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- 77th Anniversary of the Italian Republic Foundation Italian National Day
77th Anniversary of the Italian Republic Foundation Italian National Day
Representing the Premier and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Member for Mount Ommaney, Ms Jess Pugh MP; The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Councillor Adrian Schrinner and Lady Mayoress; Shadow Minister for Seniors, Communities and Disability Services and Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, the Honourable John-Paul Langbroek MP; Consul of Italy in Brisbane, Ms Luna Marinucci; Members of the Consular Corps; Councillors; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.
I too, begin by respectfully acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we gather, and pay respect to their Elders past and present – with encouragement to their young emerging leaders, and to any First Nations people here today.
May I also commend the QPAC Opera Singers, Rosario La Spina and Shikara Ringdahl, for their stirring renditions of the Australian and Italian national anthems and beautiful performance of Puccini’s E lucevan le stelle. As a great supporter of the Arts in Queensland, it was an absolute pleasure to have you perform for us this evening, as I’m sure everyone here would agree. What a delightful and quintessentially Italian way to start the evening!
So, welcome all to this celebration of the 77th anniversary of the founding of the Italian Republic. The birth of the Italian Republic in 1946 is celebrated annually on the 2nd of June, being Italy’s National Day, and it is an honour for both Graeme and I to be in attendance this evening to share in this event.
Today marks a pivotal event on the calendar for Queensland’s thriving Italian community. How grateful we are for the role that Italians and Italo-Australians have played in making our State, indeed our country, a remarkable place to live and work throughout the decades.
Your contributions have been valuable and wide ranging. From the bustling Italian food scene, the huge impact of the sugar cane and agricultural industries, to the clear influence on the Arts and fashion scenes, Italians in Queensland have positively affected our way of life in many and varied ways, and we thank you for it.
The coming together of Queenslanders from all walks of life, to mark such an important day in a country’s evolution is special. Today we remember the people who were part of the making of the Italian Republic and we celebrate what has been achieved not only in Italy since that day, but also here in Queensland, where Italians young and old have chosen to live and work.
You have contributed so much, and so generously, to the rich fabric of our great state of Queensland.
Thank you.