2000 and beyond
During the following 20+ years from 2000 until 2021 the club has continued to celebrate the functions that are traditionally celebrated such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day dinners, Easter Monday picnic, Senior’s day luncheons and Christmas carnivals mainly catering for the children.
The committees of Directors and Convenors had a rotating number of members with a few giving long time service to the club, these members would eventually be made honorary members of the Club due to their years of service. There was some attempt at inviting the second and third generations to take part in the running of the club, this had a limited success. This lack of involvement from the younger members was partly due to demands of family and work.
Involvement in Carnevale continued with participation in parades and running a stall selling cavatelli and pizza. By 2017 the traditional ‘Carnevale’ had run its course, a two-day festa run by volunteers of all the Italian Community clubs and coordinated by CIC, the Coordinating Italian Committee. The volunteers had either passed away or were too elderly to participate so a new format was put in place. The Molinara Club would participate in the Italian Festival of 2021, by hosting a Molinarese Night showcasing their food in a special dinner.
2000
Establishing a Moli Beyond 2000 Group which was to look at the future of the club and if it could attract the second and third generation of Australian born children of Molinaresi. Future vision and activities were discussed. MSSC Soccer commenced playing at the Marden Sports Complex (Azzurri) for season 2001. The Cultural Committee organised a function for members turning 60 years old, throughout the decade.
2001
Time Capsule was opened. Research continued on the Molinara Book.
Successful soccer season and the MSSC team was promoted to second division.
2002 & 2003
Function to celebrate members that were in Australia for more than 50 years.
Pellegrino Cirocco received Honorary life membership for his dedication to the club.
The Molinara Book is still in process with Commendatore Rocco Cirocco translating it into Italian.
Another successful year for the MSSC Soccer teams. The alliance with Azzurri Sports club and the move to Marden Sports complex has been a great move for the Club
2004
Club celebrated 25th Anniversary of MSSC soccer.
There were no Bocce Competitions held at the club this year. Lucio Caporaso was a representative in the Australian Bocce Championships
2005
Mayor of Molinara, Dott.essa Maria Cirocco, Deputy Mayor Giovanni Spagnoletti and La Banda Musicale ‘Citta di Molinara” and their entourage visited the club for a luncheon. The band was in Adelaide to play at the San Rocco Festival. All members of the group were hosted by family & friends in Adelaide.
President John Girolamo met with ‘Next generation’ group to see which direction the club should take in the future. The club celebrated two members who celebrated their 100th birthdays that same year Francesco Cirocco & Incoronata Callisto,
‘Anziani’ Group continues to meet every second Tuesday for group activities and a meal together. Club Soccer continues to be strong and two Bocce tournaments were played.
2006
Cultural Committee organised a celebration for the Molinaresi who migrated to Australia 50 years ago. Molinara Club & San Rocco was involved in a cultural exhibition at the Migration museum on Italian Migration.
2007 & 8
Research is continuing on the Molinarese Migration Book, the club has enlisted the support of Flinders University and Commendatore Rocco Cirocco from Italy. Club facilities were upgraded again. Club looking at ways to attract younger generation. A successful bus trip to Port Lincoln was organised. Image Bank was completed which contains photos, documents, about Molinara, Molinaresi POWs, Molinarese migration & settlement and key events in Australian History such as the San Rocco Festival & Italian festival. This DVD was put together with the support of the History Trust of SA & Migration Museum.
2009
Angelo Caruso was asked to stage another one of his plays and it was a huge success. Celebration was held for Magistrate Joseph Baldino on receiving the Cavaliere Medal. The Molinara Club co-hosted the Australian Bocce Championships together with the Campania Club. Another attempt was made by Matthew Baldino joining the Management Committee and creating the FMC, Future of Molinara Committee, in an attempt to attract the second and third generations to the Club. The FMC aims to create a hub for younger members of the club. The book on Molinaresi in Adelaide is due for completion in 2009. Celebrations were held for the 30th Anniversary of the MSSC Blue Eagles, a gala function was held at the MSSC clubrooms.
2010
Finally, in 2010 the book on Molinarese migration was completed and a launch organised in the same year. The book has 450 pages, eight chapters, and 400 photos. Regione Campania provided financial support.
2012
The Bocce stadium which existed for 35 years, but since the sport is in decline the courts have been replaced with two courts of artificial lawn. The renovation of the bocce stadium allows for a variety of other sports to be played such as lawn bowls, lawn bocce and other indoor sports. New constitution formulated. The club celebrated its 40th anniversary with a celebration ball and a family day. By 2012 the only sport played under the club banner is soccer.
2014, 2015 & 2016
Functions have continued to be held at the club with diminishing participation. There were fundraisers held, for the Earthquake Appeal, the Migration Museum and another for men’s health, there was also a Friday night dinner dedicated to honouring our Patron Saint, San Rocco. Several Members of Parliament, Politicians and Members of Council have visited the club. On the second and fourth Tuesday of the month we have an ‘Anziani’ lunch continues to be held. On Wednesday nights beginners dance lessons commenced, which were well supported.
2017
The Club was successful in receiving a $95,000 grant from the State Government which will be used to upgrade the car park, fencing and retaining walls around the Club.
2020
The Club received a few Government grants from the Federal and State Governments for various projects. This enabled the Club to install Defibrillators and new First Aid Kits, new signage and security lighting at the club.
2021
Functions were held under Covid restrictions.
It is hoped that in 2022 we will be able to celebrate the Molinara Club’s 50th Anniversary, belated due to Covit. A gathering with food and formal speeches will be held. A Photo Exhibition has been compiled that celebrates 50 years of the Molinara Club through photos. A website will be launched for the Club as a place of legacy. It will be an online website where migrant stories and photos will be stored, migrant history and current events.
Historical Context
Few countries embodied the UN’s cosmopolitan ethos (the belief that all people are entitled to equal respect and consideration, no matter what their citizenship status or other affiliations happen to be.) of the 1990s more than did Australia. From the early 1970s onward, the Australian political elite were persuaded that Australian society should be identified as multicultural.
Together with over 100 other immigrant groups of varied ethnic and cultural background, Italian Australians have helped to change Australia’s culture and national identity. This was never envisaged by the architects of the post-war immigration program. Policies were designed to bring about social and cultural assimilation, so that immigrants would become indistinguishable from Anglo-Australians. As for the second generation, census figures show that children of Italian born people had much higher levels of educational attainment than their parents. There were clear signs of upward mobility. Many children of manual workers have moved into white-collar employment, with some reaching managerial, executive or professional status.
Molinara Club and the future
The Molinara Club at its 50th Anniversary finds itself at a crossroads. The original reasons or needs for establishing a Cultural Club no longer exist. This might be viewed with some sadness, but the silver lining is that Italo -Australians have thoroughly assimilated. Italians and children and grandchildren of Molinaresi can be found in every profession in Australia from medicine, education, legal, business, politics, the trades and many owning successful businesses. They are totally immersed in every area of Australian life. Quite possibly the way forward for the Club is to adopt a business model as other Italian clubs have done in Australia, but this decision will be left to the younger generations. Whatever way forward may we always find a way to remember the sacrifices that our parents and grandparents made to leave their homeland and come to Australia, a foreign land in search of a better life. Coming to Australia in search of a better life for themselves and their children, well Australia certainly delivered. Italians in Australia have a high socio-economic standing, but Italians also contributed to creating the Australia of today.
Presidents
1999-2016 John Girolamo
2017 – John Baldino
