The
outbreak of the
Second World War brought together two geographically distant countries,
Australia and Poland.The
Third Reich
invaded Poland at the dawn of the 1st
September
1939.Two days
later, Great Britain declared war on
Germany. “Australia
is also at war,
announces the Prime Minister, Hitler’s arbitrary policy must
be checked for
security of the world.”
– was the
headline of the newspaper Advocate
of Burnie (Tasmania) on 4 September 1939. With a subtitle: “Force
to check march of
force.”
PM
Robert Menzies stated:
“(T)he
peaceful adjustment of difference,
the rights of independent peoples to live their own lives, the
honouring of
international obligations and promises – all these things are
at stake.”
Dr
Lachlan Grant, a historian of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra,
has
identified numerous sources in their Research Centre collection
reflecting upon
Australian-Polish war time alliance.This
started as early as in 1940 during the
air battle of Britain.
Festivities, films, exhibitions,
dances and
songs about
Kosciuszko, Strzelecki and the Snowy Mountains, as well as the
Kosciuszko Run.
Aboriginal Art
in Australia
Paz
Domeyko
Aboriginal
art is the oldest art in the world. Lacking an alphabet, for
thousands of years aborigines used art to illustrate their stories,
legends and their spiritual beliefs. In the far north of
Australia much of their art was painted in natural pigments onto rocks
and caves. In the desert, where there was little vegetation,
the
paintings that were used during their ceremonies were created on the
ground, in differently coloured sands, seeds, vegetable pieces,
etc. The practice of painting on boards or canvas
is a very
recent one, started only about 50 years ago. More...
Western
heritage
Waldemar
Niemotko
Science
has opened new perspectives. Advancement in IT has prompted
talk about an “intelligent machine”, the human
factor being polarised within the dichotomy of an anonymous, brilliant
programmer and an anonymous, enslaved operator. A practical
materialism urgently needs a counterbalance in the form of a humanised
worldview, based on a well-proven legacy of Western, European heritage
still in competition, in Australia, with indigenous beliefs and
oriental philosophies. British underestimate is challenged by
American overestimate as a method in assessment of phenomena.
Interreligious
(interfaith) dialogue could be seen as an exchange of spiritual
gifts. It requires quite a skill in maintaining balance
between a
dialogue and a mission, in adherence to the Magisterium of the
Church. Pope John Paul II stated in March 2000: "What
dialogue
demands of all of us is that, holding to what we believe, we listen to
one another, seek to discern all that is good and holy in each other's
teachings, and cooperate in supporting everything that favours mutual
understanding and peace." The Pope invited the leaders of
different religions to pray together in Assisi (Italy) on 24 January
2002.
Laureates of
the 9thSydney Piano
Competition
2008 KrystynaNiemotko
The
9th International Piano Competition in Sydney was brought to
the end
on 2 August 2008. There were thirty six young participants.
All
contenders were well prepared, especially in technical terms.
Therefore, the jury was faced with a difficult task. There
were five
stages. Nominations in the first and second stages were done
jointly.
Twenty pianists were admitted to the third stage, twelve to the fourth
and only six to the fifth one.
Ninth Sydney
Piano
Competition 2008
Krystyna
Niemotko
The
Sydney International Piano Competition of Australia is considered to be
one of the most prestigious piano competitions in the world.
It is
organised every four years in Sydney, under the auspices of the Cladan
Cultural Exchange Institute of Australia, in association with the
University of Sydney and the Australian Broadcasting
Corporation.
The imminent ninth piano competition is due to take place from 2nd to
19th July 2008. Five Australians are among 36 pianists
selected to compete, namely: John Fisher, David Fung, Adam Herd, Hoang
Pham and Alexy Yemtson.
National
Edition of the Complete Works of Fryderyk Chopin
Krystyna
Niemotko
In 2010 the 200th year
anniversary of the birth of Frederick Chopin
will take place. He was one of the most famous composers of
the
romantic music period. At this time in Warsaw The 16th
Frederick
Chopin International Piano Competition will occur. This is
one of
the most important contests in piano, for a single composer. For many years
pianists have
pondered the best way to perform the works of Frederick
Chopin.
Until now the Warsaw-based PWM, Polish edition .
In
the music department of a school in Sydney, there hangs a portrait of
Witold Lutosławski with his autograph and dedication to Ravenswood
School for Girls in Gordon, dated 25th of September
1987. Witold
Lutosławski was one of the most famous Polish
composers of the 20th Century.He
was born in Warsaw in 1913 and died there in 1994.He
studied to become a composer, pianist and
conductor ...
Distressed
refugees from Iraq have brought with them bizarre experiences
to Europe. They told the stories in their native Arabic, then followed
a
translation into the language of the host country and, eventually, into
English.Human
tragedy is universal...
The
Mesopotamia Cyber Tower: An Iraqi Refugee Tells His Story Prepared
by international team
Countries of
the European Union do their best in offering a shelter and new hope to
Iraqi refugees. Those distressed people brought with them all sorts of
bizarre experiences. They told stories in their native Arabic, then
followed a translation into the language of the host country and,
eventually, into English. The material traversed the globe for the
final editing process here down under to match the Australian spirit
of compassion to those in misery. The main objective at hand is to
preserve the authenticity of original testimonies.
Gold
and silver treasures were shipped to the Spanish Kingdom during three
centuries. Initially gold objects from Inca temples were
melted
down
and brought to Spain. Later the Spaniards modernised the mining
industry andminted gold, silver and copper coins on site before
shipping. The first leg was the Peru–Panama route,
followed
by a land
transportation to the Caribbean Gulf and, then, entering
another
sea
leg to Spain. Up to 25 per cent of all ships capsized,
heavily
loaded
with valuables.
The
9th International Piano Competition in Sydney was brought to
the end
on 2 August 2008. There were thirty six young participants.
All
contenders were well prepared, especially in technical terms.
Therefore, the jury was faced with a difficult task. There
were five
stages. Nominations in the first and second stages were done
jointly.
Twenty pianists were admitted to the third stage, twelve to the fourth
and only six to the fifth one. 
