Festival Patron: His Excellency Ambassador of Poland, Andrzej JAROSZYNSKI

Venue description: The land for the church and burial ground was donated by an Irish convict’s son Thomas Pendergast in 1861 and the church was built later by Irish settlers. It was renovated in the 90. by late Fr Wally Stefanski (Polish). It is possible that amongst the Irish pioneers in the area there had been Irish families encouraged by Sir Paul E. Strzelecki to migrate after the infamous Potato Famine.

Program:

• 10 am Mass at St Thomas to be celebrated by Fr Peter Miller, parish priest of Jindabyne, possibly concelebrated by a Polish priest
• 11. am MC announcing an outdoor concert of songs about Kosciuszko & Strzelecki
• Welcome to Country by Ngarigo elders
* Presentation of Polish-Aboriginal pairs flying tomorrow over Mt Kosciuszko. Short lecture about Strzelecki’s relations with Aborigines
• 11,30 am Irish artists show – Darryl and Lynn from the Celtic Pipers Band (Canberra Irish Club)
• 11,45 am Lajkonik Ensemble
• 12 noon. Lunch : famous Polish Sausages, Bigos , Potato Pancakes & dilled cucumbers brought from Sydney by Polonez Smallgoods
• Noon: Kosciuszko Beer tasting
• Noon: Kujawy Folkloric Ensemble
• 12,20 pm singer Jolanta Komincz-Howe
• 1 pm An official Launch of a monograph “The Best of Human Nature: Strzelecki’s Humanitarian Work in Ireland” (about Paul Edmund Strzelecki’s humanitarian action in Ireland during Potato Famine)
• 2 pm – 2,30 pm Irish show
• 2,30 pm Presentation of special guests from Poland
• The Polish show: Jolanta Komincz-Howe, Kujawy & Lajkonik
• 4 pm Announcing program for tonight & tomorrow

• BACK TO JINDABYNE

• 5 pm traditional photo session at the Strzelecki Monument • 6 pm – 9 pm Piano recitals at Horizons Hotel, Chopin’s music by Olivia Urbaniak ( 6 pm), and Chris Malek (at 8 pm).

Sunday 15th April 2011 - Flights & BBQ at the Aero Club

Optional: Mass at 8,30 at St Columbkille’s Church , 2 Kosciuszko Rd, Jindabyne
Venue 1. : Jindabyne Cinemas (at Visitors Centre) 9,45 am Movie Premiere “A symbol of Freedom and Honour” – an Oski Pictures documentary about the controversial history of the Strzelecki Monument
Venue2. : Jindabyne Aero Club (Tinworth Drive, off Barry Way, Jindabyne), Polish-Aboriginal Fraternity Flights over Mt Kosciuszko, BBQ & picnic
10,30 am - Welcome to Country by Ngarigo elders. Announcements. Presentation of 5 pairs of Polish-Aboriginal persons nominated for Fraternity Flights (kindly donated by the Jindabyne Aero Club). Each flight’s over Mt Kosciuszko duration appx 45 mins. Depending on availability of pilots, these flights will be done simultanously or in a succession.

Those on Mt Kosciuszko – please wave the flags & salute the planes overhead. Watch out as you are being filmed from above. You are invited to a premiere of the Flights documentary in February 2013.

11 am – 4 pm. BBQ brunch followed by lunch. Polish cuisine brought from Sydney by Polonez Smallgoods. Concert of Polish, Aboriginal, Irish and Australian Music.

Back to Jindabyne

Another photo/filming session at the Sir Strzelecki Monument, Banjo Paterson Park over the Jindabyne Lake.[] Visiting Kosciuszko Brewery across the road.
5 pm. Mystery wedding, followed by Polish BBQ.[] K’Ozzie Fest Close. Invitation to the centenary celebrations of the First Mass on Mt Kosciuszko, to be held in Jindabyne on 23rd February 2013.
6 pm (optional) Dinner at Banjo Paterson Inn (opposite the monument), Kosciuszko Rd, Jindabyne.

Festival updates on our website kosciuszkoheritage.com