The Kyabram Italian Social Bocce Club celebrated its 50th year in 2024.
Kyabram Italian Social Bocce Club treasurer Joe Greco has been involved with the club from the start.
“It was founded in 1974 by the early immigrants to the area,” Joe said.
“Many of whom had migrated to Australia in search of a better life.
“They worked hard, and for their own entertainment, they started playing Bocce, an Italian sport, in their backyards.
“And as more and more migrants arrived, the backyard games got too big and government regulations prohibited them from doing many things, so they formed a club, so everyone could socialise and play their sport.
“So, this year was the 50th year of the Kyabram Bocce Club.”
Joe immigrated to the Kyabram area as a two-year-old in 1952, after his father settled there on a market garden, later becoming a tomato and beef farmer and orchardist.
Joe first got involved in the Kyabram Bocce Club to help out the other migrants.
“I got involved from the very beginning because of the rules and regulations,” he said.
“Most of the Italians that migrated here didn’t understand what was going on and needed somebody that could speak English.
“So that is where I came into the picture.
“They came and saw me, and I didn’t want to be involved because I was a young bloke with other interests.
“But it finished up, my wife said to me, ‘Well, you are doing it for your parents. They won’t be able to do it if you don’t do it.’
“So, I went ahead, and I’ve been there ever since.”
Around the district, the Kyabram Italian Social Bocce Club is known for its authentic pasta nights, which are now held three times a year for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and the first Wednesday in December for Christmas.
The Kyabram Italian Social Bocce Club is open on Wednesdays for Raffa Bocce games, another discipline of the game that is more accessible to the elderly and families.
You can find the Kyabram Italian Social Bocce Club at 118 Fisher St, Kyabram.