Croatian Studies Foundation

Igračka u srcu, Art & Writing Competition 2018

admin — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 11:26:41 +0000

The Croatian Heritage Foundation (Hrvatska matica iseljenika, Zagreb, Croatia) in cooperation with Croatian School Boston (USA) and the Croatian Studies Foundation (Sydney, Australia), is organising an art and writing competition for children and youth aiming to promote and enhance the maintenance of Croatian language and culture among Croatian families across the globe. The title and topic of the competition are “Igračka u srcu” and entries are welcome from children and youth from 5 to 18 years of age. Both individual or group projects are welcome, regardless of whether from a Croatian school, folkloric or tamburitza assemble, soccer club or a family of Croatian roots.

You can find all relevant information here. This ad will soon be published in the next issue of the magazine Matica.

The Croatian Studies Foundation will be coordinating the competition within Australian and New Zealand and we hope to see large numbers of entries from all over Australia and New Zealand and an abundance of children’s work at the exhibition that is scheduled to open in Zagreb at the beginning of December.

The judging committee will be independent, international and professional. In other words, members of the judging committee will be artists, teachers or other professionals who are otherwise not involved in the competition in any way. Their names will be announced before the closing date.

The Croatian Studies Foundation, in cooperation with the Croatian schools in Sydney and other organisations in the Sydney area, is also planning a local event in Sydney at the beginning of December 2018, hopefully, close to St. Nicholas Day (6th Dec), where all entries from our region (Australia and New Zealand) would be exhibited.

This competition is a great opportunity to engage in something slightly different with your students/children this year, and an opportunity to discuss old Croatian traditions and bring back your childhood memories. It is an opportunity to get young people (even more) interested in their heritage, in connecting with their family and the Croatian community, as well as an opportunity for you to promote your school or club.

Please email any questions regarding the competition and your entries to: croatian.teachers.au(@)gmail.com.

CSF 2018 Governing Council

admin — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 01:34:15 +0000

On the Annual general meeting held on the 26th November 2017 at the Croatian Club Sydney in Punchbowl, members of the Croatian Studies Foundation have elected the new Governing Council:

John Gavljak, President,
Dr Danijel Džino, Vice-president,
Christine Klaricich, Treasurer,
Dr Jasna Novak-Milic, Secretary,
Jagoda Basic,
Ana Bruning,
Anthony Gurlica,
Helena Lasan,
Sara Ocepek.

From left: Dr Danijel Džino, Marko Jakovac, Dr Jasna Novak Milić, John Gavljak, Ana Bruning, Sara Ocepek, Anthony Gurlica, Christine Klaricich (missing from the photo: Jagoda bašić, Helena Lasan)

Luka Budak elected Vice-President to Republic of Croatia Government Advisory Council for Croats Abroad

admin — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 02:59:35 +0000

The honorary member of the CSF Governing Council & Director of the Croatian Studies Centre Mr Luka Budak has been elected Vice-President to the Republic of Croatia Government Advisory Council for Croats Abroad for one more term. Besides Luka, two more members represent Australia in the Council: Ivan John Frković (Queensland) and Ante Jurić (Victoria).

We are very proud to have one of our own on such an important and honorable position. It is expected from the members of the Advisory Council to inform and advise policy in relation to Croatians outside Croatia.

You can hear about Luka’s plans for his next mandate in his interview for SBS Croatian Radio (click on the link to listen).

Luka Budak with State Secretary Zvonko Milas at Macquarie Uni earlier this month

State Secretary of Central office for Croats abroad and the Mayor of Vukovar at MQU

admin — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 10:56:41 +0000

On 3rd October 2017 more distinguished guests visited the Croatian Studies at Macquarie University: Mr Zvonko Milas, State Secretary of the Central Office for Croats Abroad, Mr Ivan Penava, Lord Mayor of City of Vukovar, Ms Croatiana Orešković, Central State Office for Croats Abroad, and Mr Dario Magdić, Central State Office for Croats Abroad

After visiting the Bribir exhibition, launched by the Croatian President Mrs Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović in August, the Croatian delegation spent a couple of hours with the board members of the Croatian Studies Foundation, Croatian Studies staff and students discussing, in both formal and informal settings, the future plans for Croatian Studies, Croatian Studies Foundation and Croatian Centre as well as the future efforts to keep the Croatian language and culture alive in Australia.

