Club bridges language gap

Italian Cultural Group performers wearing traditional costume, Teresa Italia, Paolo Oddo and Angela Hepburn. 145510 Picture: ROB CAREW

NOBLE Park Italian Elderly Citizen Club is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
MPs and councillors attended a get-together and cultural performance at Noble Park Community Centre on Friday 16 October.
Rita Giaquinta has been the club secretary since last year and her husband Rosario is vice president.
Bingo, cards and other activities are held for about 100 members each Wednesday and Friday.
Ms Giaquinta said many were in their 80s and one was 93.
She’s aged in her 70s, making her the second-youngest.
She joined the group about three years ago.
“I like it because I’m bilingual to start off with, whereas the others are not,” she said.
“I can communicate with both sides.
“I used to be an office worker so I can help out with organising things.
“I helped one of the members to become naturalised Australian because they didn’t know how to fill out the forms.
“We’re very close-knit and I try to make everybody happy.”