1950
The arrival in Fremantle, Western Australia of 1,179 former Polish deportees to the Soviet Union (largely women and children) on the ship General W. C. Langfitt. This group of Polish refugees had spent the previous five years or more in British East Africa.
The first Polish sports club in Australia to be established in Adelaide. Its name "Polonia" was to be replicated with other Polish soccer and sports clubs around Australia, including Melbourne and Sydney.
The first Polish dance group in Melbourne, Krakowiacy, is established under the auspice of the Polish Association of Victoria based at Roma House, Melbourne.
In Sydney the establishment of the Federal Council of Polish Associations in Australia (Rada Naczlena Polskich Oranizacji w Australii) - a federal body coordinating and overviewing Polish community life in Australia. This was an extremely forward thinking move for a community which was just beginning to establish basic structures and activities.
The sports club Polonia is established in Melbourne - with soccer, ping-pong, volleyball and basketball sections. Within ten years the team is to be Victoria soccer state champions.
The establishment of the Polish Drama Club in Sydney.
he establishment of a Polish club in Bathurst, New South Wales.
The establishment of a Polish community library and reading room in Brisbane, Queensland.
The performance of Krumilowski's play "The Fisherman's Vows" (Sluby Rybackie) by the Polish Drama Club in Melbourne, with the participation of a newly established choir.
The appearance of the independent weekly "Echo" published in Western Australia by Ludwik Tabaczynski.
The establishment of the Polish Social Welfare Bureau in Sydney, under the auspices of the Polish Democratic Association (Polskie Towarzystwo Demokratyczne).
The establishment of the Polish Club in Canberra, with its first President, Mr. Trawinski.
1951
The arrival of the Polish Jesuit, Rev. Jozef Janus SJ, who becomes a major driving force in Polish community life in Melbourne.
A mass commemorating the Polish National Day (3rd of May) is celebrated in Sydney by Cardinal Thomas Gilroy, in the presence of over 2,500 Polish people.
The first meeting of the Marian Sodality (Sodalicja Marianska) in Melbourne.
In Sydney, the establishment of the Polish Australian Fund (Fundusz Wieczysty) under the auspice of the Federal Council of Polish Associations in Australia. The aim of the Fund is to be a perpetual trust to support the activities of the Polish community.
The establishment of the first state Polish umbrella body (Komisja Koordynacyjna w Wiktorii) in Victoria. Its members are the Polish Association, the Polish Scouting Movement and the Polish Catholic organisation.
The establishment of the Polish Technical Club (Kolo Technikow) in Melbourne. Its first president is Mr Stanislaw Blum.
The establishment of a a new drama club in Adelaide.
These pages will be constantly updated with milestones. If you have any additions or ammendments please send us an email.
