A small celebration has been planned to celebrate the occasion on Saturday night. 

Italian Republic Day, also known as Festa della Repubblica in Italian (Festival of the Republic), is a national holiday in Italy on June 2 each year.

It celebrates the day when Italians voted to abolish the monarchy in 1946 so the country could become a republic.

Leeton Italo-Australian Ladies Committee president Maria Tripodi was looking forward to celebrating. 

“We’ve been doing something for many years now,” she said. 

“This year it will be a bit smaller because there are a lot of other things on in town on Saturday night. 

“That can’t be helped. We will still be having a good time.”

Delicious Italian food will be served up on the night, as well as entertainment from Leeton shire residents. 

“It’s always a really fun and special occasion,” Mrs Tripodi said. 

“Everyone that comes looks forward to it. 

“Hopefully we can make it a bigger event next year. 

“It’s getting harder because our committee is getting older. 

“We would definitely welcome some of the younger ones to come and help out. 

“I think it’s the same with a lot of committees, but we love what we do.”

Mrs Tripodi believes the Leeton community was aware of Italian Republic Day and the significance it holds. 

“We’ve been doing it for so long, so I think people would know what it’s all about,” she said. 

“It was a big deal in Italy’s history and it still is today. 

“Maybe one day we will be holding celebrations for something similar if it were to happen in Australia.

“You never know.”

Committee members on the night will doing some of the cooking, mostly Italian biscuits, with Mrs Tripodi looking forward a relaxing night. 

“We’re all really forward to it,” she said. The event will be held at the MIA Restaurant on Racecourse Road. 

Residents wanting to attend should contact 0407 076 850, 6953 4646 or 6955 2675 by Friday afternoon.