ADELAIDE - During the 8th National Conference of Italian Language Teachers in Australia on October 21, one of the most eagerly awaited moments was the announcement of the winners of the 2023 Premio Italia. The goes to university students studying Italian, who this year participated with an essay on the theme of the Week of the Italian Language in the World: Italian and sustainability.
Valentina Biguzzi, head of the office of Education and Culture at the Italian Embassy in Canberra, announced the names of the winners in front of the audience of teachers, along with those who attended remotely.
First prize was awarded to Bella Courtney from The University of Adelaide, followed by Tabitha Sides in second place and Amelie Milne in third, both from The University of Sydney.
Courtney’s essay analysed the role of sustainability in the fashion industry because, “it’s a subject I’m passionate about, and the idea of being able to combine this interest of mine with my passion for the Italian language seemed like an unmissable opportunity”.
The end product was aesthetically satisfying for Courtney, who took great pleasure in creating the graphics. From a linguistic point of view, the piece was very well written, with interesting and creative content.
In the essay, Courtney conducts a hypothetical interview with the founders of Orange Fiber, an innovative Sicilian company in the field of sustainable fashion that produces fabric from citrus waste.
The piece treats a very topical subject with great sensitivity, as can already be seen from the introduction:
How can lovers of style and elegance take an ethical and green approach to our planet? It’s extraordinary what creativity, innovation and new technologies can achieve. And the main events of Italian fashion know how to make these beautiful ‘revolutions’ known all over the world, in a super ‘glam’ context. Italy is at the forefront of the development of sustainable fashion. From the use of high-quality green materials to the creation of new sustainable fabrics altogether. In Italy, sustainable fashion is increasingly becoming a trend. Today we can proudly say that the fashion industry has taken a definite direction, led by luxury brands that have decided to embrace green.
Courtney began studying Italian in Year 7, but it was after her exchange experience in Italy that her interest turned into an unconditional love for the language and culture of the Bel Paese.
“I spent time with a family from Padua, with whom I have always maintained contact,” shared Courtney.
“During that time, I fell in love with Italy and the lifestyle, but also with the school and the culture, so I decided to stick with the language.”
When she enrolled in her degree program, Courtney did not want to give up Italian, which is not offered at her faculty, so she enrolled in a Diploma of Languages at Flinders University where she now takes Italian classes.
Courtney had already competed in the Premio Italia in 2022, where she came third. But for her, this year’s first place was priceless, thanks to the $2000 made available for airfares by the Melbourne Cultural Institute, meaning Courtney will be able to travel to Italy in 2024.
Her first stop, she assured, will be at the home of the Paduan family who hosted her during her exchange program a few years ago.
“I would then like to visit the south of the Peninsula, where I have never been, and discover the rest of Europe. I’m also considering taking a language course,” she said.
Courtney is still unsure what she would like to do after university, but “would certainly like to be able to use Italian or go and live in Italy”, assured the student, who also revealed her dream of working in the diplomatic or human rights fields with a non-profit organisation.
