The CO.AS.IT. Medal, which was created in 1992, is awarded to those who have made an outstanding or meritorious contribution the Italian community in NSW.
This year, the medal was awarded to Tony Cipolla, John Caputo, Paolo Totaro and Giovanni De Bellis, who passed away five days later.
Tony Cipolla was born on December 8 in 1940, in the Sicilian town of Roccamena.
Cipolla migrated to Australia in 1958 with his mother and brother, joining his father who had arrived six years earlier.
Cipolla worked in the same company as his father for 29 years, gradually assuming more and more responsibility.
He retired at 65 years old.
Cipolla was married to the late Giovanna, with whom he had two children.
An avid faithful, Cipolla started attending Sunday mass in Marrickville in 1958.
He soon began helping out with social activities, organising the Saturday evening ball with the assistance of three other young people.
The event was held in a hall next to St Brigid’s Church and 250 people attended.
Cipolla made every effort to keep the Italian community united through social activities, as evidenced by his Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas events.
Cipolla was a great help in organising the Good Friday procession, which attracted around 10,000 people to Marrickville each year.
He was also an invaluable assistant in putting together the Christmas nativity scene, which was admired throughout Sydney.
In 1997, he was appointed president of the Italian community of Marrickville and raised funds for the St Maria Goretti altar, the statue of San Lupo and the restoration of the Marrickville organ.
For his services, he was awarded the title of “Passionista onorario” by the Padri Passionisti in Rome – a title of which he is very proud.
Cipolla continues to serve the Italian community by bringing communion to the sick and organising mass in Italian each Friday at St Brigid’s Church, at the end of which refreshments are served and participants can mingle and exchange ideas.
The second medal for significant service to the community was awarded to John Caputo.
The president of the Associazione S. Giovanni Battista, Caputo has organised a multitude of religious and cultural events and fundraised for several worthy causes.
For years, he was also the president of the Comitato per la Celebrazione della Giornata Nazionale Italiana.
With the support of the Consulate General of Italy, the committee brought together thousands of Italo-Australians to celebrate Italian Republic Day on June 2.
The celebrations were attended by the likes of former prime ministers John Howard, Bob Hawke and Tony Abbott.
Caputo has served on the Warringah City Council and also been the mayor of Warringah.
He has participated in numerous charitable activities, for causes such as the Scalabrini Village in Allambie, Westmead Hospital, Bear Cottage in Manly, the Autistic Children’s Association and various appeals for earthquake victims in Italy.
For his service to the community, Caputo was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2000 and the title of Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2009.
Last but not least, Paolo Totaro is a man who needs no introduction in the Italo-Australian community, given his success in the fields of art, law, poetry, photography and public policy.
In 1977, he received an invitation from the then premier, Neville Wran, to chair an inquiry into ethnic affairs.
Totaro was called on to define the principles of multiculturalism in government practice for the first time, and assist in putting them into practice in schools, hospitals, courts, workplaces and several other areas of public life.
Totaro held the position of founding president of the Ethnic Affairs Commission of New South Wales until 1989.
For his services to the community, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1988 and the Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2006.
In 2018, Totaro created a book to celebrate the 50th anniversary of CO.AS.IT., which highlights aspects of the Italo-Australian community’s rich history.
