Events

Benvenuto a Melbourne- Sindaco di Lipari!!

On Thursday 13th of February 2020, we had the pleasure of warmly welcoming the Sindaco (Mayor) of Lipari, Marco Giorgianni, his wife Maria Zaia and son Alfredo to Melbourne and to the Società Isole Eolie, Melbourne. A video celebrating the club’s 95 year history by Michael Angelini was viewed for the first time on the night.

The Sindaco and his family are staying a few days until Sunday 16th of February to explore Melbourne. They will also be attending our Miss & Mr Isole Eolie Masquerade Party, before returning back to Lipari. In attendance was also the Mayor of Yarra City Council, Misha Coleman.

The dinner held on the 1^st August 2015 at the San Remo Ballroom, was attended by 700 guests and included the Deputy Premier of Victoria, the Hon. James Merlino MP – Ambassador of the SIE of Aeolian descent – the Consul General of Italy in Melbourne, Marco Maria Cerbo and the Hon. Bill Shorten MP, Leader of the Opposition, amongst many others.

John Portelli of Enoteca Sileno, patron of the Society and also of Aeolian descent, added a touch of the islands to the menu by supplying the wine to accompany the entrée – a Salina Bianco from the Virgona family, crafted from Malvasia, Inzolia and Cataratto grape varieties; as well as offering guests a packet of hand-harvested wild capers from Salina to take home.  Recognised as Australia’s most respected importer, distributor and connoisseur of Italy’s finest produce, John Portelli received the Eoliano nel Mondo 2014 award in Salina, Isole Eolie last September.

Entertainment included piano accordionist The Big Squeeze, soprano Rebecca Gulinello, Rob Severini Band, a floor show by Tony Pantano and comedian Gabriel Rossi.

The final course of the night included the celebratory cake by pastry-chef Tony Cavallaro from Footscray’s renowned T. Cavallaro & Sons, with the main cake designed in the form of the island of Stromboli – inspired by the birthplace of his mother, who founded the pasticceria in 1956 with her husband Tomasso.  The cake itself was a traditional Sicilian cake made with vanilla and chocolate patisserie cream and a genoase sponge.

The Società Isole Eolie (SIE) together with the SCA (Sardinian Cultural Association) were proud to present the ‘Italian Islands’ stand at the Piers Festival, Port Melbourne on the 25th of January 2015.

The Landing platform on Princes Pier was opened by musician Salvatore Rossano from the Santa Taranta band, playing his ‘fisarmonica’ and singing some Southern Italian tunes from his motherland.

Members of the SIE presented the traditional ‘tarantella’ dance, performed by Tino Li-Donni and Letizia Terlato.  People in the audience were invited up to the stage to learn some basic steps and perform the dance together with twins Vince and John Lo Bianco and Gabriella Martello with Janetta Ziino on the tambourines.

Miss Isole Eolie 2014, Gabriella Martello was in costume in her role as Public Relations, informing passers-by about the Club and its events.  John Barnao was providing information on the history of Aeolian immigration to Melbourne with the help of informative panels, books, souvenirs and an authentic ‘baule’ full of memories.

Giulia Biviano, resident pastry chef of the SIE provided two cooking demonstrations from her recipe book ‘Dolci di Casa Nostra’ and Joe Biviano looked after sales of the handmade Four Sisters ‘vinocotto’ and ‘cotognata’.

Janetta Ziino said, “the highlight of the day was definitely the audience participation in the ‘tarantella’ dance, most of which had no Italian blood – you could tell they really enjoyed themselves on stage!”