A sad goodbye was given to a past member of the museum committee, Mr Zygmund Pawlak who passed away recently. Mr Pawlak was on the committee for many years and worked hard in building and developing the museum. Even after he retired from the committee he still kept in touch, often coming to the special gatherings, interested in all we were achieving and leaving a generous donation. His last contribution was a plaque of the ship and its history on which he came to Australia. This now hangs in the museum and is a fitting tribute to him and his wife.

With the help from grants, five new showcases have been installed in the museum. These help to preserve some of the precious items that were open to dust and dirt. Materials are particularly susceptible to dust and to have an Air Force Uniform and a beautiful Polish Costume protected is very reassuring and important for the future.

Another big project was to install panels in the Hall and display all the photo posters and collages of the Polish organisations past and present in South Australia. The committee is still gathering these posters which are hopefully still stored around the place. This was a job long delayed as it was planned by the early committee in the 1980’s to have these posters displayed proudly in the Hall. Money for this project was kindly funded by the Multicultural Council of SA to commemorate the 140th Anniversary of the Consecration of the Church and honour the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of S.A.

Mr. Jan Rutkowski came up with an interesting project to list all the names of the Polish Migrants of the 1950’s who worked on the Railways in SA. With the help of Mr Karol Warcok names were researched and checked and a book printed. A very interesting log and it is still open to additional names.

An interesting project completed was the gathering of photos from the camps that the 1950’s migrants went through in particular Woodside Camp. These photos were printed in book form to use as a visual display. This book creates much interest to the younger generation.

Another donation were two benches given by the Pt. Adelaide Council which now are placed after being repaired and painted, on the property for the use of our visitors and a convenient resting place in both sun and shade for the generous volunteers who work around the museum. They also get good use during the Gala Picnics and Pilgrimages held on the property.

Inside the Polish Hill River Church - Puls Polonii 2009

For the last four years the museum has taken part in History Week SA in May. For the last two years it has been a month of openings and very popular. Last year we opened for three extra days when we stayed as a group in the accommodation on the grounds. It is always a fun and interesting time as we have time to talk to visitors, share cups of tea or coffee and enjoy Polish cakes which the ladies of the committee bake. This year we opened for the first weekend and had two other Sundays when the local representative opened. It was again well attended and appreciated by people who find it difficult to visit when it is only open one Sunday a month.

The museum is becoming quite well known as the committee work hard promoting it. Leaflets are regularly left in the Tourist Centres and the local wineries and shops. In March 2012 the Blue Wattle Tours booked the museum for openings 16 times for the one month. Mainly it is buses of retirees but schools and social clubs have had tours through the museum also. We always receive very positive comments on both the museum and the guides. When Pat Dawson is on duty she enjoys giving talks and explains everything quite professionally. Pat is a descendant of the Pioneers and has worked in the Clare Museum so her experience is appreciated.

Related links:
A Polish picnic

Lajkonik in Polish Hill River

O obchodach 140 rocznicy pisz± Krystyna Misiak i Krystyna £u¿na

Ernestyna Skurjat-Kozek: Nasze wspólne dziedzictwo cz 1.

Wspólne dziedzictwo cz.2

The big Gala Picnic held in October 2011 celebrating 140th Anniversary of the Consecration of the Church was combined with the 175th Anniversary of the Founding of SA. Special invited guest were Archbishop Szczepan Wesoly who came from Rome; Mr John Roy Honorary Polish Consul of New Zealand and his wife; Mr Darius Ross Honorary Polish Consul of Poland in SA and his wife; Fr Slowik from Melbourne who came with a bus of Polish people; Archbishop Faulkner and local politicians like Jennifer Rankine, Minister for Families & Communities; Michael Atkinson, Member for Croydon; Hon Stephen Wade, MLC Shadow Attorney-General, and special guest from interstate. Around 500 people attended on the day to make it a happy and successful day.