Together with the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education, and Sport, the Central office for Croats abroad has been in the past several years financially contributing to Croatian Studies securing that way its existence at the MQU. They have also been offering scholarships for our students to study in Croatia as well as providing financial help with some of the projects (digitalisation of the Croatian Centre library, publishing of our journal Croatian Studies Review etc.).

MQU Croatian Studies & CSF in short

admin — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 10:57:16 +0000

Here you can find printable information about the Croatian Studies at the MQU and the Croatian Studies Foundation. Click on the pictures below to open pdf files.

CHARTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA awarded to the CSF on 14th August 2017

admin — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 00:55:43 +0000

Povelja Republike Hrvatske odlukom predsjednice Republike Kolinde Grabar-Kitarović dodjeljuje se Zakladi hrvatskih studija, Sydney

President of the CSF GC John Gavljak gave a speech on behalf of the Croatian community in NSW

admin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 03:08:29 +0000

The President of the CSF Mr John Gavljak addresses the Croatian President at the gala dinner on behalf of the whole NSW Croatian community. His whole speech is available here:

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Your Excellency, Madame President Ms. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, distinguished guests and friends of Australia & Croatia,

“Neka se pokusa, ali dvojim da ce ti ljudi uspjeti “

“It’s worth a try, but I doubt these people will succeed”

These were the words penned on the back of a conditions document by a famous Croatian Archbishop over 135 years ago and were made in reference to my forefathers whose fate meant they were to leave their homeland and were invited to settle uncultivated lands in the Croatian region of Slavonia.

“It’s worth a try, but I doubt these people will succeed”

I wonder how many times this quote was applied to the Croatian immigrants making their way to the land of Australia. But not only did we succeed, we flourished – we built churches, language schools, community clubs, sporting clubs, folk & dance groups, nursing homes, we founded the Croatian Studies Centre & Foundation at Macquarie University.

We educated ourselves, we bettered ourselves – taking advantage of the opportunities that Australia offered us. Australians of Croatian descent have featured in all aspects of Australian political & cultural life, sports, business and academia and to use an Australian idiom, as a community we have “punched well above our weight”. Fully integrated into Australian society while maintaining a strong cultural identity.

Many of these achievements were made at a time when it was not easy nor fashionable to be called Croatian. During these times of unpleasantness & hardship the Croatian community in Sydney, NSW & Australia continued to grow from strength to strength and we did not allow anyone to divert us from our path and activities.

Some basic tenets were always underlying our community engagements.

First, and foremost, was our shared dream of the realisation of freedom and independence for our Croatian homeland. Croatian patriots promoted Croatian customs, traditions, culture and indeed the name Croatia within our multi-cultural Australia. The pinnacle of our efforts came in the late 1970s with the official recognition of the independence and autonomy of the Croatian language within Australia. This achievement marked the Croatian community of Sydney as a model community in the entire worldwide Croatian diaspora.

The second pinnacle of our efforts came with the independence and proclamation of the Croatian republic in 1991. Our enormous humanitarian efforts during the homeland war and our political efforts in the form of lobbying for the recognition of Croatian independence and sovereignty, were rewarded with a visit by the first President of the Republic of Croatia, Dr Franjo Tudjman in 1995.

As a nation we have always been forced to be pioneers & settlers and have always worked towards the Croatian national cause for freedom, independence and sovereignty. The values of hard work, commitment to the rule of law, family, our culture, language and traditions have meant that there was never “any doubt” as to whether we would succeed.

“It’s worth a try, but I doubt these people will succeed”

I wonder how many times these words were uttered as the people of Croatia struggled for independence and survival during the homeland war. In our minds there was never “any doubt” as to whether we would succeed.

However, survival alone is no longer a sufficient outcome.

As we now look to the future it is incumbent upon us, Australian Croatians of 2^nd & 3^rd generation to take over from our parents & grandparents and to work on the strengthening of political & business contacts between Australia & Croatia.

