The celebration of the unveiling of the Tadeusz Kosciuszko Monument, on the 29th of January 1989, drew a sizeable group of Poles (approx. 300) to Cooma from Canberra, Sydney and even faraway Melbourne. The statue itself – a six metre tall obelisk – is the work of the famous Polish-Australian artist, Stanislaw Ostoja-Kotkowski, whose works in the form of bass-reliefs are displayed with pride on public buildings in nearly every state.

The faces of the monument, created from steel, symbolise the stylised rogatywki (peaked caps) of kosynierzy (peasants armed with scythes). The medallion is of bronze, created by the well-known sculptor John Dowie. It presents a large bust of Kosciuszko in a cap with a feather, as worn by insurrectionists. The plaque details the birth and death dates of the general, his military achievements in Poland and the United States, and underlines the fact that he fought both for the freedom of nations and for human rights.

The celebration of the unveiling – very efficiently organised by the chairman of the Building Committee, Dr £uk-Kozika – saw the participation of representatives of Australian authorities, including J.J. Shipp, Minister for Public Works, representing the Premier, Mr Jim Snow, MHP, Member of Federal Parliament representing the Minister for Emigration, as well as John Jones, the Mayor of Cooma-Monaro Council and Uri Themal, the Vice-Director of the NSW Ethnic Commission.

The Master of Ceremonies was Dr £uk-Kozika, who introduced the honorary guests. Following Jim Snow’s speech, Minister J.J. Ship himself gave a short speech, after which he unveiled the plaque on the monument. Both speakers, representing the Federal and State governments alike, underlined the enormous contribution made by Poles during the pioneering period (Pawe³ Strzelecki,) in the period following the Second World War and in the development and enlargement of Australia. They also underlined the brotherhood of Australian-Polish defences during the last war.

The surnames Strzelecki (‘Strezleki’) and Kosciuszko (‘Kozjasko’) were heard several times, and, it was stressed, are now commonly known to all Australians. The President of the Polish Community Council of Australia and New Zealand, Krzysztof £ancucki, thanked the speakers for their sincere words directed at Poles. Among other things, he said:

The unveiling of the Monument is a joyous occasion for the entire Polish community in Australia. The name Tadeusz Kosciuszko, after whom the highest peak in Australia was named 150 years ago, is a synonym for freedom and human equality, like the political system reigning in our country. This monument, which the Polish community has erected, is also to remember the Poles who were members of the Polish Armed Forces, and who settled down in Australia after the Second World War, when their chance of returning to Poland was removed, to the Poland for which they faught for 5 difficult years, and which after the war was given away at the Yalta Conference into communist thraldom.

Some of these ex-soldiers worked nearby on the building sites of the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme. This wave of Polish emigrants, from the moment of their arrival on the shores of Australia, became an integrated group. We are a comunity open to the surroundings within which we live. The history of the construction of this monument is testament to this – as it was designed an Australian of Polish origin, the medallion was made by an Australian of Anglosaxon origin, the complicated structure and difficult engineering faces are the work of an Australian company, while the cement foundation was created by an Australian of Italian origin.

In his last words, K. £ancucki entrusted the monument into the care of Cooma-Monaro Council. Following his words, John Jones, the Mayor of the Council, wearing the full insignias of his office – a coat of ermine and the Council crest on a golden chain – declared he was proud that this area had been chosen for the monument, that Council would take care of it and that a park would be established there, bearing the name Tadeusz Kosciuszko Memorial Park.

This will therefore be another parcel of land in Australia recollecting Poland. Following the official speeches, father Stanis³aw Wrona blessed the monument, which looked impressive glistening on the background of a blue sky and decorated with Australian and Polish flags. For the finale of the celebrations, the Canberran dance ensemble Wielkpolska, in beautiful folk costumes, danced a few folk dances with great verve, delighting the crowds.

The reception at the local RSL club concluded the celebrations of the unveiling – Dr £uk-Kozika and his beautiful wife accepted the role of hosts and champagne was poured in streams. Seizing a moment at the reception, president K. £ancucki presented the Mayor of Cooma-Monaro Council, John Jones, with Lech Paszowki’s book Poles in Australia and Oceania.

Written by Roman Winiarski
Translated by £ukasz ¦wiatek