The former patron of Kosciuszko Heritage, Lech Paszkowski (1919 – 2013), has been remembered in tributes as a great writer and member of the Polish community in Australia.
“He gave us Poles in Australia our identity, and identity does not come about without a long chain of generations,” said the President of Kosciuszko Heritage, Ernestyna Skurjat-Kozek. “Lech wrote about known Polish Australians and heroes such as Paul Edmund Strzelecki, patiently and painstakingly gathering material for many years. He left us truly golden books.”
“The Polish community in Australia has suffered a great loss. Its distinguished representative, Lech Krzysztof Paszkowski – a writer, journalist, author and editor of historical works, and researcher of the history of the Australian Polish community – has died,” said Witold Lukasiak, a Kosciuszko Heritage committee member. “His departure has ended an important period in the history of our Polish community. The literary and historical-biographical achievements left by Lech Paszkowski have placed him in the forefront of Polish writers in the world.”
“The death of Mr. Lech Paszkowski has left the Australian Polish community enveloped in grief,” said Marysia Thiele. “Our dear and well-respected Author will be remembered as the most powerful writer and journalist of the Australian Polish community, a writer whose work has brought back the memory of hundreds of Poles lost in a strange land, Australia, often living heart and soul in a distant and unattainable country.”
The funeral for Lech Paszkowski (18th July 1919 – 24th April 2013) took place on April 30, 2013, at St Ignatius’ Church, Richmond, Melbourne.
Lech Krzysztof Paszkowski, the former Patron of Kosciuszko Heritage (photo: Puls Polonii) 
Paszkowski’s son, Romuald, reflects on the life of his father at the funeral (photo: Puls Polonii) 
Ernestyna Skurjat-Kozek (right) and Witold Lukasiak (left) at the funeral (photo: Puls Polonii)