I met Renzo Zanella, president of the Veronesi Association in Melbourne, exactly one year ago, at the Asparagus Festival.
What struck me most wasn’t so much the event itself, but the passion, hope and enthusiasm that has long driven Zanella’s dedication to the community.
His commitment continues to inspire the association, even in challenging times.
Today, the Asparagus Festival remains one of the most anticipated events on the Veronesi social calendar.
This is largely thanks to Zanella, who, despite the many difficulties most associations have faced in recent years, has maintained his determination to bring the community together and preserve Veronese traditions and culture.
On Sunday, October 6, at the Holy Spirit Church hall in Thornbury, Melbourne’s Veronesi community came together once more to celebrate the Asparagus Festival.
“It’s a traditional event that reflects the festivals held throughout Verona,” Zanella explains.
In fact, asparagus is the star of many local festivals, like the Sagra dei Sparasi in Mambrotta, the Fiera dell’Asparago e dei Fiori in Arcole, and the Sagra degli Asparagi in Angiari.
Like every year, the meal was prepared by the talented cook and Zanella’s wife, Ida, along with other committee members.
“We served a total of eighty kilos of asparagus,” notes the president.
“Asparagus was featured in every course, each presented with a different twist.”
The menu included blanched asparagus in the entrée, an asparagus cream sauce for Rana fettuccine - Rana being one of the association’s main sponsors - and a serving of porchetta with an asparagus side.
Zanella was keen to point out that everything was offered to members at a very affordable price, inclusive of drinks and desserts.
“Our main aim isn’t to profit off our members, but rather to give the Veronesi of Melbourne and their friends an opportunity to come together, enjoy a meal prepared by our very own Ida and socialise,” he explains.
For this reason, Zanella chose to forgo musical entertainment, believing it would shorten the members’ chance to catch up and share their stories, despite being a fan of ballroom dancing himself.
Beyond the Asparagus Festival, other well-loved events in the Victorian Veronese community include the Gnocchi Festival and Carnevale, both key elements of Verona’s cultural heritage.
In future projects, the association hopes to stage a production of Romeo and Juliet, bringing the world’s most famous love story to audiences across Melbourne.
