Joe CossariJoe Cossari

Cav, Giuseppe Cossari
 Born in Borgia 1/1/1947, emmigrated to Australia in  1956
 Married to Rose Valeo originally from  Borgia, 2 adult sons Benito and Giuseppe.

 In 1982 I was appointed by On Mirko Tremaglia as delegate responsible for the CTIM  Comitato Tricolore per gli Italiani nel Mondo. In the years that followed  I became the  president of Alleanza  Nazionale  and finally responsible for PDL in Australia and in 2005 I was  elected  to the Victorian and Tasmanian  COMITES.

In 1997 I was elected as Councillor to the City of Maroondah, a Municipality of one hundred thousand inhabitants then elected as Mayor of that City. During my term as Councillor and Mayor I was representative to various departments which included tourism, the Eastern region business advisory Board, the East Melbourne Freeway Board, and was appointed by the then Minister for Immigration to the East Melbourne immigration Board.

 In 2007 I was elected as Councillor to the City of Knox with a population of 155 thousand people and a budget of 125 million dollars. In 2009 I was elected Mayor for this Municipality.  Currently  I hold key positions  in the municipality such as representative  for the immigration and cultural activities ,  representative on the  economic development Board and on  the Standing Committee on Local Government  and Multicultural affairs of the City, and the Knox Central Board just to mention a few of the positions I hold.

 Further I was elected for two terms as President of the Ringwood Chamber of Commerce, am on the executive Board of NIAF Australia and founder of The Network of Italian Mayors and Councillors ( NIMAC ) for the State of Victoria. This group meets bimonthly to discuss issues relating to the Italian Community and represents some 36% of the population of Victoria.

 Attuale

 Cavalieri  dell Patria
 Responsabile  PDL Australia
 Responsible for Patronato ENAS/Ugl Australia
 Justice of the Peace
 Consiglieri Comunale  City of  Knox
 Member del    COMITES
 Member Of   NIMAC  (Network of Italian Mayors and Councillors)
 Member of  Rotary International
 Member of    (NIAF )  National Australian Foundation


I was the first overseas born Mayor for two of the most important Municipalities in the eastern metropolitan area of Melbourne, Maroondah and the Municipality of Knox.

Through these positions I have been able to speak on behalf of the Italian community and raise issues on their behalf in many forums. My being vocal at this level has certainly brought to the forefront issues that are relevant to our community; such as the need for  interpreters for our aging population,  serving  the appropriate food in retirement homes where Italians are resident and raising awareness in the broader community of Italian products and Italy as a tourist destination.  From the above positions that I hold the reader can understand my involvement within the Italian and broader community.

    
                                                       Click Here to read what the Chairman of NIAF had to say about Joe Cossari