and Fiore D’Aprano, 16 discuss
vacations in their ancestral towns of Noto
(in summer for five weeks) and Vizzini (in
winter for nine weeks) respectively.
Avola and Floridia to get a panino, arancini
or pizza.
What did you like about your towns?
F: Vizzini was so cosy; everyone knew each
other no matter where you went. Being my
Nonno’s hometown, we met many of his
other after school and at night, getting little
schoolwork done.
childhood friends, and explored the history
M: Teenagers in Sicily are more family
of our family and the town.
orientated and enjoy socialising over meals
M: Noto had beautiful, limestone baroque
or in piazze and bars. They were friendly to
architecture with elaborately decorated
me and always attempted to speak in
balconies and facades and luscious
English learnt from American pop music.
gardens. From my terrace I overlooked a
sea of terracotta roof tiles and heard church
bells ringing from the cathedral every
evening at sunset.
How are Sicilian teenagers different from
Australian teenagers?
F: The teenagers in the town were extremely
friendly and welcoming; they made it a
really enjoyable experience. They have very
social lives, always spending time with each
What was a typical day during your stay?
F: In Vizzini, I attended school at the Liceo
Classico. We went home for lunch and had
the afternoon to ourselves to explore the
town or to spend time with new friends.
M: After breakfast my cousin and I would
drive to the beach to swim and sunbake,
have a granita and then go home for a late
lunch. Following a siesta and dinner, around
10.00pm we would go to the main street for
What food could you not resist?
F: Arancini! Vizzini’s are the most amazing
you could possibly imagine. They sold them
at school for one euro; I couldn’t get
enough!
M: I loved brioches, coffee granita, arancini
and cannoli. I developed a palate for
seafood like sea urchins and snails fresh from
the Mediterranean.
How do teenagers have fun in Sicily?
F: They like to spend time together after
school walking around the town and going
to bars. Then, after dinner they always go
out again and sometimes drive to nearby
towns to see friends. They lead an incredibly
social life!
M: There were no discoteche or pubs in Noto
so we socialized at the beach or at the
gelato bar. Playing table soccer or going for
a passeggiata was popular. Typically, a
Sicilian boy’s main idea of fun was chasing
girls.
Continued on page 3
The Sicilian Association of Australia Newsletter
Page 2
Sicilian journeys
Stories of immigration
Occhiolà
From Randazzo to Melbourne - 1954
Franco and I visited the ruins,
talked of rebuilding two houses,
collecting water from rock pools
and picking figs nearby.
We eyed two girls at a Caltagirone supermarket.
“Indian,” Franco mused, describing their dark hair,
curved eyes, olive skin.
I knew they’d love us for our plan:
to survive where a past hadn’t,
our lives our own.
But Franco joined the army; I headed north.
Occhiolà in our letters,
its hunters’ rifle shots echoed,
across the skies, through the years.
On 11 January 1693 an earthquake hit the town of Occhiolà and the
nearby regions. It was mid-winter; over 2000 people were buried in
the rubble. Thirty-two towns were in ruins. Noto, Modica, Siracusa,
Ragusa and Catania suffered major damage, and about 18 per cent of
the Sicilian population perished. Two kilometres from the ruins of
Occhiolà, the new town of Grammichele was constructed.
My father had been out of work for over two years when he emigrated from
Randazzo (Catania) to Melbourne in 1952 without his family, after being
sacked as a labourer for having joined a union. In the meantime my mother
worked tirelessly as a seamstress in order to feed the family and keep a roof
over our heads.
When my father found work in Melbourne, we were in a position to join
him two years later - my mother, myself and four siblings. We went to
Catania, the big smoke, for our injections and to get our passport photos
taken and I was able to eat in a restaurant for the first time in my life.
We boarded the ocean liner, Australia at Messina and went via the Suez
Canal. The majority of the passengers were women emigrating to Australia
to be reunited with their husbands and fiancés.
I recall the seas being extremely rough most of the time. One night it was so
bad that the furniture in the dining room (which was bolted down) suddenly
started flying around. Of course, we children thought it was great fun as
tables and chairs were ripped from their bolts. However, my mother
suffered badly from seasickness and was unwell for most of the journey.
When she arrived in Australia, she weighed only 40 kilograms.
One day on board, my mother couldn’t find my 15-year old brother, Gino,
who had always been inquisitive. While she was asking around for him, a
young fellow told her that he had seen a boy fall overboard. You can imagine
the worry and consternation of my poor mother. Eventually, my brother
was located on the bridge of the ship talking with the captain.
We docked at Station Pier in Port Melbourne on the night of 28 th August
1954.There was a sea of faces all waiting for their loved ones. My father was
there to greet us and we were taken to a large house in East Brunswick
which was shared by three families, as rental accommodation was very
scarce in those days.
By coincidence, my husband, his five siblings and mother left from Naples on
the same ship in the same year but four months before me to be reunited
with my future father-in-law in Australia.
