Maria Venuti is Fairfield City's Australia Day Ambassador

Published on 18 January 2021

Maria Venuti  - Photo.JPG

Maria Venuti AM, an Australian performing icon for more than 50 years and dedicated charity worker, has been announced as Fairfield City’s Australia Day Ambassador for 2021.
Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone said it was fitting to have a person committed to improving people’s lives and who has given joy to so many through singing and acting, as ambassador for Fairfield City.
“It is our pleasure to have Maria as our ambassador to help us celebrate our Australia Day community awards and see residents take out Australian citizenship,” Mayor Carbone said.
Maria has sung in major venues in Australia and internationally including throughout Asia and has performed in Paris, Rome, Cairo and New York. She entertained serving multinational forces in the Sinai Desert in 1983.
She first appeared on television as an actor in 1978 and most recently played Mama Gigliotti in Fat Pizza. She has also appeared on numerous talk and variety shows including The Living Room, Good Morning Australia, Kerri-Anne and she was the subject of a This is Your Life episode.
Maria received her Order of Australia for her services as an entertainer and her charity work. She was a foundation member of the Australian Ladies' Variety Association and is its Patron and won the Heart of Variety Award for her work with Variety the Children’s Charity. She has twice been the subject of an Archibald Prize entry.
She is undertaking her 19th year as an Australia Day Ambassador.