It all started on the morning of February 24th at around 9:00 AM, when Pellegrino Picariello's car pulled up in front of my house. Antonio Villani was with him, and they invited me to go with them to spend some time with other fellow townsmen playing soccer at Kensington Gardens Reserve. Every Sunday morning, they would gather there to burn off the fat accumulated during the week and to spend a few minutes in a familiar Altavillese environment.
Everyone brought something to drink to refresh themselves after running around, discussing who was faster than the other, or who was better at handling the ball with their feet or head. At the end, when all energy was spent, we discussed how to organize for the following Sunday. It was at this moment that I asked if they agreed to play a soccer match against teams playing in the state soccer association.
Everyone agreed, but the match didn't happen because the fields were unavailable. We then thought of forming a sports association with a soccer team to participate either in the amateur association or in the semi-state association league, where permits were not required for players who played in semi-professional teams.
On March 3rd, together with Antonio Picariello, I went to the semi-state association meeting and submitted our application to compete in the league. The following Sunday, March 10th, will remain a historic date for our Altavillese community, because on that day the CIRCOLO SPORTIVO ALTAVILLESI was born. (The word "Altavillesi" was used as it is more appropriate in English).
Returning to the date of March 10th, a public meeting was organized where everyone could participate and express their ideas. The meeting took place at the field mentioned above. After various discussions, a provisional committee was elected to organize the Club both in sports and social life, draft a constitution, etc. The provisional committee was composed of the following gentlemen:
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President and Treasurer: Pasquale Rossi
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Secretary: Benito Iasiello
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Committee Members: Antonio Villani (also Coach), Antonio Picariello (also Team Director), Pellegrino Picariello, and Luigi Ditroia.
It was also established that the membership fee would be $5.00 for the year 1974.
On March 19th, at the second meeting of the Administrative Committee, the constitution was presented. After several amendments, it was agreed that the constitution was perfect for our needs. It was also discussed that for social events, entry fees and drink prices should be kept as low as possible.
The first Special General Meeting was held on May 19th, where the constitution was approved with an amendment on page 5, number II, paragraph (b), and the addition of paragraph (g).
June 1st will remain a memorable date for the Altavillese community because, for the first time reunited under the name of the Club, our Inaugural Ball took place.
On November 7th, in a meeting with all sub-committees, we had a long discussion about a program to purchase our own premises, where all members can gather and spend hours in the atmosphere of their homeland, hold all meetings, etc. Imagine what benefits we could get by having our own venue! For example: cigarettes at a huge discount, photography equipment such as film rolls and photo prints, all alcoholic beverages, and many other products not sold in stores with great daily discounts—all of which the Club could offer because it wouldn't have extra maintenance costs.
At the first Special General Meeting, a Social Committee was elected, composed of the following gentlemen: Antonio Artone, Michele Camerlengo, Carmine Caruso, Giovanni Condelli, Antonio Covino (Secretary), Mario DeFazio, Pasquale Devito, Antonio Devito, Angelo Ditroia, Enrico Orio, Bernardino Marrone (Chairman), Mario Bernardino Marrone, and Mario Taddeo. These gentlemen, with the help of the Administrative Committee and Mesdames Marie Covine, Maria Devita, Dora Ditroia, Anna Varricchio, and Misses Gesuela Devito and Luisa Devito, raised the sum of $1,950.00 during social events. To all these gentlemen, and especially to the ladies and young women, I offer my heartfelt thanks for their contribution and the success brought to the Altavillese Sports Club.
Additionally, I warmly thank Misses Lina Bavaro, Silvana Bavaro, Carmela Covino, and Silvana Greco, who with great dedication and goodwill served our Club as hostesses and sold raffle tickets during social evenings.
At the ball on October 25th, to make the Club more popular and generate interest in our community, all active members of the social committee organized "The Belle of the Ball," which in the future will be called "MISS CIRCOLO SPORTIVO ALTAVILLESI." The young lady chosen by a provisional committee through a unanimous vote was Miss Maria Matto. Congratulations, Miss Anna, and we wish her great success in the future!
