Melbourne, Australia, is one of the finest Italian cities outside Italy. Over the last century, many Italians have chosen it as their city of adoption and have been deeply fascinated by it.
This is what happened to Marco Fedi who left the beautiful city of Ascoli Piceno in Italy for the love of a beautiful Australian girl, who is still his wife today.
It was 1983 and following his heart, the doors of Australia and a new life opened wide.
Thus he left Ascoli Piceno, one of the most beautiful medieval Italian cities with its Piazza del Popolo with the Palazzo dei Capitani. It is represented in thousands of images of Italy: a true symbol of what is the true Italian lifestyle outside the big cosmopolitan cities.
And if there is one thing that Marco did not lack in Australia it is certainly his passion for the horse: if in Ascoli Piceno the Giostra della Quintana is celebrated (which probably dates back to the 9th century), in Melbourne it is a national holiday during the running of the Melbourne Cup.
With his selfless spirit and his knowledge of both countries, Marco came naturally to take care of supporting Italians in Australia and in his career he was elected to Com.It.Es. (Committee of Italians Abroad) and in the C.G.I.E. (General Council of Italians Abroad) for Australia.
It is interesting to remember that ‘comites’ was also an ancient Latin word meaning "those who share", in this case they share Italian roots.
The C.G.I.E. and Com.It.Es. are organizations recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and are responsible for keeping alive the bridge between Italy and Italians residing abroad. Bodies that have undergone various evolutions over the years with the birth of the children of the first Italians abroad.
A continuous bridge between Italy and Australia, naturally built with his mother who lives in Porto d’Ascoli, and in 2006 Marco decided to run for the Italian Parliament and was elected in the overseas constituency, divided into Africa, Asia, Oceania and Antarctica.
Once elected, he resigned from the C.G.I.E. and then begin 12 dizzying years that Marco defines as “a nice distraction”. Distraction because parliamentary life absorbed him totally and, despite being often in Rome at the sessions of the Parliament, he rarely visited his mother in Ascoli.
Twelve years that have also taken him away from his Australian family, 3 daughters and the lives of his friends.
His future is definitely in Australia but his past is in Italy and his task is still to build bridges between the two cultures.
His daughters are involved in different ways with Italy, each of them has developed her own particular bond. To varying degrees they are citizens of both countries, but if intercultural exchanges are not cultivated, we risk losing that richness that comes from the deep knowledge of cultures other than those of the country in which we live.
Back in Australia, Marco then put himself at the service of the Italian community which in the meantime had grown even more. In Melbourne you can hear Italian being spoken in the streets, thanks to the arrival of many compatriots with a working holiday visa.
But at this time many young graduates are leaving Italy who are entering important careers but who do not experience the Italian community like past generations.
The growing role of social networks must lead to rethinking the way of building bridges between communities. There is the possibility of being more and more connected, but paradoxically the role of the individual increases and there is the risk of estrangement. In fact, social groups are born around common passions and not just around expat communities.
Building and maintaining links between the two countries, Australia and Italy, is a new challenge and Marco has taken it up by becoming the General Manager of CO.AS.IT. (Italian Assistance Committee) of Melbourne. The CO.AS.IT. - born in 1968 to assist families emigrating to Australia - it is today a modern organization, engaged in the sectors of linguistic-cultural promotion and personal services, including those of the Old Age.
Innovative programs have been funded by the Federal and State Government of Victoria and an important resource centre and museum created thanks to the support of Victoria, in addition to Italian language courses supported by Italy with funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
An organization supported and recognized by both governments that deals with various sectors: from assistance to the elderly to linguistic-cultural promotion, from culture to tourism promotion, welcoming in its headquarters the representation of the CCIAA and ENIT (Italian National Agency on Tourism ).
And for all of its history but above all for what still can be done to keep alive the link between Ascoli Piceno and Australia, to create new bridges between the beautiful Italian and Australian cities, Marco Fedi received the Town Ambassador Award from Discoverplaces and from Marco Fioravanti the mayor of Ascoli Piceno.
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