Funny how our politicians make election promises but when the going gets tough, they run off from the field. Over four months ago, the Labor party and Greens encouraged the idea that they were all for to reviving the Italian Forum on Norton Street. Back in March, the Inner West Deputy Mayor Philippa Scott announced on social media, that Labor was supporting a live site for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup at the iconic Italian Forum.
She posted stating, “this live site is a down-payment on our efforts to revitalise the Forum.” Similarly, the Greens Member for Balmain Kobi Shetty, also made a similar promise to bring the Italian Forum back to life. She stated in a letter to the Forum’s citizens, that on her election she would be “committed to finding a path to return the Italian Forum to its original intent and beauty.” Sadly, none of these local politicians have found such a path, and of course it is to the Italian Forum’s detriment for the missed opportunity.
Thankfully, the Inner West Council has secured several other outdoor venues to show live Women’s FIFA games for free, and on big screens for the local community to gather around. The first group stage game for the Matildas, will be live on screen from 7.45pm at Camperdown Memorial Rest Park in Newtown on Thursday 20 July, for their match against Ireland.
That live site is in partnership between the Inner West Council and the Consul General of the Republic of Ireland to Sydney. No such luck coming from the Italian Consul General in replicating a similar gesture in partnering up at a live screen site within the Little Italy Precinct, to support of the “Azzurre” Italian Women’s team. They play Argentina on the 24 July at 4pm, then Sweden on the 29 July from 5.30pm and the last game in their group stage is against South Africa on 2 August from 5pm. Perhaps the Italian Cultural Centre in the Forum could have been hosting some of the matches in its 300+ seat theatre, but they have opted as an alternative to host free Italian Movie nights, including free popcorn and gelato though out the month of July. Instead, a live site game for the Matildas is planned at Lambert Park in Leichhardt from 7.45pm on Thursday 27 July when they play against Nigeria.
The last group stage game for the Matildas will see them playing against Canada and screened live at Pratten Park in Ashfield, from 7.45pm on Monday 31 July. Looking back on this current situation, we find that all outdoor public events using the Italian Forum’s Piazza, has been temporarily denied. This circumstance occurred after a freak accident late last year when an innocent spectator at an event, was hit by a falling window shutter ripped off by high winds. Safe Work NSW has still not cleared the Piazza space for public events, but it has taken more than half a year and still no clarity to when outdoor events can be held there.
Meanwhile, small pockets of life have sprouted inside the Forum and together with the advent of Leichhardt’s Special Entertainment Precinct having the Forum in its centre, could see it as a future space for more comfortable outdoor events, especially in the middle of Sydney’s winter. Let’s hope that our politicians can push this all along faster rather than acting so passively.
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