Our Silent Volunteer - Il Porcellino

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Few people fail to notice him! People from all over the world have solemnly stood in Macquarie Street, Sydney and rubbed his nose, made a wish, dropped a coin in his basket and had a photograph taken standing near him. In fact, he would be the most photographed object in Macquarie Street. His name is Il Porcellino. He is not a pig; he is a wild boar.

The original Il Porcellino statue is estimated to be over 500 years old, and was unearthed in Rome after having stood for over 100 years in the Uffizi Galleries in Florence. The Sydney Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital Il Porcellino, which is a copy of  the original, was presented to the hospital in l968 by the Marchessa Clarissa Torrigiani in memory of her father and brother – Dr Thomas Fiaschi who died in 1928 and Dr Piero Fiaschi who died in 1948. Both had been renowned surgeons at the hospital.

Thomas Fiaschi was born in 1853 of Anglo-Italian parentage. He trained as a doctor before coming to Australia. As well as being an enthusiastic military surgeon, he owned a vineyard in Windsor and dispensed products from his own cellars in what is now Australia Square. In 1902 he was Hon Surgeon to Governor General and later in 1909 became Chairman of Sydney Hospital Board of Medical Studies.

We are told the Marchessa saved for seven years to buy Il Porcellino. Her wish was for him to earn lots of money for the hospital and to make children happy. He had a 21st birthday in 1989 which was arranged by the hospital, in conjunction with civic and Italian communities.

The Friends of Sydney Hospital (FOSH) volunteer group always include Il Porcellino in their stalls and special functions, and usually a special garland is made for him to wear. When the Olympic flame was carried down Macquarie Street, he wore an Olympic Garland and every year on Daffodil Day he wears a daffodil hat or garland, to help in the hospital's efforts to raise funds for the Cancer Council.

The legend of Il Porcellino is that he will bring you good luck if you rub his snout.

Special Il Porcellino souvenirs can be purchased from the FOSH ‘Little Shop’ in Macquarie Street.