Cecilia Ormando
In September 1987 I visited the remains of Occhiolà for the first time
and wrote the preceding poem (left behind with my youth!).
I returned in 2008 and published an article in Italian about my visit to
Mineo and Occhiolà - http://www.regione.emilia-romagna.it/reporter/
News/Visualizza.asp?ID=1024>.
Edward Caruso
Ruins of Occhiolà
Photo: Edward Caruso
Cecilia in lightcoloured dress
with some
members of her
family
Quiz: Spot the Sicilian No.2
True or false. Answers on the back page of the Newsletter.
1. The actress, Susan Sarandon’s maternal grandfather was from Ragusa.
2. Sir Donald Bradman’s great-grandfather was from Agrigento.
3. Hilary Clinton’s maiden name was D’Amico and her father was from Trapani.
4. George W Bush is not of Sicilian heritage and is quoted as having said, “Those Sicilians speak just like Italians.
What country are they from?”
5. American film director, Frank Capra was born in Bisacquino, (Palermo).
Susan Saran do n
P ho t o : Davi d Shankbone
Sebastian Agricola
The Sicilian Association of Australia Newsletter
Page 3
Cucina siciliana
Vincenzo Bellini and Pasta alla Norma
This popular pasta dish was named after an
deals with the discovery by Norma of an affair
Method
opera by composer, Vincenzo Bellini, a child
between her secret lover, Pollione and a young
2 eggplants
prodigy born in Catania in 1801. His father
temple virgin, Adalgisa, which ends in tragedy.
sea salt
taught him the piano and his grandfather,
Bellini played excerpts from this opera on his
1 cup olive oil
composition. It is said that by age six, Bellini
harpsichord to his friends and family in Catania
500ml home-made pasta sauce
wrote his first musical piece.
and the saying, una vera Norma was adopted
containing garlic
In 1819 he began studies at the Conservatory in
by the locals to express anything of excellence.
500g spaghetti, penne rigate or
Naples and was influenced by the orchestral
Bellini will be remembered as one of the main
fusilli
works of Haydn and Mozart, both masters of the
proponents of bel canto, (beautiful singing)
salted ricotta, grated
Classical period. During this time he wrote the
opera and for his long-flowing melodic lines for
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped basil
opera, Il Pirata (1827) which was commissioned
which he was named “The Swan of Catania.”
leaves
for La Scala in Milan.
Bellini’s life was cut short at age 33 from intestinal
black olives, optional
From 1827 to1833 Bellini lived in Milan and led a
inflammation and he died in France in 1835.
Cut unpeeled eggplants into rounds or
hectic social life, gaining a reputation as a
N i n e t t e
thick strips, sprinkle with salt and place
C i l i a
dandy. Among his friends were Chopin and
in a colander. Press down with a
Rossini (the Romantics) who were to influence
weight and drain for an hour.
him musically.
Rinse well, squeeze, pat dry and cook
He achieved success with his greatest works: La
in olive oil until golden brown
Sonnambula (1830), Norma (1831), Beatrice di
Cook pasta until al dente and drain.
Tenda (1833) and I Puritani (1835).
Add the sauce, olives and eggplant
Norma, his most famous work, is a paradigm of
and half the ricotta cheese.
romantic opera. It is an intensely dramatic
Gently toss and add the remaining
tragedia lirica (opera usually based on Classical
mythology or Italian romantic epics). The story
Photo: Paoletta S
References: Wikipedia
Destination Sicily for the
school holidays
c o n t i n u e d
f r o m
p a g e
1
ricotta cheese.
Serves 4
great vibe to it. It’s on the northern coastline, and they have great
restaurants perched on the rocks.
M: I particularly liked Siracusa, a coastal town rich in Greek
influences. I also loved Catania with its grungy church walls and
cobblestones, a lively fish market and young, alternative people.
Noto
Any peculiar customs you found in Sicily?
F: Every Wednesday all the townspeople would go to the market
(a fiera) which was just under our balcony, to do their shopping. They
all dress up as if it’s a wedding because they need to maintain face
(bedda figura).
M: French fries with mayonnaise on pizza! No-one recycles and many
use disposable plastic plates and cups.
Photo: Miranda Price
Rita Price
Did you learn any Sicilian words and which ones do you like saying?
F: I think I learnt more Sicilian than Italian in my time there. Sicilian is
like another language. It was great to see they were so proud of their
dialect. Saying my favourite words may get me into trouble, but I did
like annagati which they’d use when they needed me to hurry up.
M: I tried to avoid learning Sicilian so I wouldn’t confuse it with Italian
but I picked up words such as ammuninni which means “let’s go”.
What other towns can you recommend in Sicily and why?
