AHD Hercegovina raise $30,000 for construction of church in Rodoc near Mostar

On the 3rd of May in the Croatian Catholic Centre in Sunshine, Melbourne a humanitarian lunch was organised by AHD Hercegovina organisation. $30,000 was raised to assist in the construction of the church Sv. Ivan Krstitelj in Rodoc near Mostar. The parish of Rodoc has 3,000 souls and with the assistance of Croats at home and the diaspora will obtain the necessary funds for the construction of their church.

Street names with a Croatian flavour

There are a number of streets in Australia with a Croatian flavour. In Sydney and Melbourne we find streets named Croatia Place. In Sydney there is also a Croatia Avenue. In Sydney is found Dalmatia Street and Dalmatia Avenue. Melbourne has Adriatic Circuit and Zagreb Circuit. Other street names in Sydney include Bosnjak Avenue, Zagreb Place and Markovina Street.

If you know of any other street names in Australia with a Croatian flavour please leave us your comments.

Australian premiere of the documentary "Searching for a storm"

"Searching for a storm" a documentary on General Ante Gotovina will premiere in the following locations throughout Australia

Croatian Dom Footscray Friday 8 May 7.30 pm
Croatian Club King Tomislav Friday 15 May 2009 6.30pm
Croatian Club Sydney at Punchbowl Friday 22 May 2009 7.30 pm.
O Connor Dom in Canberra Saturday 9 May 7pm
Croatian Sports Centre Adelaide 10 May 5 pm
Croatian Community Centre Brisbane Sunday 10 May 2 pm
Australian Croatian Association Geelong Sunday 10 May 6.30 pm
Gold Coast Dom Friday 8 May 7 pm
Croatian Community Centre Freemantle Friday 8 May 7 pm

Searching for a Storm screenings

Croatian artists sculpture "Australian Farmer" unveiled

Wudinna a small Eyre Highway town of about 600 people, 570 kilometres north-west of Adelaide a granite sculpture has been carved by Croatian artist Marijan Bekic and his son David. The "Australian Farmer" represents the commitment and spirit of rural people. The sculpture was unveiled on the 16th of April, 2009.

Sculptor Marijan Bekic
"Australian Farmer" sculpture

Australian Croatian Club Wodonga celebrates 50th anniversary

Australian Croatian Club Wodonga celebrates its 50th anniversary on the 25th of April 2009.

Club milestone ready to party
Croatian Club Wodonga 50th anniversary

Australian Croatian Club O'Connor celebrating 40th anniversary

Tha Australian Croatian Club O'Connor in Canberra celebrated its 40th anniversary between the 24th - 26th of April 2009.

40th anniversary brochure

Croatian Easter traditions

Easter is a significant religious period during the year for Croatians around the world filled with many traditions. Below are Croatian traditions followed in the diaspora.

Easter in Croatia
Easter traditions in Croatia
Hrvatski Uskrsni obicaji
Pisanica - a decorated Easter egg

Tarara Day 2009

Tarara Day celebrates the union of the Maori and Croatian cultures in New Zealand. This year 14500 people attended the event. Croatian-Maori descendants have the opportunity to celebrate their cultures and learn more about their heritage.

The Following text appears in the website
Our People - New Zealanders 'Kiwis'.
In the 1880s when the first Dalmatians came to New Zealand, the Austro-Hungarian empire ruled Dalmatia, which is on the Adriatic coast of the Mediterranean. Through this they were often mistakenly called 'Austrians' in New Zealand. Dalmatians clustered together in the gum fields of the Far North, where they lived in rough huts constructed from manuka poles and sacking.. Their days were spent deep in trenches and swampy holes where the prized kauri gum lay buried. Eventually with time, the land did offer a better way of life, with some diggers becoming farmers in the north while others started vineyards. Today the founders' names read like a who's who of New Zealand wine - Babich (1919), Selak (1934), Yukich (Montana Wines, 1944), Nobilo (1943) and Delegat (1947). Their wine was scorned at first and nicknamed Dally-plonk. Prejudice and ignorance hounded the Dalmatians for many years. Harsh rules that favoured the British made it increasingly difficult for them to dig for gum. During the First World War they were mistakenly called ‘Austrians’ and treated as enemies.

Dalmatians got on very well with Māori of the Far North - Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa, Ngati Kahu and Ngati Kuri, who dubbed them ‘tarara’ - ‘fast talkers’. Intermarriage occurred, producing some significant figures such as Dame Mira Szászy, one of the outstanding Māori women leaders of the 20th Century, and the first Māori woman to graduate with a degree from The University of Auckland. She was a former President of The Māori Women's Welfare League. Dalmatians and others from the former Yugoslavia are proud of their heritage. Their hard-working attitude and contribution to the country is well recognised, especially in Northland and Auckland, where the term ‘Dally’ is now one of affection.

Tarara Day 2009 brochure
Croatian-Maori Day Celebration
Maori and Croat join in festivities
Tarara: Croats and Maori in New Zealand

Be Croative exhibition

Over the last couple of weeks Croats in Australia have been given the opportunity to visit the "Be Croative" exhibition which will featuring a display of Croatian products, inventions and cultural heritage. The exhibition will be on display in Australia's major cities.

