Polish Women's Association in Adelaide

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (17:05): I move:

That this council—

1. Congratulates the Polish Women's Association in Adelaide (Kolo Polek) for reaching the special milestone of their 70^th Anniversary in 2024;

2. Recognises the Polish Women's Association in Adelaide as the oldest Polish women's association in Australia;

3. Acknowledges the important work of pioneering Polish women, founding members, current and past presidents, committee members and volunteers of the Polish Women's Association for their hard work, dedication and contributions in delivering 70 years of outstanding community service in South Australia;

4. Commends the Polish Women's Association for their charitable contributions and philanthropic endeavours, particularly through their support of local charities and aged-care services for elderly members of the Polish community;

5. Acknowledges the remarkable work by Kolo Polek in compiling the 70^th Anniversary Exhibition that showcases the history, legacy and memorabilia that demonstrate the strength, determination, compassion and spirits of Polish women over the last 70 years; and

6. Reflects on the many achievements of the Polish Women's Association over the seven decades and recognises the impact of the Polish Women's Association and its contributions to enrich multicultural South Australia.

It is a great honour to recognise today in parliament the 70^th anniversary of the Polish Women's Association in Adelaide, also known as Kolo Polek. Translated literally, Kolo Polek means 'circle of Polish women'. It is a wonderful image that perfectly captures the sense of community and solidarity that has defined the Polish Women's Association in Adelaide for seven remarkable decades.

As a first generation migrant woman and shadow minister for multicultural affairs, having served continuously in the multicultural affairs portfolio since 2010, I am incredibly proud that Kolo Polek was the first association established for Polish women in Australia. The association has a fascinating and moving history that I will delve into more deeply in a short moment, but first I wish to express my sincere congratulations to all those who have contributed to the incredible legacy of the Polish Women's Association in Adelaide.

I would like to give a very special mention to Gosia Skalban OAM, the current president of Kolo Polek, for her longstanding contributions to the Polish community and our wider multicultural community. Gosia was awarded the Order of Australia medal in 2005 for her outstanding service to the community, particularly through her involvement with multicultural and aged-care organisations, and she served on the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission for 14 remarkable years.

Gosia has also been recognised by the Polish government for her service to the Polish community of South Australia, being awarded the Gold Cross in 2000 and the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland in 2009. I would also like to acknowledge the exemplary leadership of the past president, the late Irena Malecka, who served in that role for 12 years and sadly passed away in 2019. Her contributions and memories will forever live in the hearts and minds of the Polish community.

My sincere thanks also go to all the hardworking committee members and volunteers, whose dedication, compassion and generosity are the hallmark of the Polish Women's Association in Adelaide. Kolo Polek is renowned throughout the multicultural community for their charitable contributions and philanthropic endeavours, which go back to the very foundation of the association in the early 1950s.

Soon after arriving in South Australia as displaced persons from Germany in the chaotic aftermath of the Second World War, a small group of Polish women came together to begin supporting those who were going through hardship and who had not been lucky enough to find a new home in Australia. It was a dark time in history. Thousands of Poles who did not meet the strict medical requirements for migration to Australia remained stranded in displaced person camps, facing dire circumstances with scant prospects in postwar Europe.

With little or no English and facing their own struggles as they tried to settle into their new home and overcome the trauma of war, these strong, pioneering and compassionate women began sending parcels of food and clothing to Poles still stranded in West Germany. This incredible group of women sent approximately 190 care packages each year, supporting single mothers and large families with food and medical packages in the first of many of Kolo Polek's social support programs. A women's committee attached to the Polish Association was established in June 1953 to formalise these philanthropic efforts, and it was not long before an independent organisation was established in February 1959 under the name Kolo Polek.

Members of Kolo Polek not only supported Poles in Europe, under the guidance of Father Jozef Kuczmanski, they also soon began visiting and supporting Polish patients in Parkside Mental Hospital, Northfield Mental Hospital, Enfield Receiving House and Bedford Park Hospital. At Christmas and Easter, Polish hospital patients received small packages of treats, such as fruit, chocolates, cakes and reading materials to bring some cheer to the wards. Kolo Polek also organised several Christmas parties for local children, including those in the Polish orphanage in Royal Park. In 1954, over 300 children attended the Christmas party held in the Botanic Gardens, with each child receiving a handmade toy and sweets.

