Where we Were

In 1973 this Club started with the idea to have a place where our heritage and customs not only could be put on show, but could be maintained and promoted for the benefit of ourselves, the family, the children and last, but not least, the Australian community in general.

In fact, it was the wish of being able to go above the ethnic differences and bring together these two, for us, important communities and their practices, that made us choose the name for our club. And so it was that the Italo-Australian Co-Operative Social Club Ltd. was named and formed.

And then it was time to build, but where ? And so it was lobbed to the people in power, to the people of commerce, to, well, to anybody who could help, and eventually it came to pass that the then Council of Sunshine agreed to lease us the land so that our ideal could be and prosper, and the land was in Furlong Road, Sunshine, and there we built.

It was a joyous time where everybody came to work and contribute to the raising of what was only a dream before, but now it was there for anyone to see.

The Club !

Member's Hall with ail facilities, the Members Bar, the Soccer Ground and the Bocce Courts.

The People Then

More than twentyfive years have come to pass since then and people have come and gone. But we still remember of them because by their deeds they are still a part of us. To name them all would be a gargantuan affair, so let start with a few for now.

Tony Cerantonio, the first Chairman and President, who was the driving force behind all that was then achieved.

Frank Giudice succeeded him at a time when the Club was in dare trouble, with an almost unpayable debt and all the legacies that discord brings with it. It was a very difficult time to be at the rein, but the business of the Club went on.

Sam Garro, the next President, and Michael Neskov.as Chairman, were instrumental in putting in place the means to get away from under the rain and see the first rays of sunshine. The Club was saved and started to prosper.

Tony Albano, as President, and Bruno Rasile, as Chairman, started to put in motion the plans, previously devised, to introduce the Pokies in the Club.

Where we are

The Club has come a long way since it started some twenty years ago. From leasehold to freehold; the Bocce Pavilion now holding competitions involving all of the metropolitan various clubs under the auspices of the VBF; a complete rejuvenated soccer ground with automated sprinklers and the ability to be used under lights and the facilities of three training grounds for the advancement of the sport so loved by many of our members.

The halls, thanks to the great effort put in by our Social Activities Committee, are quite often filled to capacity to the great joy of everybody involved.

Bingo sessions are conducted regularly to the enjoyment of members and visitors alike and plans for the pokies are proceeding as scheduled.

In the Members bar the life is still the same; the card players scream at each other and in good fun they toast each other, others are just happy to have a quite drink and perhaps trade a joke or two.

Our young boys, actually men now, are getting ready to re enter the sporting arena for a new season of soccer and everybody is wishing them well as they are the hope for the future.