Carnarvon Italian festival a huge success

The Celebration of Carnarvon’s Italian Heritage and Culture Festival over the weekend was a huge success, bringing in visitors from across the region and state.

Guests took tours of local sites, enjoyed Italian food, and listened to live music in a celebration of Italian culture.

Around 450-500 people from across the state attended the various events, helping to raise money for Lifeline.

“It was a greater number than we expected it to be, and it was a fantastic event for Carnarvon, for the Italian community, and the community in general,” said organiser Margaret Day.

“Quite a lot of people travelled from Perth and elsewhere, as well as people from the Italian community in Carnarvon.”

Special guests included Nicolo Costantini, the Perth Consul of Italy, Vince Garreffa of Mondo Butchers, Perth entertainer Mr Accordion Man, and Minister of Multicultural Interests Tony Buti.

Italian migrants played an important role in developing horticulture, and that legacy now lives on after the unveiling of a mural paying homage Carnarvon’s Italian banana farmers.

Ms Day said she hoped to see other immigrants who contributed to Carnarvon, such as Croatian, Portugal and Vietnamese communities, celebrated in a similar way.

“Carnarvon’s horticulture rode on the back of migrants from all parts of the world,” Ms Day said.