Lidia Gentilini, the president of Fogolar Furlan Sydney, warmly welcomed the attendees.
The president, who organised the event, thanked Club Italia and the Mounties Group for sponsoring the lunch.
Ben Sonego, the president of Club Italia, recalled that the Fogolar Furlan Sydney-Calcio Udinese Sub Club was established in August 1976 when Bruno Riga was appointed representative of the Calcio Udinese group following his return from Italy.
The club had 33 members.
In 1979, Riga was elected president of the Calcio Udinese Sub Club.
He was succeeded by Gianni De Francesco and Fausto Piccini.
The club closed in 2002.
Around the same time, the Ladies’ Auxiliary of Fogolar Furlan Sydney began organising events called ‘Black and White for Udinese Football Fans’.
The Prosciutto Festival was Francesca Gentilini’s initiative and was debuted with the help of the Ladies’ Auxiliary on July 20, 2014.
These two celebrations – one for football, one for prosciutto – were first celebrated together on Sunday June 17, 2018.
In the conclusion of his speech, Sonego praised Riga on behalf of Club Italia and Fogolar Furlan Sydney for taking the initiative to form the Calcio Udinese Sub Club and thanked him for his years of support.
Sonego commended Francesca Gentilini for establishing the Festival of Prosciutto and lauded Lidia Gentilini for keeping the ‘Black and White’ spirit alive, as well as continuing to organise the two celebrations together.
These events have been integral in preserving Friulian culture and traditions in Australia.
