By CASEY NEILL
A LEADER in Dandenong’s Italian community has stepped down from her post after 25 years.
Nancy Sciacca founded the Napoli Family Club and celebrated its quarter-century with a lunch at Menzies Avenue Hall in Dandenong North on 19 March.
She used the event to step down from the position of president due to ill health.
Frank Di Blasi was at the event and said Ms Sciaccia received honorary club life membership.
“The extraordinary thing has been that she’s been the president all these 25 years, no one has challenged her for the position,” he said.
“Nancy’s been the mother figure for the club.
“When she gave a speech she said ‘this club has been for me my second home’.”
Mr Di Blasi said the senior citizens club had more than 200 members who participated in social activities.
“When they are indoors, they play games, do gentle exercises, a variety of things,” he said.
“The ladies play tombola – like bingo – and the men usually play cards.
“They do group outings to different places.
“It’s a very good club. It is a well-known and respected club in the Italian community.
“People are coming from districts further away – they’re coming from Kooweerup, for instance.”
Mr Di Blasi said Ms Sciaccia had been an important figure in the Italian community and founded an annual catholic festival.
“She has co-ordinated volunteers to visit homebound, frail Italian-speaking people in the area,” he said.
“She’s a much-respected and esteemed person.”
Dandenong’s Giuseppina Lidonnici will take over the reins.
“She has been in the committee as a secretary, so maybe the change won’t be very traumatic because she’s already been in the club for many years,” Mr Di Blasi said.
“She should be able to continue on where Nancy’s left off.”
