| On Wednesday 9 October 2024, Anthony Sharwood, an Australian-born journalist/author launched his third book in his Australian alpine trilogy “Kosciuszko, the Incredible Life of the Man Behind the Mountain”. His first two books were “From Snow to Ash” and “The Brumby Wars”. The launch was held at Rockdale Library.
A delegation from the Embassy of Poland, Canberra (Lukasz Graban) as well as the Consulate of Poland in Sydney (Mariusz Stus) were invited to the book launch as well as members of KHI represented by Vice President Urszula Lang, Krzysztof Kozek representing dr Ernestyna Skurjat-Kozek the President and prof. Andrzej Kozek a Vice President of the KHI and Felix Molski.
Just about every Australian Pole knows that Australia’s highest mainland peak, Mt Kosciuszko, was named in honour of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, by the Polish explorer Sir Paul Edmund Strzelecki, when he ascended the mountain in 1840.
Anthony’s latest book is about the life and achievements of General Tadeusz Kosciuszko. It is a great read, and I personally could not put it down as soon as I bought it on the day it was released. It’s a history book with history in a readable and entertaining form, with Aussie style wise-cracks and humour together with unique personal insights. There are important and interesting facts uncovered in each chapter and explained as Anthony discovers them on his journeys – through the Australian alpine area, the United States, Poland and Switzerland. There is even a chapter which mentions the Polish Community in Sydney, and their efforts to promote Kosciuszko.
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As a KHI Director, I believe that Anthony Sharwood has fulfilled KHI’s dream of getting knowledge about Kosciuszko (and Strzelecki) out to the Australian public. Anthony has done this in a brilliant and effective way. KHI chipped away at the challenge over the 17 years of its existence, with festivals, articles, competitions, pamphlets, and numerous major undertakings such as taking members of the Aboriginal community to Poland. Much was achieved, but it was never enough. Most Australians simply do not know or possibly do not feel a need to know about why Mt Kosciuszko bears such a difficult-to-spell Polish name.
Anthony, through his book, has done it in one huge swoop. Moved us huge steps forward in the task. KHI is both thrilled and grateful to Anthony for telling people about who Kosciuszko was, what he achieved and what he stood for. Anthony says that Australians should know about Kosciuszko because he was a great man and had an incredible life. Of course, we Poles agree.
Anthony then does what he calls “the U-turn”, raising the matter of the proposal to rename Australia’s highest mountain with an aboriginal name. He mentions a few of the names which have been put forward, but also acknowledges that there were other names, including a name known by the Monero-Ngarigo, the traditional owners of the lands which include Kosciuszko National Park and of course Mt Kosciuszko. The Monero-Ngarigo have not yet disclosed their name for the mountain. Chris Griffiths, a Ngarigo elder once said on the ABC that the Spirits of the Mountain will reveal the name when they are ready.
Anthony calls for a respectful and informed discussion on the matter of the re-naming of Mt Kosciuszko, taking into account the views of all stakeholders. He concludes that, in the end, the traditional owners should have the final say. He also says that Kosciuszko would have wanted it that way.
I can’t help holding a deep hope that the traditional owners will agree to retain the name of Kosciuszko. Anthony’s book tells us all so much about Kosciuszko, and its important that the story is told by an Aussie. No matter how many times we Poles were to tell the story of Kosciuszko, we will always be seen as biased. Now, hopefully, Australians will view this differently.
Renowned author Tom Keneally (author of Schindler’s Ark, on which the movie Schindler’s List was based) spoke at the book launch and commended it highly, as did Anthony’s editor/publisher Sophie Hamley.
A crowd of around 55 people gathered to celebrate the publication of the Kosciuszko Book, and to snack on some Polish “kielbasa, smoked highland cheese and ogorki” prepared by Tony Lang. Smallgoods were purchased from Narel Smallgoods and the popular “pickles” to die for, were in fact home-preserved ogorki (cucumbers) by Tony.
“Whether or not his name stays on the mountain, it turns out that Kosciuszko is the hero the world needs right now” (from the book cover).
Urszula Lang, Vice President of Kosciuszko Heritage Incorporated, 11 October 2024 | 
