Viva Italia: Francesca Masci, Andrea Attard and president Elisa Attard. Picture: Scott McNaughton
THE Moonee Ponds Circolo Pensionati Italiani di Moonee Ponds - otherwise known as the Moonee Ponds Senior Italian Citizens Club - celebrated its 25th anniversary last month with a lavish lunch.
Formed in 1987, the club has continued to grow as Italian migrants to Moonee Valley have grown older but stayed in the area that first welcomed them to Australia.
Club president Elisa Attard said the club was always grateful to Moonee Valley Council and the Victorian Multicultural Commission for helping organise recreational and educational activities for Italian residents of Moonee Ponds in their twilight years.
"In our club, every occasion on the calendar is like the club's anniversary.
"Even when there aren't any more occasions to celebrate, we always try to invent a special occasion or two just to make ourselves beautiful, come together and have fun and enjoyment.''
Frank DiBlasi said the celebration was really a celebration of Moonee Valley.
"The Italian community chose this part of the world as a perfect place to settle, build a new home and start a new chapter in their lives.
''For us young Italian migrants, Puckle Street, Moonee Ponds, and the former Town Hall in the '60s was like Rome to the Romans."