"Be Croative" promotion
Discovering the creative side of Croatia
"Be Croative" exhibition in Sydney 16th-19th of April, 2009

Anniversary of Croatia's recognition of independence by Australia

Today is the anniversary of Australia's recognition of Croatia's independence on 16 January 1992.
Minister for foreign affairs media release

50th anniversaries celebrated by Sydney United (formerly Sydney Croatia) and Canberra FC (formerly Canberra Croatia)

Sydney United and Canberra FC both celebrated their 50th anniversaries towards the end of 2008. More information can be obtained from the following websites
Sydney United Wikipedia website
Canberra FC Wikipedia website

Croatian Christmas traditions

Croatians in Australia like to carry on their traditions once they arrived in Austalia. Some of the websites recording some of the Croatian Christmas traditions can be found in the following websites

Croatian tradional Christmas songs
Christmas in Croatia
Croatian Christmas tradions by James Monti published in The Magnificat Advent 2006

Planting of wheat on feast day of St. Lucy

On the 13th of December which is St. Lucy's feast day many Croatian mothers plant wheat grains in a round dish or plate of soil The seeds germinate and the shoots are several inches high by Christmas. Then the new green shoots, may be tied with a ribbon, if desired, and a candle may be placed near them as a symbol of the Light of Christ. The sprouted wheat is placed near the Nativity set where it will remind all that Christ, the Bread of Life, was born in Bethlehem.

Celebrating the feast day of Saint Nicholas (Sveti Nikola)

Saint Nicholas (Sveti Nikola) has his feast day on the 6th of December. As youngsters I recall being taken by dad, mum brothers and sister to the Croatian Club or park nearby (Hollywood Park) in Landsvale, Sydney where there would be lots of entertainment for the children, a barbecue and music. The highlight was the handing out of presents by Saint Nicholas and having your photo taken with him. Lots of fun and laughter eventuated as the children opened up their presents. A fun day had by all.

Do you have any childhood recollections of celebrating Christmas in Australia within the Croatian community?
Please leave your comments below

Croatian connection to the Coat of Arms of Australia

Troyano Darveniza (Drvenica)was born in Trnovica near Dubrovnik. In 1871 he registered his winery under the name Excelsior Vineyards. The logo which appeared on all his wine bottles included the kangaroo and the emu.

The other colonies tried to copy the design but they ran into copyright infringements. In 1901, the Federal Commonwealth government of Australia wanted to use the distinct design features. After some discussion, Mr Darveniza allow free use of the design. And in 1912, the current Commonwealth Coat of Arms warrant was granted by George V on September 19. The trademark is still in use today for the Darveniza’s family long running vineyard in Mooroopna.

Mission statement in Croatian

Hrvatski arhiv Australija Inc. uspostavljen je kao ustanova koja će voditi brigu i pokušati sačuvati za trajnu uspomenu pokoljenjima koja će doći važne dokumente iz naše prošle povijesti, iz života Hrvata Australije, i to na jednom mjestu, što bi onda olakšalo svima zainteresiranim osobama lakše studiranje, istraživanje i pisanje djelotvorne povijesti Hrvata Australije.

Iako je Arhiv osnovan u Sydneyu, to ne znači da se sakuplja samo gradivo ovoga područja, već i sve ono što je vrijedno i potrebno sačuvati bez obzira gdje se dogodilo.

Što su pokušava sačuvati?

1. Pisano i objavljeno blago o Hrvatima, drugim riječima povijesne Rezolucije društava i ustanova, društveni proglasi i važne obavijesti iz zajednice.
2. Važan izrezak iz australskih (ili hrvatskih novina) koji je povijesno važan, ne samo u vrijeme kada se to dogodilo, već i sada i za povijest budućnosti.
3. Izrađeni povijesni predmeti (izvorni-.originalni) kao razne čestitke i ostali promidžbeni predmeti, što treba sačuvati.
4. Društvena značke, iskaznice, manji ornamenti koji podsjećaju na aktivnosti hrvatske zajednice Australije. Diplome Hrvatskih etničkih škola.
5. Slike Hrvatskih domova, crkvenih ustanova, i športskih ustanova.
6. Kako su pojedina društva izdala svoje spomen knjige, to bi bilo poželjno da jedna takva knjiga završi u Hrvatskom arhivu Australije.

Evo štovani, to je jedan dio naše aktivnosti. Sada želimo preći na onaj drugi. Zahvaljujući Hrvatskom društvu Sydney osigurana je prostorija za nesmetano djelovanje Hrvatskog arhiva. Zahvaljujući drugim dobročiniteljima, uspjeli smo nabaviti, kupiti najpotrebnije rekvizite za početak rada, računalo, namještaj u uredu, potrebne police, kutije za sačuvanje gradiva i drugo. No još nam je mnogo toga potrebno, već kako zatražuje državni ured gdje smo član, i koji nam služi za promidžbu među Australcima.

Ovim pismom se umoljavate ako bi nas mogli i novčano pomoći, u vašim granicama, a budite uvjereni da će vašom pomoći Hrvatski arhiv još uspješnije djelovati. Za sve ostale informacije obratiti se na naš naslov. Za slanje Vašeg priloga, naslovite ček, ili Money Order na: Croatian Archive Australia Inc.

Croatian Archive Association of Australia Committee

Croatian Archive Association of Australia project

This blog has been created as a precursor to an official website of the Croatian Archive Association of Australia