IZ KRALJIČINE DEŽELE –

Queensland – July Avgust

O zadnjem obdobju vam lahko poročam o veselem dogodku, ko smo praznovali 30. obletnico samostojne Slovenijev nedeljo 27 junija. Za to slovestnost so se že začele zgodnje priprave z zaznimi pododbori pod vodstvom Nevenke Golc Clarke.   Slovenska  šola  SLCA –Slovenian Language and Cultural  Association Qld je prevzela glavno vlogo pri organizaciji. Pridružile so se še SAAA Slovenian Australian Academic Association z sponsorji : PBezy Pocket books,  Harvey Norman in število posameznih  darovalcev. Društvo Planinka je odlonilo sodelovanje, saj je ožji krog svojih članov istočasno imel kosilo v  Sunybank Sport Clubu po radodarnosti društvene blagajne.

Slovestnost se je vršila v veliki plesni dvorani v zelo uglednem Victoria Park Golf Complexu.  Za to pomembno obletnico naše mlade in lepe Slovenije je bilo primerno in prav, da je bil izbran tej slovestnosti primeren prostor.  S pomočjo  donarjev in sponsorjev je bila vstopnina vključno z odličnim kosilom dostopna vsem, ki so se želeli udeležiti. Prodanih je bilo 160 vstopnic, kar je rekorno število vseh dosedanjih prireditev pri nas v Brisbanu.
Mlajši rod rojakov, ki se je v zadnjih letih naselil v tukajšnjih krajih je s to svečanostjo, s svojim nesebičnim delom in žrtvovanjem dokazal, da ima močno ljubezen do rodne domovine.

Veselo sem bil presenečen,  ko se je Master of Ceremony v otvoritvenem govoru zahvalila Bogu  za dar samostojne Slovenije in prosila Jezusa Kristusa za blagoslov  naše svečanosti in  za blagoslov  naši rodni domovini. Ta blagoslov je bilo dobesedno občutiti na tej prireditvi saj je bilo obilo veselja med navzočimi in medsebojnega objemanja ob redkem srečanju in pozdravljanju.  Očitno je bil tudi blagoslov v dejstvu, da smo bili ta dan obvarovani vsakršnih  zaprek, saj so bile že naslednji dan napovedane obvezne odločbe proti združevanju in omejitve z maskami pred virusom. V obširnem programu je bilo lepo videti otroke slovenske šole ko so nam zaigrali in zapeli plesno točko: Jaz pa ti, pa židana marela... z lepo okrašenimi marelami.  

Opazil sem več zelo talentiranih pevecev, pevk, in igralcev harmonike ter raznih inštrumentov, ki so spremljali program. Bilo je tudi več govornikov, ki so nam dali novega navdušenja , med njimi tudi g Andrej Kralj iz Slovenske ambasade v Canberri. V dvorani smo imeli na razpolago dva večja televizijska zaslona, kjer smo lahko  videli  televizijske posnetke  dnevnih TV poročil iz leta 1991, naše prve slovestnosti v društveni dvorani Planinke, ko smo pred 30 leti  slavili slovensko samostojnost. Dali so tudi meni priliko, da sem mladi generaciji (nekateri so bili takrat še otroci ki so takrat živeli še v Sloveniji), sedaj lahko predstavil brisbanske pomembne dogotke  v času bitke za Slovenijo. Videli smo tudi  video posnetke protestnega zborovanja v Melbournu.  Ves program – tudi pri lepo okrašeni dvorani - pa povdari velik pomen:  biti ponosen na svojo rojstno domovino in jo v potrebi tudi braniti in nikoli pozabiti.

V proslavitev 30 obletnice svobodne Slovenije  je Nevenka vključila tudi naše glavno mesto Brisbane.  Dosegla je, da so na dan 25 Junija obarvali našo brisbansko ikono Story bridge  z  razsvetljenimi barvami - s slovensko trobojnico:  belo plavo in rdečo. Ravno tako je bil v slovenskih barvah tudi Victoria bridge.  Z  Ivanom Pišotkom, ki je bil takrat na obisku pri nas sva se odpravila na pot v Brisbane, da slikava in se prepričava kako izgleda  naš most v slovenskih barvah. Tam sva opazila, da je bilo tam veliko  ljudi, ki  so  v bližnjih restavracijah ob obali reke Brisbane občudovali  čudoviti (le tisti dan) slovenski most. Prilagam slike. Za tako uspelo in veselo praznovanje gre predvsem velika zahvala  in priznanje Nevenki Golc Clarke, ki je vložila ogromno svojega dela, časa in žrtvovanja.

