Ms D’AMBROSIO (Mill Park—Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Minister for Solar Homes) (Thursday, 4 February 2021 09:44): I rise to pay tribute to my friend and local resident, the late Donato Polvere, who sadly passed away on 21 January, aged 84. I would like to share with members in this house the outstanding volunteer contribution of Donato Polvere, who 44 years ago initiated and then continued to organise the highly successful San Donato festival at St Luke’s church in Lalor.

Since its inception the festival has brought together tens of thousands of people from across Victoria and from diverse backgrounds—multifaith, multicultural, all abilities and cross generational. Donato and his wife, Maria, lived a happy life, fulfilled by their genuine interest in and passion for community and cross-cultural sharing and learnings.

Donato was born on 9 August 1936 in Pago Veiano, Benevento, near Naples, and at the age of 20 years joined the mass wave of migration to Australia from southern Europe in 1956. Two years later he married the love of his life, Maria, and their daughter, Lina, was born in 1965.

As with many migrants, Donato was employed in the industrial sector, and the family settled in Gunbower, running a tobacco farm. The Polveres then moved to Melbourne, where they lived in Lalor for 56 years, running a small family business—a greengrocer store in Reservoir. Donato will be remembered for his kind, gentle and friendly nature and exemplary citizenship. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. My condolences go to Maria and Lina and the entire San Donato community right across the state.