Domovina Urednistvo
In what could only be described as a glittering and gala event at the Croatian Club Punchbowl, last Saturday night the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools (NSWFCLS) held its annual dinner to celebrate both its work and the broader issue of multiculturalism in NSW. As would be expected, all the Croatian language schools were proudly represented on the night.
With luminaries such as the Hon. Gladys Berejiklian, the Hon. Ray Williams MP, NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, NSWFCLS President Albert Vella, the Hon. David Clarke MLC, Jihad Dib, NSW Shadow Minister for Education and Hrvoje Petrusic, the Consul General for the Republic of Croatia, the night started off with a beautiful rendition of the Australian national anthem by Violeta Bozanic.
With the introductions done, the first performance of the night – by the St. Alexander Nevsky Russian School was followed up by a Tamil children’s dance and then the Dr. Ante Starcevic Croatian language school (Beverly Hills) children performed a recital of the well-known children’s song, Kisa Pada, Trava Raste.
With that out of the way, the NSW Premier delivered a speech that many in the audience would not have been used to – that of a mainstream political leader recounting her days as a student at a community language school, in this case an Armenian one.
“We have 32,000 students being helped and supported by some 2000 volunteers in this state when it comes to community languages – this makes NSW the envy of the world,” said the Premier.”
“As a government, we are committed to supporting and strengthening the community language schools in this state,” said Premier Berejiklian, who then proceeded to announce a $10.9 million windfall for the community language sector in NSW, which she noted was designed to keep the sector “strong and to help it grow to where it should be.”
This funding announcement received rapturous applause from the crowd, who after many years of having to deal with dwindling budgets were overjoyed at this cash injection from the state government.
Perhaps though this was to be expected from a Premier who commented on her own days learning her native Armenian as being “some of the best memories of her childhood years.”
For Sydney’s six main Croatian language schools – Beverly Hills, Bonnyrigg, Braca Radic, St. John’s Park, Summer Hill and Blacktown, the news of the funding boost came as a welcome bonus to all the hard work done by the teachers and volunteers who ensure the schools run smoothly each and every school term week.
According to Beverly Hills Croatian language teacher Danijela Ivesic, the reasons for her teaching at Croatian on Saturdays goes deeper than just a love of teaching her native language.
“It somehow ties me in to Croatia – it keeps me connected to my homeland,” said Ivesic.
“I love to hear Croatian,” added Ivesic, who has been teaching for many years.
Ivesic’s comments were juxtaposed neatly by the Shadow Education spokesman Jihad Dib, who pointed out that, “everyone in this room here tonight has a migrant story; we all belong to a multicultural Australia.”
According to Bonnyrigg Croatian language teacher Koraljka Miletic, the funding boost is a positive portent for the future of Croatian community in this state.
“It was great to hear about this huge money injection from the Premier, and it will go a long way in helping to bring all of the Croatian children to an advanced level of speaking Croatian.”
“This in turn, will further strengthen the ties with the homeland for future generations,” said Miletic.
As for the Hrvoje Petrusic, the Consul General for the Republic of Croatia, it was both an honour and a moment of pride for him personally, and also officially as the representative of the Republic of Croatia at such an auspicious event.
“I am honoured to be here at the Croatian Club Punchbowl to be representing Croatia here tonight,” said Petrusic.
“Croatia is a great supporter of the teaching of the Croatian language here in Australia – as you know, we have for many years supported and will continue to support the Croatian language course at Macquarie University,” noted the Consul General.
“To be here tonight, with my colleagues from Poland, Russia, Egypt and many other places from all around the world fill me with an immense sense of pride.”
Petrusic pointed out that the Republic of Croatia recently not only helps support the teaching of Croatian in NSW, but, has also actively supported its teaching elsewhere in Australia, “including just recently in Victoria.”
“On top of that,” said Petrusic, “I am thrilled to see all of the representatives of the Croatian language schools here tonight.”
“We all have a big responsibility to ensure that the Croatian language flourishes and by all accounts, this is a great achievement for all those that teach Croatian here in NSW,” he said.
But perhaps the best and most memorable comment of the night goes to that long time friend of the Croatian community and Liberal Party stalwart, the Hon. David Clarke MLC, who pointed out to the Croatian language teachers: “All I know in Croatian is a couple of words – Bog i Hrvati- which I think also pretty much sums up everything there is to say about the Croatian people.”
Words: Branko Miletic
Pictures: Evica Fischer