Trenutno smo tukaj v Brisbanu radi virusa omejitve združevanja v lockdown.

Pater Darko je  pripravljen na obisk Brisbana v Avgustu, če ne bo nevarnosti omejite in zaprtih meja.  Upajmo vsaj, da se bomo lahko srečali v soboto 11 Septembra v Marijini dolini, ko bomo praznovali 12 obletnico slovenske brezjanske kapelice Marije Pomagaj.

Praznovanje 30 letnice Slovenije v Brisbanu

Govor Mirka Cudermana ob slovesnosti

Good afternoon everyone. I wish to talk about the important events, which mark the Brisbane Slovenian activities, during the special period of obtaining independence here in Brisbane.

The efforts for Slovenian independence began in August 1990 with the establishment of the Slovenian National Council (Queensland).
There was a call for PLEBISCITE in Slovenia, so I called Planinka, Slovenian radio 4EB, Balinarsko ekipo and Church singing group, to ask for their written support for referendum on Slovenian independence. Response was quick and decisive so we forwarded a written expression of support to Ljubljana.

In December 1990 we had a visit at our club from minister for Slovenians abroad dr Janez Dular and he thank us for our strong support for referendum..
On 25th February 1991 we had in Planinka club a visit from Jože Pučnik who was the main leader of the movement for Independent Slovenia. Pucnik gave us new ideas and encouragement for achieving independence.
 
On 26th June 1991 early in the morning - brisbane time, Stanka Gregorič rang from Sydney, that Slovenian government just announced Slovenian independence. And that’s why we’re here today to celebrate that joyful feeling we experienced back then... Straight away I informed all members and friends of SNCQ and We decided to make a big celebration in the Planinka club.
Straight away we start with  preparation. Our  women started baking and cooking in preparing for the momentous occasion.  I invited television and newspaper media, so they could report our event in the evening news. We had journalist arrive by helicopter,  we served them our potica, Kranjske klobase and beer, and I can tell you ...how proud we were when we saw our news clip on the evening TV news!

On 30th June 1991 we Slovenians and Croatians organised big demonstrations on Roma Street in the centre of Brisbane. There were over two thousands attending the protest, they were on the street everywhere was a sea of people with placards.  Media recognise the protest as Slovenian - Croation  meeting, even as there  was many more others, specialy Croatians then us.  We followed our activities  with letters to our Australian political parliamentarians  to fight for Slovenia.

 

We made personal connection with political representative in Canberra, to recognise  the Slovenian independence.  On 4th of July our reporter  Suzan Pekol published an article in our daily Courier Mail in support of Australian recognition of Independence. On 20th July, they also published my plea for Australian recognition of Slovenia .  

Twice I visited my local federal representative  Michael Lavarge and explained to him the critical situation in my homeland. He added a strong voice in parliament  for our independence.  
Federal government representatives established a group: Slovenian Australian friendship  of which Mr Michael Lavarge became a president. We applied the pressure  on government representatives and media and it was very successful.  Australia was first overseas country to recognize  Slovenia.
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From July until October 1991 we began the fund raising activities for help with the war reparation in Slovenia. .. In our church in Woodford our priest expressed a strong support for Slovenian independence. He provided everybody a map of Slovenia and he said that it was our moral duty to defend our homeland. Other churches also expressed their support.

There exist the other successful side of the War for independence. Father Brazilij always said that we need prayers to save Slovenia from communism, especially on the evening of 24th May on  a feast of Mary Help of Christians.

 Many people ascribe the success to our prayers.  Many Slovenians here have made an exceptional effort in giving selfless love for our home country. They spent time and money without expecting any rewards. Some give weekly wages to help Slovenia when it was attacked by JLA.

        At this time I would like to remember our faithful patriots who  had since died. Their names are on the plague on the monument of Brezjanska Marija Pomagaj  in Marian valley: Joze and Albina Vah, Vinko Čopar, Francka and Jože Barbis, Adolf Perger, Robert Mejac and Edo Andlovec.

I sincerely appreciate your support here today and for listening and gaining an insight into the Brisbane Slovenian community history.   Thank You.                                                      

Govor VICTORIA PARK GOLF COMPLEX 309 Herston Rd Herston–27 June 2021 12 -3 pm  Mirko Cuderman