Hall of Fame Awards

FNQ’s Italian/Australians top achievers

An important part of the festival is the Hall of Fame awards, which are a yearly celebration of past and present Italian/Australians who made a significant contribution to the North Queensland region in Farming, Business, Development, Community Service, Sport, and Arts and Culture. We must not forget those who made a difference to make North Queensland what it is today.

The Hall of Fame Awards are presented each year at the Gala Ball.

Nominations are now closed. Thank you to everyone who nominated.

Award Categories include:

Community Service
Farming and Agriculture
Business Recognition
Developing and Building
Educational Achievement
Sporting Achievement
Arts and Culture
Young Italian of the Year
Life Member, voted by the committee

Hall of Fame 2024 Award Winners

Life Member: Elvio Meoli

Young Italian of the Year: Ignazio Fortunato & Albina Niceforo

Arts and Culture: Frank Dangelico

Business Recognition: Frank and Vince Pappalardo

Sporting Achievement: Zenon Caravella

Developing and Building Award: Ross Straguszi

Educational Achievement: Lucy Fedrizzi

Community Service: Maryanne Stokes

Farming and Agriculture: Guiseppe, Mario and Pasquale Cosentino

2024 Life Member Winner, “Elvio Meoli”

Elvio Meoli was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1917 to Italian parents. At the age of 12, he moved with his family back to Italy and then migrated to Australia, settling on a sugarcane farm at Wrights Creek, just south of Cairns. Elvio attended Saint Augustine’s College in Cairns and later earned a scholarship to Nudgee College in Brisbane, where he pursued studies in law. During World War II, Elvio was interned at Loveday in South Australia for nearly four years. Despite these circumstances, he set up a school to teach English to fellow Italian internees, some of whom went on to university after the war. Upon his release, Elvio returned to his family farm, reuniting with his parents after their long separation.

Elvio married Mary Nucifora, the daughter of Italian migrants, and together, they had two daughters, Camy and Gelma. After the war, Elvio worked tirelessly on their sugar cane farm by day and taught English to migrants by night, eventually having 120 students. He frequently assisted as an interpreter in court and other official capacities, and his home was always open to Italian migrants seeking advice and support. Elvio and Mary were deeply involved in the Catholic Church, with Elvio serving in various committee positions for over 20 years, including a decade as President. He was a founding member of the St Vincent de Paul Society and served as a Director and Chairman of the Appeals Committee for Calvary Hospital, raising $1.4 million in the 1980s.

A sports enthusiast, Elvio represented Cairns in soccer and was a founding member of the Leichhardt Soccer Club. He also played a key role in establishing the Cairns Crematorium Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens and was actively involved in Rotary, earning six Paul Harris Fellows Awards. In 1969, the Italian Government appointed Elvio as the Vice-Consul for North Queensland, and he opened an office in Cairns. He also established the Northern Australian Travel Agency (NATA), expanding it across multiple cities. Elvio secured the tender for the First foreign currency exchange at Cairns International Airport, operating an office there and another in Cairns City.

Elvio’s contributions to the community were widely recognised. In 1961, he was made a (Cavaliere) by the Italian Government, equivalent to a Knighthood and in 1981, he was awarded an OBE by Her Majesty the Queen of England for his support to migrants. In 1987, Elvio retired from the Vice-Consul position, which was taken over by his wife, Mary. He was also appointed to represent Australian migrants in the Italian Parliament.

Elvio Meoli’s life was marked by kindness, generosity, and humility. He will always be remembered for his unwavering dedication to helping others and his significant contributions to our community.

A truly deserving Life Member! “Elvio Meoli”