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The Illawarra’s Italian community knows how to party – for Italian Week 2014 there will be 12 events spread across almost three weeks.
The activities are mostly organised by the Illawarra Association of Teachers of Italian and this year IATI celebrates 20 years of promoting Italian language and culture. The theme is educators.
While events started last Sunday with Castagna Day at the Fraternity Club, Italian Week will be officially launched on May 24, with IATI teachers past and present gathering at Centro CBD, Wollongong.
‘‘We’re going to look at the Italian language and culture and how it’s been maintained through the Illawarra,’’ IATI publicity officer Elena Molinaro said.
Mrs Molinaro said guest speakers include IATI member Lucia Ugonotti, who was among the first to teach Italian in Wollongong in the late ’60s, as well as 101-year-old Elda Stiebel who will cut the cake. Ms Stiebel taught Italian at St Mary Star of the Sea College and has been honoured by the Italian government.
IATI runs an Italian after school language program at Figtree High School and adult classes at Centro, and it keeps in contact with Italian teachers at various Illawarra schools.
‘‘It all started at Centro, which is known as the Italian Centre. I remember going to Italian classes there from the age of six. We had lots of classes,’’ Mrs Molinaro said.
The big Italian Week event is Tutti in Piazza – A Multicultural Day on May 31 at Crown Street Mall from 9am. It will feature Italian stalls, music and food, Spanish dancers and Italian students singing.
On May 25, there will be a special screening of Italian Oscar-winning film La Grande Bellezza (The Great Beauty) at Gala Cinema, Wollongong. Other events include an Italian Mass on June 1 for Italian Republic Day, an Umbria degustation meal at Centro on May 31, trivia night on June 2 and an Italian folk dance on June 4.
Information: 4225 144 or 0405 932 316 or email iati@speedlink.com.au