To commemorate the occasion we had printed, with the kind donation of the Federation, calendars for the year 2012. These calendars were designed by Kamilla Springer and her friend in Poland Fr. Marek Borysiak. Mr Darius Ross donated at cost, wines for which we had labels made with a picture of the museum. These items sold extremely well and with raffles, stalls and sale of coffee, tea and Polish donuts we raised a little money. This has also been the first time we had the big Polish Wóz (cart) on display. On loan from the Dozynki Committee and decorated with sunflowers, red poppies and wheat, traditional Polish Festival Flowers. It was very much appreciated and admired by all especially our Australian Friends.

Anitta Maksymowicz, a Polish Historian and Curator from the Museum Ziemi Lubuskiej in Zielona Gora, Poland visited Australia in April 2012. Dr Maksymowicz was invited by the Lutheran Archives and Historic Community to attend a Congress on Genealogy and Heraldry held in Adelaide and very generously allowed us to have her for part of the time she stayed here. She visited the Museum at Seven Hills and was most impressed. The Immigrants who left Poznan and Selesia in the 1800’s is her special topic of study. Dr. Maksymowicz took many notes and photos of the museum and the Seven Hill cemetery where many of the Pioneers are buried and as a result we will benefit by receiving books on her research. It was interesting for us to receive her information and for her to see personally the land where so many years ago the Polish Migrants settled and also the newer migrants came to build their homes and lives after the war.

From a souvenir book: Polish Hill River, the first picnic

At the end of April some of the committee members made a tour of the Polish Hill Valley to see where all the homes were built by our Pioneers. It was a very informative and interesting tour guided by Mr Martin Smith a local farmer and land owner who is very involved in the history of the area. Martin showed us the ruins of homes and buildings that were constructed to house the Polish Pioneers and their families. Some of the home are still being used and are in good condition but many are only ruins, a few rocks left standing. A couple of the better ones have been rebuilt by Martin and are being used again. We scored a couple of interesting relics which will be a bonus in the museum and help show how life was in the past.

The windows in the church are badly deteriorated and in need of replacement. They are in the process of being replaced and the men of the committee led by John Sosnowski are spending time painting and fitting them to save some money. We have received some money from the Pioneer Descendants to help and hope to receive the balance through a grant for this project.

Another alteration that was very necessary was to change the locks in the museum. It had come to our notice that people were using the museum for personal use without our knowledge. For security and safety the locks were changed and anyone interested will still have access but the committee will know and control the visits.

The museum is opened and attended every first Sunday in the month by members of the committee. It also opens for any special occasions such as tours, picnics, pilgrimages and special visits. In the museum Adelaide has a valued historic place for research. It continues drawing many people to its interesting displays’ of both the early Pioneers and the more recent migrants. The committee work very hard to keep up the high standard for which it is known.

My thanks go for all the support and help given to me by the whole committee. Special thanks to the Curator, Mrs Luzna whose guidance and support is very much respected and valued. To John who takes upon himself the big job of repairing and maintaining the building, a true handyman. Special thanks to Marjory Smart and Patricia Dawson. These ladies open the museum to anyone wanting to visit out of hours and all those tour groups that book up for viewings. We are lucky to have these ladies and are grateful for their interest and help.

Grateful thanks to our “Friends of the Museum” a group of people who are always ready to come and help when the need arises. Without them it would sometimes be very hard to cope and their expertise is always appreciated. Thank you also Mr Glapa and Mr Skrzypczak and your bands of helpers who continue to maintain the property and help with the odd jobs in the museum.

Irena Sosnowski
Chairperson
PHRCM
29th May 2012

NEW COMMITTEE
Chairperson - Irena Sosnowski
Deputy - Danuta Krawiec
Secretary - Mary Greven
Treasurer - Edward Dudzinski
Curator - Krystyna Luzny
Curator Assist - Mary Greven
Gosia Skalban
Edward Dudzinski
Maintenance Co-ordinator – John Sosnowski
Rep. Polish Descendant Group - Alek Cmielewski
Rep for Polish Federation SA - Malgorzata Dutka.