Anitta’s interest and research have been focussed on her area of the Old Prussian borderlands of Brandenburg, Silesia, and Posen Province. She will also be giving talks AFTER the Congress for FoLA, SAGHS and the Barossa Historical Trust. Her topics will cover her research for which she was awarded a PhD. in Poland.

In the mid 1800s a wave of emigration from Anitta’s area of study had a direct influence on the establishment of South Australia. In 2007 Anitta held an Exhibition entitled Between fear and hope: The Emigration from the present-day Lubuska Land (the former borderland of Brandenburg, Silesia, and Greater Poland-Posen Province) to Australia in the 19th Century. She received help from a number of Australians who sent her information and articles for display. Some Australians were able to visit this exhibition in Zielona Gόra and she looks forward to meeting them during her visit. This exhibition was so successful it was also exhibited in Germany.

Anitta has written a book Emigration from the Brandenburg-Silesian-Posen borderland to South Australia in the 19th Century, which has now been published in English and is available through Lutheran Archives, $20. In July 2008 Anitta, the Zielona Gόra Museum and the local community were very involved in a re-enactment of the departure in 1838 of Pastor Kavel’s congregation. This re-enactment was so popular it was repeated in 2009. We look forward to hearing and seeing Anitta’s presentation about this at Concordia College. The Polish people in the communities of Klêpsk, the former Klemzig, Zielona Gόra, formerly Grünberg, and the town of Sulechów, formerly Züllichau, encouraged by Anitta, have embraced the emigration history of their area with enthusiasm.

Since WWII the cemeteries of the abandoned German communities have been left derelict and forgotten, but in recent years various Polish communities like the Catholic parish of Nekla have made commendable efforts to restore them. Anitta’s talk to SAGHS will provide us with an opportunity to hear about locating surviving graveyards and these restoration projects.

One of the many emigrant groups that left from this area in the 1850s included a large contingent of Poles who settled at Polish Hill River near Clare, S.A. and established a church, which is now the Polish Hill River Church Museum. Zielona Gόra is at the heart of an old wine growing region. The Museum has a permanent display on the history of wine-growing in the area, another close link to South Australia. The Ethnographic branch of the Lubuska Land Museum is a village of reconstructed 19th century buildings at Ochla near Zielona Gόra, providing detailed insights into the rural way of life.

Anitta is very interested in the descendants of these early emigrants and wishes to record their stories in a book. Lois Zweck, Chairman FoLA, and I hope this information will help you to appreciate the titles selected for Anitta’s talks listed below.

Aileen Preiss, Co-Convenor, Germanic and Continental European Interest Group, SAGHS

Fragment wystawy "Muzeum Wina" w Muzeum Ziemi Lubuskiej

AFFHO Congress sessions Friday 30 March 2012 9.35am -10.35am
Why Polish Hill River failed to become a 'Little Poland' in Australia
Saturday 31 March 2012 2.35pm – 3.35pm
Old place, new names – territorial changes of the Middle Oder River
These two talks need Registration through www.congress2012.org.au

Or contact SAGHS, 201 Unley Rd. Unley 5061 Ph. 08 8272 4222 Full 4 day Registration $495, One day Registration $145 please refer to website. Also please note Janette Lange and Dr. Lois Zweck will be speaking at this Congress
Wednesday 28 March 2012 2.35pm -3.35pm
Researching German family history in present day Poland

************** Anitta has offered to speak at meetings independent of and after the Congress:
 Talk for FoLA Monday 2 April 2012 7.30pm.
Re-enacting the Klemzig Story to be held at Concordia College Chapel, 45 Cheltenham St. Highgate S.A. Gold Coin Donation
Contact - Lutheran Archives Ph. 8340 4009

 Talk for SAGHS an Occasional Meeting Wednesday 11 April 2012 7.30pm
Where Our Ancestors Lie - Searching for German Graveyards in the Middle Oder Region of Poland
to be held at South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society Library, 201 Unley Rd. Unley Ph. 8272 4222 Gold Coin Donation

( Booking essential as venue may change according to numbers - Please contact SAGHS Office Ph 8272 4222 )

 Talk for Barossa Historical Trust Wednesday 18 April 7.30pm
Rural life and wine-growing in Old Prussia
to be held at Langmeil Church Hall , 7 Maria St. Tanunda. Barossa Valley. Contact - Don Ross Ph. 08 8563 2108

Strona internetowa Muzeum Ziemi Lubuskiej w Zielonej Górze