Domovina uredništvo
Nakon punih tridesetg godina što se sad već tri generacije Hrvata s Korčule – ali također i drugih iseljenika u sjevernom Sydneyu – okupljaju u klubu ‘Sydney Dalmacija’, taj je Hrvatski društveni klub prošle subote priredio nezaboravnu proslavu.
After 30 years of representing now three generations of Croatians from Korcula and also Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Dalmacija Sydney put on an amazing and unforgettable show last Saturday night to celebrate three decades as a full-functioning Croatian social club.
On the night, the Club was buzzing with young and old, all of who came to both celebrate and also congratulate the Club in achieving this memorable milestone. While it was originally a small club situated in the Sydney suburb of Chatswood from 1965, in 1982, a block of land was purchased in Terry Hills, and 7 years later, a huge club was built and Dalmacija Sydney was born.
So on this auspicious Saturday night, some 380 people crammed into the main hall at the northern Sydney club to not only listen to some great Croatian music, but to also get a taste of the great Korculan culture – specifically the Kumpanijia folkoric dance – a traditional folk ensemble and sword dance that uses a drum (and sometimes also a bagpipe) that displays the local militia who were once used to protect the towns from invaders.
Led by the kapetan of the dance, Marko Bosnic, the Kumpanija, which is also listed by the Ministry of Culture in the Republic of Croatia to be safeguarded as intangible cultural heritage, led the local dancers into one of the more fascinating aspects of Croatian folkoric dance.
It really was a treat for both young and old to see the magnificent Kumpanija being danced in suburban Sydney, some 17,000kms away from its original home of Blato on the island of Korcula.
In honouring the clubs’ 30-year anniversary, Club President Velkjo Bosnic said: “I still remember like it was yesterday when in 1989, Governor General Bill Hayden opened this club.”
“Over 30 years this club has been made successful by a range of volunteers and friends, who through their sheer hard work and effort ensured that Dalmacija remains as successful as it is today.”
“I would like to honour every single person who worked for Dalmacija – including our past presidents, some of which are no longer with us anymore.”
“And with that,’ said Bosnic, “I would also like to thank all of you who came here tonight to help celebrate with us this great event in our club’s history.”
According to one rather famous Dalmcaija Klub member and very first consul-general of the Republic of Croatia and well-known personality in the Croatian community, Dr. Konstantin Bosnic, the past 30 years have been very important insofar the club and wider Croatian community is concerned.
“This club really has a special place in the Croatian community,’ said Dr. Bosnic.
“Over the past 30 years, it has ensured that Croatian culture and specifically, the traditions from the island of Korcula are preserved for future generations.”
“Looking at the range of ages here tonight and also by the fact of how wonderfully the young members dance the Kumpanija , I’d say they have succeeded,” Dr. Bosnic said.
And as another one of the guests commented towards the end of the night: “Let’s hope we get to see another 30 years of this great Croatian institution.”
