With heavy hearts, the Australian-Italian Festival Committee issued an official statement on Wednesday the 9th of April outlining 2025’s event will not go ahead as planned.
The Committee made the decision last week following lengthy discussions in consideration of 2025’s destructive floods and the devastating impact the weather event had across the Hinchinbrook Shire earlier this year.
“The Committee considered the extent of devastation and impact to the Ingham community following the February flooding and realised that there was no other option but to cancel the Festival for this 2025,” published the Australian-Italian Festival Committee.
In November of 2024, the community were overjoyed to read the Australian-Italian Festival would celebrate its 30th anniversary this June, especially following plenty of rumours the beloved celebration would not continue into the new year, however, following its cancellation, the future of the event remains uncertain.
Mr Pino Giandomenico, long term President of the Australian-Italian Festival Committee, was saddened to confirm 2025’s cancelation, and was particularly at a loss to call off the 30th anniversary celebrations.
“It was very sad to have to make this decision as the committee was looking forward to presenting our 30th Festival but the impact of the flooding on our sponsors, committee members and volunteers and the community in general left us no choice but to cancel," wrote Mr Giandomenico.
Plenty of hugs, messages of encouragement and words of support were sent Mr Giandomenico’s way from the Hinchinbrook Shire and beyond, with many extending their thanks to the Committee for dedicating so much time and effort into hosting such an iconic event.
“Let’s hope that the community stays strong and gets plenty of support to help rebuild so that the memories of the great contributions that the Italians have brought to this country by having these festivals are never forgotten by generations past, present and future - in bocco al lupo (good luck),” shared Domenico Taraborrelli.
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