It was a Sunday full of emotion, with a packed venue of long-standing members and new faces. The lunch also marked the official conclusion of a significant year of activity for the association which, after coming close to closure in previous years, has experienced a genuine revival.
This renewal has gone hand in hand with a noticeable rejuvenation of the executive committee and a renewed sense of enthusiasm throughout the organisation.
The change came quickly and somewhat unexpectedly, much to the delight of the association’s older founding members, who were reassured about the continuity and long-term future of the SCA.
To round out the year, the association treated members to a barbecue with a distinctly Sardinian flavour: steaks and sausages were a must, accompanied by pane carasau, Cannonau, Vermentino wines and Ichnusa beer.
With the usual “BBQ master”, executive member Giovanni Chighine, sidelined due to injury, the organisation had to turn to the “bench”. The task of manning the grill fell to Mauro Sanna, SCA vice-president and owner of the Pausa Pranzo café-restaurant in Preston, who proved to be a true “luxury substitute”, earning unanimous praise from those present.
After welcoming everyone, president Paolo Lostia remembered the recent passing of Elaine Frances Ledda, wife of the SCA’s founding president, inviting those present to observe a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.
Lostia then expressed great satisfaction at seeing so many young people in attendance, including many couples with children of all ages, from newborns to older kids, alongside long-standing members.
Among them, he made special mention of one of the founders, Benito Cordedda. Also noteworthy was the presence of five guests from Sardinia, visiting Australia to see children, grandchildren and relatives from the newer wave of Sardinian migration.
During the day, the president also received a special gift: a beautiful commemorative shield from Cagliari Calcio, featuring the names of all the players who secured the club’s historic and only Serie A title in the 1969–70 season.
The gift was presented by passionate supporter Paolo Krammer, who was in Australia with his wife Maura Sulis visiting their daughter Nicole and her partner Damiano Condina.
As always, the traditional raffle was a highlight, with everyone generously purchasing tickets, both individually and through auctions. The draw for the many well-received prizes left all the winners delighted.
After enjoying a generous selection of desserts, accompanied by the inevitable coffee—for some enhanced with a splash of Vernaccia or homemade myrtle liqueur—Lostia took the opportunity to warmly thank everyone for contributing to the success of the event.
He noted with satisfaction that the revival of the SCA is now well and truly underway, and highlighted how the association is increasingly becoming a point of reference and a meeting place for newly arrived Sardinians, as well as their friends and families.
Special thanks were extended to all those, both within and outside the executive, who helped organise and set up the event, in particular Diana Mitrovic, Alana Wong and Luisa Lostia.
Apologising for a personal reflection, Lostia shared his dislike for the expression “silly season”, often used to describe the Christmas period. He remarked that it is only silly if people make it so: Santa Claus and gifts matter, but Christmas should above all be a time to celebrate with family and friends and, for Christians, to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Declaring himself, as is well known, a great admirer of the late singer-songwriter and former Beatle John Lennon, Lostia referred to the 1972 song So This Is Christmas, inviting everyone to listen to it and reflect on its lyrics.
The song encourages reflection on the year just gone, an assessment of the journey taken and a hopeful glance toward the future, celebrating Christmas with awareness and purpose.
The president concluded by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, filled with health and serenity, expressing the hope of seeing many familiar faces again throughout the coming year.
