From Hilltops Council – Tony Hewson

The Hilltops Council

Many residents of Hilltops Council wouldn’t know the significance of a largish park just behind the Young Golf Club, recently enhanced with a small amount of kids playground equipment. The Park is known as Lazzarini Brothers Park. The park is quite significant for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the Lazzarini boys were sons of an Italian migrant who settled in Wombat. The three men actually created history by becoming politicians as members of the ALP.

Firstly Herbert Lazzarini was elected an Alderman of Young Council in 1917 and became Mayor of Young in 1930/31. He was known as the “Stormy Petrel” and only lasted a year as Mayor. Not the most visionary Alderman... he opposed sewerage being connected to Young homes.

His brother Carlo Lazzarini was elected to Marrickville Council. Carlo Lazzarini moved to Sydney and became Secretary and President of the Federated Clothing Trades Union.

He was a member of the moderate faction and strongly against conscription during the First World War. His group were responsible for the expulsion from the Labour Party of the conscription advocates Billy Hughes and William Holman. At the 1917 State election he was elected as the Member for Marrickville, being the first member with an Italian name to be elected to state parliament.

Another brother, Hubert (Bert) Lazzarini was born in Young in 1884 and was educated in Catholic schools. He worked as a draper in German Town (Holbrook) and married Constance Williams in 1916. In 1919 he moved to Dulwich Hill, a Sydney suburb and stood for Federal parliament.

He won the seat of Werriwa which at the time was a rural electorate in which Young was included. Like his brother he was the first person with an Italian name to be elected to Federal parliament. He was re-elected at the 1922, 1925, 1928 and 1929 elections.

Less well known was Lois who was elected Alderman on Murrumburrah Council.

A parkland reserve, located behind the Young Golf Corse, was named Lazzarini Park in honour of the Lazzarini family.

Councillor Tony Hewson