What is embarrassing to Polonia in NSW is that the 2017 Polish Christmas did not go ahead due to "a shortage of funds". Why was there a shortage of money? Did the Polish Christmas committee not apply for the relevant funding via the Australian Polonia foundations, Australian federal and state government grants or the Poland grants?

In this day and age, it is totally unacceptable to say that a key iconic event like Polish Christmas is cancelled due to lack of funds! Funds are available from multiple sources, they just need to be accessed. Furthermore, why hasn't there been a fund raising drive within the Polonia community for funds? (especially if there are tax deductible foundations that support the Polish Christmas event). People would be proud to donate, but there is no formalisation of this and no method of doing so.

As Polonia we have a collective duty to ensure that events like Polish Christmas do go ahead each year. The event not only generates pride in our own community, it also showcases us to the broader community. Maybe the existing committee members should contact the Polish Festival committee members in Melbourne to order to get advice on how to make a festival work, year after year, as they seem to have a very successful formula. There is a lot to be said in working together and sharing sources of success.

The biggest question that most people in Polonia are asking is, what next needs to happen?

Links to federal and state government grants:

www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1516/Quick_Guides/ComGrants

NSW Multicultural grants:

multicultural.nsw.gov.au/grants

NSW Cultural grants:

www.create.nsw.gov.au/category/funding-and-support/

Kind Regards
krzylo@live.com.au