In the late nineteenth century, Primo Levi, journalist and editor of La Riforma, had called Abruzzo "strong and gentle".
Strength was understood as the ability to overcome adversity with a goodness of spirit.
Driving through Epping in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, one can come across an immense community facility that bears the marks of that same tenacity and friendliness.
For half a century now, the Casa D'Abruzzo Club has been synonymous with ideas, tireless work and volunteerism.
Coming to Australian soil for the unveiling was a delegation from the Abruzzo Region.
It consisted of Vice President of the Regional Council, Roberto Santangelo, Councilwoman Sabrina Bocchino, President of the Academy of Fine Arts of L'Aquila, Rinaldo Tordera, and artist Stefano Donatello.
The event on March 25 marked the beginning of a new social journey, driven by wanting to transform the future of the Italian-Australian community.
The Verrocchi family, owners of Chemist Warehouse and with proud Abruzzese origins, have trusted that vision.
Mario and Adrian Verrocchi kindly donated $5 million to create an expansive indoor sports hall at the Casa D'Abruzzo Club.
The facility is designed for basketball, volleyball, netball and futsal.
It comes complete with a gymnasium, bar, locker rooms and even outdoor tennis courts.
On a sunny afternoon, hundreds of people flocked to the club for the grand opening of the ‘Verrocchi Sports Centre’.
The guests of honour included Mario, Adrian and Marcello Verrocchi, Minister for Energy Lily D'Ambrosio, Member of Parliament Evan Mulholland, Opposition Leader John Pesutto, the Consul General of Italy in Melbourne, Hanna Pappalardo and the entire Abruzzese delegation.
President of the Casa D'Abruzzo Club, Fernando Cardinale, kicked off the day by thanking everyone for their participation and reiterated his "deep gratitude" to the generous benefactors.
“In and around the Epping area, there’s a shortage of indoor sports arenas, which is why we decided build this facility,” he said.
“When you have such big ideas, you need a lot of financial backing.
“Mario and Adrian Verrocchi decided to finance the project, honouring the memory of their parents, Raffaele and Francesca.
“To them goes all our gratitude.”
For Minister Lily D'Ambrosio, the Casa D'Abruzzo Club was built with "hands, ideas and generosity" and seeks to share family values and celebrate culture.
It is a project that will be remembered for many generations to come, as also reiterated by Member of Parliament, Evan Mulholland.
It was then Mario Verrocchi who took the microphone, particularly moved as he reminisced of his childhood.
"My father drove us here about 50 years ago,” he started.
“He said, ‘This is where the new Casa D'Abruzzo Club will be built’.
“[At the time] there was nothing, no houses, no people, no roads.
“We looked at each other and said, ‘I think dad’s crazy, this is impossible’.
“That committee had a vision: they wanted to build a home.
“They wanted to bring their families here to be entertained, to play sport. They wanted to have a place where they could celebrate life’s important events.
“It’s the best Italian club in Australia and I’m going to put it out there; it’s probably the best Italian club in the world.”
Amid the enthusiastic applause from the Abruzzo community, Verrocchi called forward the children present at the event, some of them in colourful traditional dress, for the blue ribbon cutting.
In addition to the new facilities, with its expanded halls and parking, as well as entrances accessible to all, the Casa D'Abruzzo Club also wanted to include a true symbol of Abruzzo culture.
With the approval of the Abruzzo Regional Council, 75 thousand euros were financed for a monumental fountain, created by sculptor Stefano Donatello.
The L'Aquila Academy of Fine Arts also involved some of its students in the project.
It was a journey that lasted about twelve months and ended with the work arriving by ship.
The white Maiella stone fountain takes its inspiration from the ‘Fountain of the 99 Spouts’ in L'Aquila.
It shows four masks adorned with four characteristic symbols of Abruzzo's four provinces: L'Aquila and sheep farming, Pescara and fishing, Chieti and its wine, and Teramo and oil.
Completing the monument is an incredible bronze statue depicting a woman, the centrepiece of the family, rising proudly from the rock.
For President Cardinale, “the work will create curiosity in younger children who will want to know more about their roots.
After thanking Dean Peltier, son-in-law of committee members Anna and William Giuliani, who worked day and night in order to finish the project on time, the floor was passed to Roberto Santangelo who wanted to reiterate “the unbreakable bond between Italy and Australia".
“We wanted to say thank you, thank you for never dissolving that bond,” he said.
“On the other side of the ocean, there is a nation that knows how many children are scattered around the world, and we know your value well.”
For Councilwoman Sabrina Bocchino, “the Abruzzi community abroad will never be forgotten.”
At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was entrusted to Consul General Hanna Pappalardo, Academy of Fine Arts President Rinaldo Tordera spoke of the importance of dreams.
For him, they make the world extraordinary and our existence more meaningful.
“A student suggested to me a phrase by Van Gogh,” he said.
“‘At night I dream my painting, and during the day I paint my dream.’ Dream, painting, reality: we wanted to bring you something that will remain forever.”
