By Natasha Fujimoto
WITH every brick laid by the hands of Italian tradesmen in the late 1950s, the Shepparton Italian Social Club (SISC) has served as a vibrant hub for community members to celebrate and enjoy some of life’s most significant moments.
Bringing people together for weddings, birthdays, salami nights and entertainment, the SISC is also home to the ever-popular Italian Festa and has played host to innumerable cross-cultural and sporting events.
Prior to Covid, the SISC had over 100 members and was just getting back on its feet went the devastating 2022 floods swept in and destroyed the interior of the club building.
Situated on the edge of the Goulburn River in Marungi Street, flood waters reached 1.8 meters inside the club and did not recede for four weeks.
The club lost everything, including a dance floor, bar, cool room, bocce courts and a large kitchen capable of catering up to 300 people.
With no club space and no member generated income, the SISC will sadly be unable to present their Italian Festa for a third year running, but club committee members Vince Tassoni and Vince Sagoleo want the Greater Shepparton Community to know, “We are going to rebuild the club and it is going to be bigger and better than ever.
“The City Council deserves a pat-on-the-back for its assistance and although tradies are hard to get at the moment, the rebuild will hopefully see the facilities extended and although we can’t have the Festa this year, we will be having it again in April 2024 when the backbone of our community is rebuilt,” Vince Tassoni said.
If you would like to support the historic and stalwart community club in its rebuild, please follow the link, www.gofundme.com/f/shepparton-italian-social-club-inc-function-room to make your donation.
