Richard Broinowski has been installed as the new patron of Kosciuszko Heritage during the gala premiere of the English-language version of the film Kosciuszko: Poland Will Yet Dance.
Currently the NSW President of the Australian Institute of International Affairs, Richard was previously a long-time Australian diplomat. More details about him can be found on the ‘About the patron’ page.
During the premiere – which took place on October 6, 2016, in the theatrette of Sydney’s Parliament House – Richard was presented with a diploma and an oak wreath.
A group gathers after the premiere; centre: Ernestyna Surjat-Kozek, the director of the film (photo: Bogumila Filip and Puls Polonii) 
Left to right: Dylan Stewart, Tanaya Stewart, Sharon Stewart, and Acacia Rose (photo: Bogumila Filip and Puls Polonii) 
All of the diploma recipients (photo: Tom Koprowski) 
The diploma recipients (photo: Bogumila Filip and Puls Polonii) 
The screening (photo: Tom Koprowski) 
The theatrette in Parliament House (photo: Bogumila Filip and Puls Polonii) 
Olivia Kowalik (photo: Tom Koprowski) 
Ewa Figiel and Lukasz Swiatek (photo: Tom Koprowski) 
Valerie Fowler (photo: Tom Koprowski) 
Richard Broinowski (centre), Ewa Figiel (left) and Lukasz Swiatek (right) (photo: Tom Koprowski) 
Richard Broinowski (photo: Tom Koprowski) 
Amelie Gnatek (photo: Tom Koprowski)
The wreath-giving commemorated a uniquely significant moment in Poland’s history. On October 28, 1792, at the Czartoryski’s Palace in Sieniawa, Tadeusz Kosciuszko was crowned with a wreath made from oak leaves taken from a tree planted by one of the great heroes of Europe, the Polish King John III Sobieski. It indicated that Poland expected Kosciuszko to become the Supreme Leader of the National Uprising, which began two years later.
The gala premiere also featured speeches by the Polish Consul General, Mrs Regina Jurkowska, and the American Consul General, Mrs Valerie Fowler.
The Welcome to Country was made by Tanaya Stewart.
Amelie Gnatek, from the Lajkonik Folkloric Ensemble, performed the traditional Polish song W moim ogrodecku, and Olivia Kowalik played the piece Polish Caprice for violin (composed by Grazyna Bacewicz). The song My Mountain Kosciuszko, composed and performed by the late John Hospodaryk (with lyrics by Ursula Lang), was also played to a video-montage.
The highlight of the evening – the screening of the film Kosciuszko: Poland Will Yet Dance, directed by Ernestyna Skurjat-Kozek – was followed by a short presentation ceremony. Certificates were given to Ewa Figiel (the co-producer of the film), Amelia Gnatek, Maya Kędziora, Olivia Kowalik, Tomasz Kukielka, Josef Miller and Adam Wąsiel.
The masters of ceremony for the evening were Ewa Figiel (from SBS) and Lukasz Swiatek (from the University of Sydney).
Additional news sources
Click here to access links to reports from SBS Radio (published on Puls Polonii).
Click here to read Marianna Lacek’s report published on Puls Polonii.
Click here to read feedback from various participants published on Puls Polonii.
Click here to read Regina Jurkowska’s speech, published on Puls Polonii.
Click here to read Marek Baterowicz’s report published on Puls Polonii.
Click here to see a report on Polonia 24.
Click here to see photographs taken by Bogumila Filip, published on Puls Polonii.
Click here to see photographs taken by Tom Koprowski, published on Puls Polonii.