| The 2010 Bielany Festival was held on Sunday 7th of March. Bielany is on the banks of the Colo River about 80 kilometers from Sydney. The area was a picture of greenness after recent rainfall. The day began with great black ominous clouds rolling into the Sydney basin and threatening a drenching that Melbourne got the day before.
Fortunately we got a cloudy day but otherwise a wonderful warm, rainless day.
I was on the Polish Association Cabramatta bus which brought seniors to the festival. For some of the seniors this was their first visit to the area.The attendance at the festival was smaller than last year, presumably due to the threat of nasty wet weather, but there were enough of us there to have a great relaxing time. The organisors of the festival, the Foundation of NSW, and their volunteers worked hard to make the facilities available. We thank them for their work on our behalf.
Two food stalls, Polonez Smallgoods and Podhale Folklore Ensemble, served the hundreds of visitors, as well as the kitchen of the Polish Foundation of NSW. A Christian religious group provided balloons for the children.
Singing and dancing entertainment was provided by children from Polish Schools around Sydney, Podhale Folklore Ensemble’s middle and junior group and a Christian religious group. It was wonderful to see so many young performers taking part in the festival.
Mass was celebrated by Fr. Artur Botur, from Ashfield Parish. The Polish Consul General, Mr. Daniel Gromann, attended the festival with his family.
We thank the committee and other volunteers for organizing the festival and making us welcome. See you there next year.
Henry Iglinski
| 
