Sunday November 6 was a great day for the Armed Forces in Adelaide.
Not only were there celebrations on November 4, the day dedicated to National Unity and the Armed Forces, but also a monument dedicated by the Armed Forces to all the Italian soldiers who have fought for their homeland, Italy, and to the soldiers who have emigrated to South Australia over the decades. After the Acknowledgement of Country and the Australian and Italian national anthems, Father Allan Winter, who officiated at the religious part of the ceremony, invited the dignitaries present, in particular Consul Adriano Stendardo and the Honourable Jing Lee, to officially unveil the Unity Monument.
It is worth noting that the Unity Monument is the result of an initiative of the National Alpine Association and the National Carabinieri Association Section of Adelaide Inc., and the Maritime and Air Force Associations.
After the official photographs at the monument, Consul Stendardo spoke to those present, recalling the values expressed by the special commemoration and especially congratulating the Adelaide Armed Forces for the monument, which is so full of meaning.
During her speech, Roxanna Bianco, president of the National Carabinieri Association Adelaide Inc. Section and representative of the Armed Forces Associations in South Australia, addressed those present, both civilian and non-combatants, first welcoming the other presidents of the Armed Forces, Giordano Belotti, of the Air Force, Giovanni Faggionato, of the National Alpine Association, and Vincenzo Arrichiello, of the National Association of Italian Sailors. Then also the guests of honour, Consul Adriano Stendardo, Marinella Marmo and Andrea Planamente, respectively president and vice-president of Com.It.Es, Jing Lee, Adriana Christopoulos, SAMEAC president, Nadia Clancy, representing Prime Minister Malinauskas, Commander Matthew Curnow, representing Commander Emma McDonald of the Australian Navy, Mayor of Norwood Payneham & St Peters Robert Bria, Barry Paraskeva, president of Payneham & Dudley Park Cemeteries Trust Inc and Teresa Dall'Acqua Leonardi, from the Executive Committee of Payneham & Dudley Park Cemeteries Trust Inc, who year after year host the Armed Forces celebrations and who granted the space for the monument's installation.
Consul Adriano Stendardo and the Honourable Jing Lee officially unveil the Unity Monument. (Photo: Alex Makeyev)
After the initial pleasantries, Roxanna Bianco explained that the monument they were about to unveil was a memorial to honour the Italian military men who migrated to South Australia after their service. Mention was then made of those who "have left us recently: Alpine Franco Rossi, Sailor Luigi Panfilo, Airman Vittorio Botter and Carabiniere Ciro Bianco (also President Bianco's father)". Bianco concluded that "the memorial represents a second life".
Bianco also went on to explain that the monument, sponsored by Italian Consul Adriano Stendardo, was the brainchild of Alpini President Giovanni Faggionato ― an initiative soon embraced by other representatives of the Adelaide Armed Forces. It was realised thanks to the collaboration between Roxanna Bianco, who chaired the work, with designer Phil Easson and artist Ken Martin.
Once the religious part came to a close, wreaths were laid by dignitaries and representatives of the Armed Forces and Mary MacKillop School students, who read the intentions during the religious ceremony.
Finally, Roxanna Bianco recited the prayer The Ode, before overseeing a minute's silence. Sailor Giuseppe Annese recited the Prayer for the Fallen and Victims of Wars, and finally, a moment of great emotion concluded the event – a performance of the song Pregherò by Renae Albuino.
This was followed by refreshments and then lunch at the Fogolar Furlan.
Antonio Bamonte, Coordinator for Australia of the National Carabinieri Association, was also due to attend the ceremony, but instead sent a message in which he thanked the South Australian government, greeted the Armed Forces associations, and gave special thanks to Roxanna Bianco.