F: I really love the small town of Cefalù; it’s so gorgeous and has a
Vizzini
Photo: Amedeo D’Aprano
Ten things we love about Catania
The Sicilian Association of Australia
Santa Agata Cathedral
Via Etnea
Teatro Bellini
Castello Orsino
Piazza Carlo Alberto
and its market
6. Roman Amphitheatre
7. La Pescheria (fish
market)
8. Fontana dell’Elefante
9. Pasta alla Norma
10.Stadio Massimino
for Sunday soccer
Page 4
Page4
TSAA calendar of events
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP If you wish to improve your skills in
photography or correct some photographic disasters, join us for our next
meeting on Tuesday 7 June at 6.30pm at the Italian Institute of Culture,
233 Domain Rd South Yarra, VIC. Members $10.00, non-members $15.00
For bookings contact Mel Criscione, melcris@tpg.com.au
COOKING CLASS The first of a series of Sicilian cooking classes will be
launched on Sunday 26 June at 10.30am at Princess Hill Secondary
College, Arnold St Carlton North, VIC. This class will focus on Sicilian
Roman
antipasti. Members $40.00, non-members $60.00. Reservations required by
Amphitheatre,
19 June. Contact sandra.genovesi@tsaa.net.au
Catania (below, left)
Photo: Miranda Price
SWAG The second Sicilian Wine Appreciation Group meeting will take
place on Tuesday 12 July at 6.30pm at The Sicilian Restaurant, 213 Swan St
Richmond, VIC. Sicilian food and wine tutelage. Members $35.00,
non-members $50.00. Reservations required by 5 July.
Contact sandra.genovesi@tsaa.net.au
Announcements
L’Imperfetto (Imperfect) Exhibition of
mixed media artworks (right) by Rosetta Pavone
that honour and subvert Sicilian cultural traditions
Comedy
and notions of perfection, Friday 29 July to
“Quasi-morto - Il Gobbo di Notre-Dame
(The Hunchback of Notre-Dame )
Saturday 21 August. To be opened by Stefano
20 – 24 July, Mech. Inst. Brunswick. For full details
on Thursday 28 July, 6 - 8pm at Counihan
refer to www.theitaliancomedyplayers.com
Gallery, 233 Sydney Rd Brunswick, VIC.
Fossati, Director of the Italian Institute of Culture
Gallery times:
Wednesday to Saturday 11am - 5pm,
Contributions
Sunday 1 - 5pm. Tel: (03) 9389 8622.
To submit contributions to this newsletter or to
announce your events and activities please contact
the editorial team:
Rita Price at rita.price@tsaa.net.au or
Massimo Petterlin at max.petterlin@tsaa.net.au
Competition
TSAA is giving away a copy of Sicilian Tales, a limited
Ibleo Social Club: Festa di San Giovanni
Dinner Dance, Saturday 25th June at 6.30pm,
Our Facebook page is:
The Sicilian Association of Australia
edition collection of 20 short stories by Luigi Pirandello,
450 High St Northcote, VIC. Members $35.00,
translated into English by Madeleine Strong Cincotta
non-members $40.00. Contact (03) 9337 6026;
and Vincent Moleta. It includes an introduction to
6486 8028.
Di scla i me r
The Association has accepted and published the material
contributed to its newsletter in good faith on the basis that it
does not breach any copyright laws. In the event that a
copyright claim arises, please contact the Association and it
will take all reasonable action.
C opy ri ght
This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright
Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process, nor may any other
exclusive right be exercised, without the permission of
The Sicilian Association of Australia,
PO Box 418, Avondale Heights, VIC 3034, Australia
Email address: information@tsaa.net.au
Copyright © The Sicilian Association of Australia 2011. All Rights Reserved.
Pirandello's life and works by Sarah Zappulla Muscara
and illustrations by Sicilian artists. RRP $80. TSAA
TSAA New Member Benefit
members have a chance to win this book by
Rosa Mitchell, now cooking at Hobson’s Bay
contacting rita.price@tsaa.net.au by 11th June and
Hotel, 28 Ferguson St, Williamstown, VIC.
naming one of Pirandello’s short stories or plays. Winner
15% off food and wine bill. Bookings required.
will be drawn at TSAA committee meeting on 16 June
Contact (03) 9397 5159.
and announced in the August Newsletter.
If you wish to purchase a copy of Sicilian Tales at a
Quiz answers to Spot the Sicilian No. 2
special price of $60.00 (plus $6.00 postage) please
1. True.
write to moletav@westnet.com.au
2. False but his great-grandfather was from
Around the traps with TSAA
A meeting of several TSAA committee members with a group of
young people (left) was held on 13th May in Melbourne to discuss
future strategies to encourage more young people to join TSAA and
get involved in projects and events. Stay tuned for developments.
Genoa. The game should be renamed crichetto!
3. False. Her maiden name was Rodham and there is no Italian in her at all
(that we know of).
4. False and True. Although not true, it could quite easily have been true,
so both score a point.
5. True.