ABOUT US

The WA Italian Club is iconic. In the 1930s, our Club was the first to be entirely owned by Italian immigrants and their families. Our mission is to deliver benefits to our Members, foster goodwill in our community and continue to be “Inspired By Tradition”.

The Club’s journey began in 1934. A group of Italian migrants established the Casa d’Italia to meet the social needs of the existing community. It was first Italian cultural community centre in Perth. Members came together to play billiards, cards, darts, bridge, bingo and to drink Australian beer. The Club was an important social and cultural venue – it was a place for meeting with friends, for attending balls and dances.

On 28 October 1937, the Casa d’Italia official building opened on Fitzgerald Street, Perth. It remains the home of the Club today. With the start of the Second World War, the Casa d’Italia was closed and its future was uncertain. With the cessation of international hostilities, the Casa d’Italia promptly resumed its activities. In 1947, the Club changed its registered name to the “WA Italian Club Incorporated”.

In 1950, the Club was registered as a licensed premise. It expanded in leaps and bounds. Our Founders were visionaries and embarked upon extensions that allowed the Club to cater for a growing membership base.By 1969, the Club had seven thousand members and threw its strong support behind migration policy and migrant legislation. By opening its doors to all Australians, the Club fostered the mutual respect, friendship and co-operation that are integral parts of multiculturalism.

OUR COMMITTEES

Our Committee benefits from the involvement of people with various backgrounds and experiences. Their commitment to the Club ensures all our Members continue to have a home away from home at our premises.

Management Committee

Salvatore Vallelonga
President
Sal is a Chartered Accountant of some 18 years’ standing and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He is a founding Director of Plexus Global Consultants, a Chartered Accounting and business advisory firm, which specialises in providing corporate advisory, taxation and accounting and wealth creation solutions to its SME and emerging growth clients. Sal is a non-executive director of many businesses, and has served and continues to serve on many community based committees. Sal is also a registered builder and has been involved in numerous property projects either directly through investment and development or indirectly through clients’ projects.
Rocco Lumbaca
Vice President
Rocco is a Registered Builder and has been in the building industry for over 40 years. He is the Managing Director of Buildcor Projects P/L, a Building Company that specialises in Commercial and Residential projects. Rocco is an active figure in the business community and has been a regular face in the WAIC since the 1970’s.
Christine Madaschi
Board Member
Christine Madaschi has been a member of the Club for many years serving on the Ladies Committee and then on the WAIC Committee. A former teacher and staff trainer in government departments, she is passionate about the Club and its importance as a leader within the Italian community.
Morena Strano
Board Member
Morena Strano joined the Board in 2014.  Morena has worked in office management and administrative roles for the past 29 years.  Morena was the WA Italian Club Secretary from 2011 to 2013 and worked as the club administrator from 2003 to 2014.  Morena has had a long standing relationship with the WA Italian Club either by direct employment or sitting on its Board and is extremely dedicated to seeing the club remain strong for many years to come.
Vincenzo Nici
Board Member
Vince has over 10 years’ experience in commercial/operations, project management, strategy and marketing experience across the Finance, Mining, Oil & Gas and Engineering sectors with a Masters of Commerce (Marketing) from the University of Western Australia. As Product Development Manager at Advisian Digital, Vince is responsible and has demonstrated developing projects from the ground up and executing these into early commercialization working with partners like Microsoft, Google, eBay, Woodside, Shell and ExxonMobil. Vince is passionate about driving awareness and growth of community based groups which has included serving on various committees and assist in fundraising for major clinical research and trial initiates for Motor Neuron Disease.  
Joe Rapanaro
Board Member
Joe is the Managing Director of The Vicus Property Group which is a real estate company specialising in the management, sale and leasing of commercial property.  After completing a Bachelor of Commerce (Property) degree, Joe went to work with an established commercial property firm gaining experience in property management, valuation, sales and leasing before founding his own firm in 2004 which would later be renamed to The Vicus Group. Whilst his passion for property has led to extensive involvement in property development, ownership and syndication, Joe is still in the Vicus offices every day talking to clients and advising staff.  In addition to his property degree, Joe has a Diploma in Financial Planning, is a Licensed Valuer as well as a Licensed Real Estate Agent.
Daniel Romano
Board Member
Daniel Romano is a Managing Director of Zafra Legal, a law firm specialising in taxation, corporate and commercial law. Daniel graduated from Murdoch University with a double degree in Law and Commerce (Majoring in Accounting). Daniel was nominated as leading tax lawyer in Western Australia in the 2019 Doyles Guide, is Fellow of the Art Gallery of Western Australia and a member of the Law Society of Western Australia. He is a Chartered Tax Adviser and an active member of the Tax Institute of Australia.
Philip Re
Board Member
Philip is the Managing Director and founder of Regency Corporate, a chartered accountant and corporate advisory business. Philip has been a director for a number of publicly listed and unlisted companies involving transactions in property development and investment, technology, education, mining exploration and production, and the renewable energy industry. He has been directly involved in raising capital, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and reverse takeovers for various ASX listed companies and unlisted property syndicates over many years. Philip is also the Chairman and one of the founders of the charity organisation, The Better Life Foundation WA.    

Ladies Committee

President: Mrs Chiara Scaffidi
Treasurer: Mrs Carla Bertelli
Secretary: Mrs Sue Marocchi

Mrs. Luciana Cavazzi, Mrs Christine Madaschi
Mrs Ines Miotti, Mrs Tana Pasqualotto
Ms M Tagliaferri