Robert and Jessie

"My Dubbo experience made me realise how much Lajkonik has grown since I first joined. The trip made us all really discover each other's personalities and also gave us a chance to really connect with Pani Ula. We had many laughs and funny moments that not even Kodak was able capture :) But these memories will definitely be with us for the rest of our lives, and hopefully bring us together as a strong and independent Ensemble. I think we should really thank the people in Dubbo who made us feel really welcome - as well as our very experienced bus driver who made us laugh uncontrollably the majority of the ride home. Dubbo was an experience I'm sure , we will never forget" (Jesse Murphy)

"I thought it was nice that in a small group it made it easy to stick together and look after each other. We were able to share each other’s food and music, take photos along the way and enjoy each other's company. It was also nice that a few members of the Polish community hosted us for the weekend. They warmly welcomed us and made sure we were looked after and I hope that one day Lajkonik can do the same for them" (Joasia Krol).

"Dubbo trip was an exciting experience for all of us. We met new friends at the concert, felt the chilly winds of the City, enjoyed hot chocolates in cafes, and had an AWESOME 7 hour trip on the ‘Puls Polonii’ bus, thanks to the bus driver, Pan Wiesiek. I speak for all of us when I say that we want to go back, and show the Dubbo community our POLISH PRIDE!" (by Patricia Zajaczkowski).

And now, the full story!

A few months ago, Pani Marzena Leszczynska contacted Puls Polonii about the feasibility of inviting a Polish Dance Group to the annual Dubbo Multicultural Festival.

Lajkonik jumped at the chance but we didn't know what kind of arrangements were possible. Obviously there are some serious costs associated with this sort of trip ie bus, accommodation etc.

Well it all came to fruition thanks to the efforts of Poles in Dubbo and the generosity of Dubbo City Council. Mrs Gwen Young of the Dubbo Neighbourhood centre, together with the Multicultural Festival Committee, made it all happen.

After a gruelling rehearsal last Friday night until 10.30pm, 4 pairs from Lajkonik met at the Mitas residence at 11am in Casula on Saturday morning of the 26th September, 2009, where the bus with the Puls Polonii Logo was waiting with its one-in-a million bus driver, Pan Wiesiek Regulski. Everyone was on time and ready to go! This included Jesse Murphy, Daniel Dulski, Patricia Zajaczkowska, Joasia Krol, Andrzej Mitas, Robert Chorobski, David Chorobski.

We picked up our eighth team member, Ola Wojcik, on the way at Blair Athol, and then headed up the Great Northern Road to Penrith and on through the Blue Mountains. It was windy.

By the time we clamoured out of the bus at Lithgow for lunch at Mackers, it was freezing.

Past Bathurst it was raining with a bit of sleet and snow.

We got to Dubbo just after six, and in the dark, it was hard to find our motel. With the help of some locals, and a bit of bumbling around with maps with small lettering, we finally got there, and quickly sorted our costumes to head off down to the Dubbo City Council Civic Hall where a gathering of 540 people were already tucking into a massive multicultural feast! Pani Dorota Pierzchalski and a few other local Poles were waiting to welcome us.

The performance started at 8pm and we were fifth on the programme after the Bhangra Group - Platinum Indian Entertainment, Fijian, a Chinese singer and Filipinos.

We decided to do Tance Sadeckie first (dances from the Sacz region) and the sound system, for some unknown reason, did not particularly like our CD format and created additional pauses between dances and songs in our choreographed suite. At about ¾ distance, the music cut out completely. Not a problem, we just oriented ourselves, worked out what was happening, and just kept going in perfect time completing the dance to huge applause by the audience who also sat wondering how we would handle the issue. Confirmation was received later, that they were really impressed with our efforts.

Our second dance, Polonez in C Major to music composed by Kosciuszko, and Kujawiak-Oberek went without a hitch!

A final part of the programme was some participation Bollywood style dancing led by the Bhangra Group, and this was lots of fun!

The event finished around 11pm, by which time we were exhausted, and happy to head back to the motel. Most of us were too tired to eat our dinner which was provided at our table after the performances.

Back at the motel, we were able to relax and wind down. The motel was the Park Vue Motel, just a budget motel, but very nice and comfortable.

On Sunday morning, at 9am, Pan Wiesiek took us by bus down to Hungry Jacks where we had been given vouchers for breakfast. Pani Dorota and her husband came to join us and thank us for coming to Dubbo. With tears in their eyes, they said they would love to have us back next year. A further kind donation was given to be used for our lunch back to Sydney.

Indian Dancers

Robert and Andrzej practicing Bollywood

We left at 10am after coming to the conclusion that we really needed a whole day to properly do sight seeing in Dubbo (ie Dubbo Zoo) and that next year we would come for at least 2 nights, 3 days.

On the way back, we drove around the Mt Panorama racing circuit in Bathurst (the bus struggled a bit up the mountain), and after light-hearted talk of doing two-wheelers round bends and what would happen if …… anyway, we won't worry our parents with the detail of that ….. suffice to say, it was fun!

In the bus, we had some great discussions about Lajkonik, Polart Adelaide, school, religion and many other topics etc. We all got to know each other a little better.

Lunch was in a lovely café at Blackheath (funded by our new friends the Pierzchalskis), and we arrived back at the Wojcik's at around 5pm, where parents were waiting for us with a superb barbeque dinner. Here we recounted our experiences, and Robert and Andrzej showed off the Bollywood moves which they had learnt in Dubbo!

And that wasn't all, after a bit of a rest and dinner, it was back into our costumes, back onto the bus, and on to perform at the lovely Sylvia Kowalik's wedding at the Orso Waterfront Restaurant in Mosman. We picked up Emma Vanolini on the way through Liverpool and had a good run through the City on the Freeways, with a bit of a long wait before performing at 9.30pm. We were pretty tired but satisfied because everything had gone so well.

What a weekend! Thanks to everyone who contributed in some way to making it all come together exactly according to plan, and especially the busdriver who was just great and very patient!

Daniel solo