Regarding sports activity in this inaugural year, as you know, only soccer represented our club, and we are very proud of these boys. They gave us much satisfaction, winning the cup offered by the state soccer association. Due to a misunderstanding between players, the referee, and spectators, our boys did not win the championship. In that fateful match against Eastern Industry, when our boys were leading 3–0, the referee abandoned the match due to that cursed incident. The following week's match against the Glenside team saw three of our boys unable to play due to a simple constitutional misinterpretation, and that match sealed the end of our championship run. In our first meeting, we had beaten them 8 to 3, but this time they surpassed us 2 to 1. The other team competing for the championship, who was tied with us on points, had already played their final matches ahead of time.
Our team's exemplary lineup was as follows: Carlo Covino, Severino Miccarelli, Orio, P. Varricchio, C. Varricchio, Lelio, M. Varricchio, Artone, Iasiello, Sabatino, and P. Covino. To all these boys and the others who played as reserves, we wish great success for the upcoming soccer season in the amateur league.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS & COMMENDATIONS
Commending an individual member of the Administrative Committee—such as the Secretary, Team Director, Coach, or Social Director—would do them a disservice, because without the help and administrative insight of these gentlemen, the Club could not have reached its current position in such a short time (see the Treasurer's Report). Furthermore, these gentlemen had specific duties to perform, and I am very proud to thank everyone mentioned above for their willingness and cooperation in promoting and maintaining the progress of our Club.
Nevertheless, there are always committee members who go above and beyond their assigned roles, and this did not go unnoticed by me. Mr. Antonio Covino was extremely active both in social affairs and other duties given to him throughout the administrative year. For his tireless work and dedication to the Club, I give him a BIG THANK YOU.
DONATIONS & SPONSORS
Another thank you goes to Mr. Luigi Ditroia. Although he was unable to attend every meeting as an Administrative Committee member due to his business duties (Roma Catering Service), he was very generous toward the Club. On multiple occasions, he made the equipment of Roma Catering Service available to us. Thank you, Gigi!
I would also like to thank:
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PAYNEHAM HOME FURNISHING PTY. LTD. (230 Payneham Road) for donating gifts for our social events.
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SEATON PIZZA BAR (359 Tapleys Hill Road, Seaton) for donating our team uniforms.
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CASABELLA FURNITURE EMPORIUM (472 Payneham Road) for donations to social events. Thank you very much!
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STARLIGHT THE GALLERY OF LIGHTS / Renato Coscia (1 Rosina Street, Newton) for donating gifts for social events. Thank you, Renato!
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Tempo Slacks / Giovanni Condelli (31 Rundle Street, City Cross) for being the very first donor to our club. Thank you, John!
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Mr. Donato Dargenio, the Bath Hotel, and Cinema De Franco for donations during social evenings.
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VARRICCHIO'S CRASH REPAIR (11a Thames Avenue, Klemzig) for donating the trophies. Thank you, Guido!
HONORS
At the first Special General Meeting on May 19th, the Circolo Sportivo Altavillesi wished to honor the Altavillese pioneers in Australia, Mr. Bernardino Marrone and Mr. Bernardino Matto, for their tireless assistance given to the Altavillese community.
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Mr. Bernardino Marrone first emigrated to Australia on April 6, 1925, aboard the ship Caprera, arriving at the Port of Melbourne on May 18 at the age of 25. He remained in Australia until 1931, working in many Australian states at various jobs—from the countryside to factories and mines. As the Great Depression worsened, he left Australia and returned to Italy. He stayed in Italy until 1934, but because conditions were not good in Italy either, he emigrated back to Australia. He stayed briefly in Victoria, then Adelaide, and finally went to Broken Hill, where he worked in the mines until reaching retirement age. In 1964, he returned to Adelaide and made it his home.
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Mr. Bernardino Matto emigrated to Australia in 1926 and followed a similar path to Mr. Marrone, with the difference that he returned to Italy in 1930 and re-emigrated to Australia in 1936 for the same reasons. After various temporary jobs, he went to work for the State Railways in Adelaide, where he stayed until retirement age.
And so concludes the report for the first year of activity of the Circolo Sportivo Altavillesi. I apologize to anyone who, in the course of the year due to misunderstandings, felt offended. Furthermore, I wish all members, their families, and the entire Altavillese community that next year we may meet in our own club premises.
ARRIVEDERCI
P. ROSSI
Today, many decades later, the Altavilla Sports and Social Club continues to honour the vision of its founders. The friendships formed on those Sunday mornings and the commitment to community that Pasquale Rossi described remain at the heart of the Club's story.
Source: Translated and adapted from the Club's first anniversary newsletter, written by founding President Pasquale Rossi (originally published in Italian).
