As another year draws to a close, at Co.As.It. we are reflecting on the many celebratory milestones of 2023. We are proud of the diverse and impactful events we have shared with our community, contributing to our ongoing mission of lifelong learning and support. Here is a look back at some of the highlights of 2023.
Back in March we celebrated Seniors Festival with our annual Senior Wellness and Cultural Concerts held at Canada Bay Club and Mounties Club. Our social support groups and the wider community attended these fantastic events, enjoying a day of singing, eating and dancing together!
We continued our cultural engagement in July by hosting a series of events, including a spectacular performance from Gioventù in Cantata and Giovani voci Bassano, as well as the The Italian Youth Choir who performed their show ‘Panta Rei’ (everthing flows) wowing the crowds into a standing ovation. Later in October we were delighted to join with favourite comedian Joe Avati, who performed at the Italian Cultural Centre, leaving the audience in fits of laughter. Co.As.It. also partnered with the St Ali Italian Film Festival this year, co-presenting Nanni Moretti’s film ‘A Brighter Tomorrow’ at Palace Norton St Cinema and hosting our wonderful social support groups for a lovely day out at the cinemas. More recently, Co.As.It. organised a special screening of the documentary ‘The Joys of the Women’ in celebration of the 30th anniversary of this cultural milestone.
This year also saw the continuation of Co.As.It.’s many educational initiatives, contributing to our goals of teaching the Italian language across the lifespan. Our Bilingual Playgroups for young children provided a fun and interactive space to learn both Italian and English. Further, our school-level and adult-level Italian classes were a great success in facilitating the continued learning of the Italian language in a supportive and fun environment. Excitingly, in October a group of our students from the Italian Bilingual School went on a special educational tour to Italy, experiencing school life and exploring the major attractions together. This three-week exchange was a wonderful way our students broadened their horizons and deepened their understanding of the Italian language and culture. Another event in October was our annual Mental Health Month educational seminars, following from ongoing partnerships with Headspace and local councils to better support the mental health and wellbeing of our local community.
2023 also saw many events that brought our community together, including Ferragosto in Five Dock and hosting the Entertainment Stage at Norton Street Italian Festa in Leichhardt, with a special appearance from our Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Of course, Co.As.It.’s annual Italian National Ball, celebrating La Festa di Repubblica and hosted at the Sofitel Wentworth on Saturday the 27th of May, was also a great success, as a night of elegance and important charity fundraising for the continued support of our community.
In conclusion, 2023 has been a remarkable year for Co.As.It., filled with moments of joy, celebration, and community building. As we bid farewell to this year, we look forward to continuing providing quality services and memorable events in the year to come. Grazie mille for a year filled with cultural richness and shared experiences!
