Gary Marocchi

Marocchi is one of the true icons of West Australian football. The youngest of four sons to Doris and Saverio Marocchi, he collected numerous awards and honours during a remarkable seventeen-season playing career. Having made his Azzurri first team debut in 1971 as a 16-year old, he quickly established himself as a key member of the midfield and by year's end had a Cup winners medal to his credit.

In 1965, Gary and his brother Eric proudly took the field in Azzurri’s first Under-13 side, following in the footsteps of brothers Bruno and Leo, who played in the club’s inaugural Under-14s in 1964.
Credit: Gary and Debra Marocchi and Marocchi Family

Marocchi played his part in Azzurri defeating Bayswater United to win the 1973 Night Series final. Another Cup winners medal arrived that same year Credit: of a classy three-goal win over Cracovia, and twelve months later he added a Top Four winners medal following a dramatic penalty shoot-out defeat of Ascot. Marocchi stepped onto the international arena in early 1975 during a tour of Indonesia with the Australian under-23 side, and that June he made his Australia 'B' debut against South Korea.
It was inevitable that Marocchi would wear State team colours, the State with the first of his twenty-two appearance arriving in March 1975 at the Marah Halim Cup, in which West Australia defeating South Korea 2-0 to claim the trophy. And he was part of the State team which defended their title twelve months later by against beating South Korea in the final. Along the way Marocchi collected First Division championship (1975, 1976) and Top Four winners (1976) medals with Azzurri.

Gary played for Adelaide City Soccer Club in the Australian Soccer League between 1977 and 1982.
Credit: Gary and Debra Marocchi and Marocchi Family

In October 1976 Marocchi toured Asia and Europe with the national team. It was during that trip that he made his Australia 'A' debut by coming off the bench against Indonesia, which was quickly followed by starting appearances against Singapore, China and Israel. Within a few months he'd joined Adelaide City for the inaugural national league season, debuting against Brisbane Lions in April 1977.

Marocchi donned the green and gold again in late 1977 against South Korea, Hong Kong and Iran as Australia attempted to qualify for the World Cup in Argentina. The pinnacle of his playing days came in June 1978 when the midfielder captained Australia in a friendly series against Greece. Later that year he featured in an exhibition match against the touring American Cosmos side that featured the likes of Franz Beckenbaur, Carlos Alberto, Georgio Chinaglia and Dennis Tueart.

Gary Marocchi earned 14 caps playing soccer for Australia between 1975 and 1978 and captained the national team against Greece. 
Credit: Gary and Debra Marocchi and Marocchi Family

Adelaide's first trophy success came in 1979 when they defeated St George to claim the League Cup with Marocchi part of that side. After six seasons and 117 games in the national league, he return home where he once again pulled on his boots for Perth. In 1984 he captained the State team at the DCM Tournament in India where the highlight was a 1-0 defeat of the Chinese national team. After a season with Inglewood Kiev he went back to Perth for two more years before bringing the curtain down on a highly successful playing career at the end of 1987.
He later coached Perth Italia to three League championships (1991, 1992 and 1993), the Perth Kangaroos to the Singapore League championship (1994) and the State side to victory against Werder Bremen (Germany) and Iraklis (Greece). He was the inaugural coach of Perth Glory (1996-1998) and led Swan I.C. to a maiden Boral Cup victory in 2003. Inducted into the Hall of Champions in 1996 and elevated to the Hall of Legends in 2005.

Gary was the inaugural coach of Perth Glory (1996-1998).
Credit: Gary and Debra Marocchi and Marocchi Family

In the 1970s, earning a place in Australia’s soccer team was a formidable challenge for Western Australian players. In 1978, he reached the pinnacle by captaining the national side.
Credit: Gary and Debra Marocchi and Marocchi Family

Gary, Debra and family at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Credit: Gary and Debra Marocchi and Marocchi Family

Doris Marocchi

Doris Marocchi was a woman ahead of her time—a fearless pioneer in Western Australia whose passion for family, sport, and community left an indelible mark. Born in Sernio, in the Italian Alps bordering Switzerland, on 14 November 1928, Doris was a proud daughter of the Valtellina. She migrated to Perth in 1936 with her mother at the age of seven, joining her father who had settled in Western Australia. The family lived in mining towns across the Goldfields, including Southern Cross, Gwalia, Orabanda, Kalgoorlie, and Leonora, where her two younger sisters Roma and Hilda were born.

