A.Kozek by Kris Malek

It is the 181st anniversary of the day Paul Edmund Strzelecki and his team trekked from the Hey & Chalmers’ farm in Welaregang to ascend Muniang, the Snowy Mountains. Strzelecki’s 1840 expedition is well remembered in Australian history. It introduced the name ‘Kosciuszko’ to the highest peak of mainland Australia (Mt Kosciuszko), to the highest range of the Snowies (Kosciuszko Massif), as well as to the National Park (Kosciuszko National Park), and contributed to 'Kosciuszko' eponymously becoming one of Australia’s tourist and commercial icons. Kosciuszko Beer, and Wines, and Chairlift, and Vodka are well known businesses in the region. And “The Kosciuszko” the world’s richest race for country trained horses will be run again in October this year.

We are proud to be here, in Welaregang and Tumbarumba, North-West to the Kosciuszko Massif and to Mt Kosciuszko. We are proud to promote the discoveries and heritage of Strzelecki in Australia and of the fact that the highest peak of continental Australia bears the name Kosciuszko - a Polish born international hero and fighter for freedom and equal rights for all.

Kosciuszko was never in Australia but we are proud that both Strzelecki and Kosciuszko have withstood the tests of time. Both are remembered as Friends of Humanity. Both are remembered as great Friends of Indigenous People. We are proud that Strzelecki in his travels respected indigenous rights and customs and that in his Gold Medal winning monograph he wrote respectfully about indigenous Australian culture. Kosciuszko in his famous Will left all his American assets to free and educate African American slaves. It is estimated that Strzelecki as a volunteer saved over two hundred thousand Irish children from starvation in the Great Potato Famine. The exhibition unveiled today refers to these events.

Let us recall why Mt Kosciuszko is so deeply valued by Polish people. It was named in 1840 at a time when Poles had been dispossessed of their land, having been carved up by Russia, Prussia, and Austria.

A hundred years later, commemorative plaques, partly funded by the school children of Australia, were unveiled on Mt Kosciuszko. At this time newspapers across Australia were reporting that the invading Germans were destroying Kosciuszko’s monuments in occupied Poland. The oppressors hated this world symbol of liberty. At the unveiling ceremony on Australia’s highest summit each speaker pointed out that while tyrants were destroying Kosciuszko monuments in Poland, the school children of Australia were memorializing his name here.

Prof. Kozek during celebrations in Tumbarumba. Photo Kris Malek

Like many indigenous nations people of Polish heritage know what it means to be erased from the map. From distant Australia, Mt Kosciuszko was telling the World that Poland would not vanish. We recognize the indigenous presence in Australia and in the region. With great empathy, we have befriended the Monaro Ngarigo from the Eastern part of Kosciuszko, where the monument of Strzelecki was unveiled in 1988. They took part in our celebrations, in Kosciuszko Festivals and we reciprocated by taking part in NAIDOC Days and other celebrations. We organized Polish-Ngarigo fraternity flights over Mt Kosciuszko in 2012, 2013 and 2017 and are proud to have given Ngarigo Elders the opportunity to view Mt Kosciuszko from above. On the Bicentennial of Kosciuszko’s death, we brought a group of Ngarigo Elders and leaders to Poland, to see the famous symbolic tomb of Kosciuszko, the Kosciuszko Mound, so similar in profile to Australia’s highest summit.

We believe it is worthwhile for Aussie youth to discover the wonderful stories of two men behind Mt Kosciuszko. We believe we have sparked interest in Strzelecki and Kosciuszko by organizing various school competitions. Still, on this side of the Mountain a new chapter is ahead of us.

Tumbarumba Function Hall, March 9th 2021

Michael Blenkins, Principal of the Tumbarumba High School. Photo Kris Malek

Anastasia Wilesmith, winner of KHI competition, with her Mum. Photo Kris Malek

Michael Organ's speech on You Tube - here