Wiktoria
Ziarkowska for PATV
Bielany Fest 2006.
On Sunday, March 26, 2006, Przyjaciele
Bielan, or the Friends of Bielany, hosted another
of the annual Bielany Fests, signifying the close of season
at the Polish-owned site.
The Friends of Bielany commenced their
work eight years ago when a small group of
people decided something needed to be done regarding Bielany’s
detrimental financial
situation.
President of the group, Mr. Edward Krupa
comments that eight years ago, the future of
Bielany was bleak. It could have, like many other ethnic
community camp sites in the
area, have been bought out.
Fortunately for the Polish community in
Sydney, however, the Friends of Bielany group
has been holding events like today’s gathering to redirect
probability.
For Mr. Krupa the motivation for his involvement
in Friends of Bielany was inspired by
his interest in nature, and his fondness of the aesthetic potential
of Bielany on the Colo
River, so close to Sydney.
However, it is fundamentally important that Bielany continues
to exist for the Polish
community. It provides a meeting point where, as Mrs.
Iza Stempien, Friends of Bielany
Secretary says, friends can get together, new friends can be
made, and where children can
interact with fellow Polish Australians along the river bank.
Indeed, the location is a beautiful one, and one that combines
the essence of Polish-
Australia. One can sit in the shade of a eucalypt, listening
to “Płynie Wisła Płynie” or
“Ukraina” blaring from the amphitheatre,
eating pierogi and following with a cool VB.
Mrs. Lacek, a mother of three sons brought up in the dancing
and scouting tradition, and
teacher at the Polish School in Ashfield says that the Polish
community is enhancing
Australian culture.
Indeed, the event is one where the Polish culture is reinforced. The
annual Bielany Fest
is based on the arrival of representatives of Polish culture,
from small business to not-for-
profit organizations.
Mrs. Stempien says it’s an opportunity from them to promote
their business or recruit or
raise funds for their cause, and demonstrate the active status
of our community by
reinforcing regular attendance at the events.
Every year the event begins with a midday mass at the outdoor
chapel. It is followed by
a day of entertainment, and concludes with a picnic, typically
made up of traditional
dishes cooked up for fundraising purposes.
This year, according to Mrs. Wiesława Szupryczyńska,
there were more stalls and more
people in attendance than ever, and all the Sydney based folkloric
dance groups were
represented.
Mrs. Ula Bryguła, mother of three scouting youths, was also
very satisfied with the
diverse and interesting nature of the stalls prepared for the
day.
As well as raising funds for their organizations, the dance groups
and organisations
performed for an excited crowd gathered in the amphitheatre.
Lajkonik’s middle group performed enthusiastically, dancing
in traditional kierpce
(leather slippers) and using canes adding a theatrical element
to their dance. They
demonstrated real attitude and enthusiasm, singing loud and proud,
and presenting giant
smiles to their audience.
Polish school students from across Sydney brought smiles to the
faces of their spectators,
who repeated the words of Jan Brzechwa’s poetry in time
with the performance, and who
giggled about the acting ability of a certain little brunette
with a romantic attachment to
the microphone.
Backstage, the excitement continued, as Syrenka prepared for
their performance,
rehearsing moves at the last minute, talking quickly, detracting
from their nervousness.
Skirts were twirled and shoes were tapped, as the boss sat with
a stressed expression,
himself anxious, trying to explain final instructions to a group
of boys.
The event was not about the performances, however; they simply
accentuated the
atmosphere of the day. Mrs. Bryguła, with a smile
on her face, mentioned that she lost
her children, but that the weather was perfect and everyone was
smiling and seemed
happy.
Mrs. Stempień agreed, commenting that the day must have
been a success if all the beer
was sold out long before the days’ end. She said
the day was very pleasant, and that it
was encouraging to see so many people attending, being mindful
of the fact that for
many, Bielany is quite a drive away from home.
Mr. Krupa states the obvious. Bielany is a beautiful place
at the disposure of the Polish
community, but if it is neglected, our liberty to celebrate our
culture at the site will be
lost. Hence, it is important to be mindful of the fun
that was had at Bielany Fest 2006,
and to look forward to 2007.
Please keep checking our site, particularly when Bielany reopens,
for coming events and
activities at our park and campsite.
Wiktoria Ziarkowska
CENTRAL WESTERN NSW CORRESPONDENT
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