To Melbourne from the heart of Sicily: The story of the Valguarnera Italian Social Club and its Community unveils the stories of migrants from Valguarnera Caropepe who arrived in Melbourne after World War II. The book explores how they maintained cultural identity, community connections and traditions through the establishment of the Valguarnera Italian Social Club. Through oral histories, photographs, and archival records, the book highlights stories at risk of being lost as the first generation of migrants ages. It was a project that stretched across a couple of years, and one I felt very connected to with my own Sicilian nonno and his stories.
The project involved drawing on Club archives and public records, undertaking oral history interviews and working alongside many Club members who brought this book to fruition, especially the History Book Editorial Committee. The Committee contributed local knowledge, translations, the collection of photographs and objects from community members, caption writing and cultural perspectives that shaped the final publication. Community storytelling was essential in reconstructing the Club’s history and capturing experiences absent from official sources.
This collaborative process was important ensure that we were meeting the needs of the audience, especially the older generation who would recognise themselves in the pages. We were also focussed on ensuring that future generations would understand where they came from, the journeys that brought their forebears to Australia and the importance the Club held in their lives and their settlement here.
The book was launched in February 2026 by Tina Arena, whose family was part of the founding of the Club. The event brought together members past and present and inspired emotional recollections and recognition of the past and the role the club had in their lives as children, teens and adults. As she launched the book Tina reflected, ‘The book stands as a tangible testament to resilience, cohesion and pride in identity—a bridge between past and future, between Sicily and Australia, between those who left with little certainty and those who now carry forward their legacy.’