In 1944 the family moved to Northbridge to run a boarding house. Life there revolved around Casa d’Italia, the Italian Club founded in 1934, which became the heart of the migrant community. It was a place to gather, share food and music, and keep Italian traditions alive in a foreign land. Doris’s future husband, Saverio, was born in Tenno, near the Lago di Garda in Trentino. At eighteen he migrated to Western Australia to join his brother, working in the mines at Bullfinch. Classified as an “enemy alien” during the war, Saverio was interned in Harvey for three years while his brother Alceo served in the Australian Army. In the camp Saverio forged lasting friendships, including one with Doris’s uncle, Angelo Marchesi.

Doris and Saverio were introduced at a 21st birthday party by Angelo. Their romance blossomed at the regular dinner dances at Casa d’Italia. In 1948, Italian migrants inspired by their love of sport decided to form an Australian Rules football team, but when Frank Re turned up with a soccer ball instead, the Azzurri Soccer Club was born. The club’s name, suggested by Angelo Marchesi, honoured the Italian national team. Saverio played in the inaugural season, while Angelo became the first president. That same year, Doris and Saverio married on 27 September—after the soccer season, of course. Their honeymoon was a road trip through the South West, travelling in Saverio’s old ute.

At a 21st Birthday party, Doris and Saverio were introduced by Doris' uncle, Angelo Marchesi. 
Credit: Marocchi Family

Doris is driving her husband Saverio's old utility vehicle in Balingup, a town located in the south-western region of Western Australia, c. 1940.
Credit: Marocchi Family

From that moment on, Doris’s life became inseparable from the Azzurri Soccer Club and the Italian community of Perth. She was one of the first three women elected to the WA Italian Club committee, which also governed the Azzurri. She worked tirelessly to support players and their families—preparing sandwiches for after matches, sewing soccer shorts, laundering kits, even making corner flags and sewing hundreds of badges and numbers. She ran the canteen with a team of women, stocking ice and drinks, often with her four sons in tow. No task was too small or too large; Doris approached each one with dedication, warmth, and her radiant smile.

Her service grew with the establishment of the Ladies Committee in 1973, where Doris became president and the driving force behind countless functions, fundraisers, and celebrations. She transformed annual Azzurri balls into glittering events, decorating venues with handmade blue and white flowers, balloons, and personal touches that made every guest feel special. She also created and sewed the sky-blue Miss Azzurri cape, worn proudly in the famous Miss Azzurri Quest, one of the club’s biggest fundraisers. Her passion, energy, and generosity were unmatched—she greeted everyone by name, listened with genuine interest, and made the community feel like family.

In the 1970s, Doris held the position of secretary for the ladies committee of the WA Italian Club. She is seen here with the Ladies Committee members and Gough Whitlam, the 21st Prime Minister of Australia.
Credit: Marocchi Family

For her outstanding contributions, Doris was awarded life membership of the WA Italian Club in 1973 and of the Azzurri Soccer Club in 1979, receiving a gold medal in recognition of her service. Yet her devotion extended far beyond the clubs. In the 1980s she joined the Good Neighbour Council, visiting newly arrived migrant families in Highgate to help them adjust to life in Australia. Later, she organised craft afternoons, bingo nights, Christmas parties, dinner dances, and bus trips for seniors through the Italian Club Ladies Committee. Her commitment to helping others never wavered.

Doris’s life was inseparably bound to her husband and children. She and Saverio supported their four sons—Bruno, Leo, Eric, and Gary—through their soccer careers, attending every game, home and away, in all weather. Saverio was the steady, quiet partner, driving her to meetings, shopping trips, and club events, always by her side. Doris also made sure her family never went without; her fridge was always full of home-cooked food, her sandwiches famous, her sponge cakes legendary.

The Marocchi brothers, Bruno, Leo, Eric and Gary, were seen enjoying a family outing in the 1960s.
Credit: Marocchi Family

In 1994 Doris’s contribution was formally recognised by her home region of Lombardia when the Italo-Australian Cultural Centre presented her with a Community Award for her dedication and service. It was a fitting tribute to a woman whose life embodied resilience, generosity, and leadership.

Doris Marocchi was remarkable not only for what she achieved, but for the warmth, energy, and love she poured into everything she did. She pioneered women’s roles in community leadership, built bridges through sport, and dedicated decades to nurturing the Italian community in Western Australia. Her legacy lives on through her family, her beloved Azzurri Soccer Club, and the countless people whose lives she touched. Doris’s story is one of vision, service, and devotion—a true matriarch whose influence will never be forgotten.

Doris seated on her beloved motorbike in front of the family home situated on Aberdeen Street, Northbridge. Circa 1940s.
Credit: Marocchi Family

Doris' adventurous spirit was celebrated. In this depiction, she is seen riding a horse in the rural area.
Credit: Marocchi Family