Poland in Australia

The event was combined with the annual anniversary celebrations of the discovery and naming of Mount Kosciuszko by Polish explorer Paul Strzelecki. In March 1840, his expedition passed Geehi flats towards the highest mountain of the mainland Australia. The plaque commemorating those events, and Strzelecki’s presence in Geehi 182 years ago, was unveiled by the Polish community organisation Kosciuszko Heritage Inc.

This symbolic role of Mount Kosciuszko in the history of Polish-Australian relations was the main reason for the volunteer firefighters from Poręba Spytkowska in southern Poland to organise in 2020 a fundraise for the Kosciuszko National Park, severely devastated by the bushfires of 2019-20. The donated funds (half a million Polish zlotys) have been spent on the programs aimed at helping species most threatened with extinction. Polish community in Australia has been actively supporting the restoration of flora and fauna unique to Mount Kosciuszko as well. The event on 4 April was a symbolic expression of appreciation from the Park management for all these efforts.

The local Aboriginal communities also have deep cultural connections to the Kosciuszko National Park. The Monaro Ngarigo people are recognised as Traditional Owners of the land on which Geehi is located. The Elder of Monaro Ngarigo Aunt Iris White received the participants of the event by delivering a Welcome to Country ceremony.