Poland in Australia

On 1 August in Warsaw he was welcomed by Polish President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, as well as Speakers of the Sejm Elżbieta Witek and the Senate Tomasz Grodzki. Governor-General and Mrs Hurley laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw and visited Memorial and Museum Auchwitz-Birkenau. The visit to Poland was an important part of this year’s celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Polish-Australian diplomatic relations.

The political talks focused on bilateral relations. Russia’s invasion on Ukraine was also widely discussed, in particular in the context of both countries’ support for Ukraine and with regards to global food and energy crises caused by the Russian aggression.

Governor-General David Hurley and Mrs Linda Hurley commemorated the 78th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This was also an opportunity to pay tribute to the Australian aircrew members who participated in the Warsaw airlift operation to re-supply the Polish resistance. The only Australian soldier participating in the Warsaw Uprising was signalman Walter Edward Smith – he was the first foreigner to be awarded the Warsaw Uprising Cross.

On the second day of their visit, Governor-General David Hurley and Mrs. Linda Hurley visited Former German Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp Auchwitz-Birkenau. On the same day, they travelled to Cracow to visit the graves of 22 Australians, including Australian aircrew members who died during the supply mission for the Warsaw Uprising, buried at the Commonwealth War Cemetery in Cracow.

Poland and Australia established official diplomatic relations on 20 February 1972. However, the history of bilateral contacts between the two countries and societies is much longer and dates back to the early European settlement in Australia in the 19th century.