The women of Kolo Polek proved to be very entrepreneurial in their fundraising efforts, raising funds by preparing buffet dinners at dances and festivals organised by other Polish organisations, hosting their own dances, holding lotteries and even becoming the local representative for a pharmacy based in London, which enabled them to collect the agent's fees to fund their activities.

We deeply respect the Polish Women's Association for their charitable work and benevolent support of so many local community and charitable organisations throughout its history. One particularly important example is the fundraising provided by Kolo Polek towards the establishment of the first Dom Polski Centre in Woodville in the 1960s. It was an honour to recognise the 50^th anniversary of the Dom Polski Centre earlier this year, and it is important to note that the Dom Polski Centre was made possible by the support of other Polish organisations, including the Polish Women's Association.

Kolo Polek also established strong contacts with many other local charities and welfare programs, including the Apex Club, the Good Neighbour Council (which later merged with the United Ethnic Communities of South Australia to become the Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia), the Catholic Immigration Centre, YWCA and Migrant Resource Centre, among many others.

Since the 1980s, the Polish Women's Association has also been instrumental in supporting aged-care facilities serving Polish community members, particularly the St Teresa residential facility and the John Paul II Village, where they also organise Polish cultural celebrations for residents each year.

When the Polish crisis in 1980-81 saw economic hardship sweep through the country, Kolo Polek participated in the Australian appeal called 'Help Poland Live', contributing to the millions of dollars raised across the country with thousands of care packages sent to help those suffering in Poland.

Well known for their delicious baking, members of Kolo Polek have supplied delicious honey cakes, babki, pastries and pierogies for trading tables at the 'Dozynki' Polish Harvest Festival and hundreds of other cultural events over the decades. Members contributed their favourite recipes to a special cookbook titled Polish Cooking in South Australia, which was published in 1996 with a foreword by former Premier of South Australia, the Hon. Don Dunstan AC QC. This cookbook contributed to the multicultural culinary melting point that our state is so proud of, and the book was so popular that it was reprinted in both 2004 and 2016. It was a heartfelt way for community members to pass on their traditional Polish recipes for future generations and was a first taste of Polish cuisine for many South Australians.

The Polish Women's Association have also proudly promoted Polish culture and traditions with the wider community over the years, participating in numerous fairs, fundraising events and competitions with their famous stalls stocked with delicious cakes and pastries, handmade Christmas decorations and adorable dolls in traditional Polish costumes.

Kolo Polek has always maintained strong connections with other women's associations in our state, contributing towards advancing a fair, equitable, respectful and diverse society. It was wonderful to learn more about this legacy of compassion and community spirit in the 70^th anniversary exhibition that was compiled by Kolo Polek members and proudly on display at the Polish Women's Association 70^th anniversary luncheon held on Sunday 15 September 2024. The anniversary exhibition showcased many stories of the fundraising initiatives and social welfare services undertaken by the Polish Women's Association over the last seven decades and charted the evolution and continuation of the founding members' humanitarian vision.

It was a great privilege to attend the 70^th anniversary luncheon on behalf of the Liberal Party to pay tribute to the enduring strength and community spirit of the Polish Women's Association. It was very befitting that the luncheon was held at the Dom Polski Centre given the close connections of the two organisations and it was incredibly heartening to see so many leaders of the Polish and wider multicultural communities attend the celebration.

Volunteers are truly at the heart of this inspiring organisation, and I want to again express my deep appreciation to current committee members and supporters who generously give their time and efforts in service of the community and who contributed to the anniversary exhibition and celebration.

As we reflect on the great history and legacy of the Polish Women's Association in Adelaide, we are reminded of the powerful impact that compassionate and selfless individuals and organisations can have on society. The women of Kolo Polek have certainly touched the lives of so many both in South Australia and abroad, building a foundation for the Polish community to flourish and enriching our diverse multicultural state.

It was an absolute privilege to host a Parliament House reception last week to acknowledge and honour the Polish Women's Association in Adelaide, as well as to celebrate with other multicultural organisations. I thank Gosia and the wonderful ladies of Kolo Polek for sharing some of their special insights and wisdom from many decades of service within multicultural communities with us all and I know that many of the younger organisations present on the day were inspired and motivated by their stories.

I look forward to continuing working closely with the Polish Women's Association in Adelaide and wish them very heartfelt congratulations once again on their 70^th anniversary. It is truly an honour to recognise the remarkable achievements of Kolo Polek in parliament today. With those words, I wholeheartedly commend the motion to the chamber.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.