Fun, Friendship and Fundraising
It’s an unusual name – for a unique organisation!
The Toccolan Club was formed in 1990 by a group of people who share Italian heritage, a rare enjoyment of life and a strong sense of community.
Our name derives from Tocco da Casauria, a small, picturesque town in Italy’s historic Abruzzo region. From time immemorial it was a busy regional centre of some 12,000 people, engaged in farming and the production of a powerful Abruzzese liqueur called ‘Centerbe’ (‘100 Herbs’).
Following the end of WWII, a wave of emigration saw the population shrink to its present-day level of under 3,000 Toccolani.
Many of the migrants went to the United States; many more came to Australia. They stayed in touch, celebrating community and family occasions together, and their Australian-born children maintained the tradition.
From these foundations, the Toccolan Club was born. Its purpose is simple – to enjoy life while making life better for others.
We are a not-for-profit group devoted to assisting our adopted Australian community by raising charitable funds through the many events on our busy social calendar. Members and guests participate in generously sponsored raffles and auctions to raise money.
Since 1990, we’ve been proud to contribute substantial amounts to such organizations as The Royal Children’s Hospital, The Asthma Foundation, World Vision, The Anti-Cancer Council, The Leukemia Foundation, Here For Life and many others. We have also been able to help many deserving individuals and continue to do so on a case-by-case basis.
The Club has other purposes, too. We strive to raise community awareness of the work of the charities we support. We intend to preserve our important cultural link to the past.
And our gatherings are great places for business networking!
The Toccolan Club is open to all. You don’t need to be of Toccolani or even Italian descent to join – all you need is a spirit of generosity and the ability to enjoy a really good time in the company of like-minded people. The membership fees are modest and you choose the events you’d like to attend, although you have to be quick to reserve your place as many events are over-subscribed.