In this modern world of technology, disruption, skills mobility, 24-hour news cycles, improved overseas travel – the tyranny of distance between Croatia and Australia is no longer the barrier it once was. It is easier for us to stay in contact with our family & friends in Croatia, it is easier to build on these relationships, easier to build social, political & business contacts. At the same time, it is easier to lose oneself, to be overwhelmed by all the information & opportunities presented to us. We are drowning in data, but starved for wisdom.

At these times, it is important that the values of hard work, commitment to the rule of law, family, our culture, language and traditions that have been instilled in us become our anchor points as we move forward in strengthening the bilateral ties between our two nations.

We welcome you, Madame President and thank you for your attendance this evening, for the time you have spent with us, for the lifting of our spirits and wish you all the best of success during the rest of your stay in Australia.

As we look towards the opportunities that benefit both our nations, at the building of bridges between Australia and Croatia I reflect back on the words written over 135 years ago and would like to rephrase them:

“It’s worth a try and I have no doubt we will succeed”

Thank you.

Mr John Gavljak giving a speech at the gala dinner at the Croatian club Sydney

Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarović at Macquarie University, CSF awarded the CHARTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

admin — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 02:04:36 +0000

Croatian president Mrs. Kolinda Grabar Kitarović visited Macquarie University and Croatian Studies where she spent her morning discussing current and future opportunities for the collaboration between Croatian universities and the MQU. She met with Vice-Chancellor Bruce Dowton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Sakkie Pretorius, Head of Department, International Studies Ulrike Garde, Head of the Department of Ancient History Ian Plant and Head of Croatian Studies Mr. Luka Budak.
Following the meeting with the MQU officials, the President walked through the campus to the Ancient History Museum where she gave a lecture on the importance of the home language maintenance and opened the photographic exhibition Australian Experiences on the Croatian Past.
She then spent some time chatting with students, staff, and members of the CSF GC.
At the gala-dinner at the Croatian Club Sydney in Punchbowl, the President awarded Croatian Studies Foundation the CHARTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA which is given to international organisations, legal entities, foreign statesmen, and Croatian and foreign nationals for their contributions to the development and promotion of the international position of the Republic of Croatia, and for their contributions to scientific, cultural, economic and other development of the Republic of Croatia.
Thank you to everyone at the MQU who made this possible, to all current and former members of the Croatian Studies Foundation, to all the students and friends for their support.
As the President of the CSF CG John Gavljak said “We are standing tall on the shoulders of those that come before us. Let’s keep up the great work!”

Members of the CSF GC accepting the CHARTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA awarded to the Croatian Studies Foundation by the Croatian President.

The President of Croatia Mrs Kolinda Grabar Kitarović with MQU staff and students, members of the CSF GC and other distinguished guests.

Members of the Croatian Studies Foundation Governing Council with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Mrs Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović (Dr Jasna Novak Milić, Ana Bruning, John Gavljak, Dr Danijel Džino, Sara Ocepek)

The lecture hall at the Ancient History Museum was too small to fit everyone who wanted to listen to Presidents talk. She spoke about the importance on the home language maintenance

Luka Budak, Head of Croatian Studies, presenting Mrs President with one in a row of gifts. In his hands is a specially prepared collection of the Croatian Studies Review journals

Croatian in Australia: Is it disappearing?

admin — Thu, 06 Jul 2017 19:24:15 +0000

According to the 2016 Australian Census, there are almost 7000 speakers of the Croatian language in Australia less than in 2006.

SBS Croatian Radio has produced several interviews on the topic in order to establish what is really going on with the Croatian language in Australia.

Click on the links to listen to the interviews:

Luka Budak and Danijel Dzino, Macquarie University & CSF

Katica Perinac, President of the Association of Croatian Language Teachers of Victoria

The Narona Family M and A Vidovic Award 2017

admin — Wed, 24 May 2017 11:46:24 +0000

The Narona Family M and A Vidovic Award for outstanding performance in 100, 200 and 300 Level Croatian Units was awarded to Croatian Studies student Goran Dragicevic.

Goran received his prize at the Department of International Studies Prize Giving Ceremony on the 9 May 2017. Presenting the award were the two members of the Croatian Studies Foundation Mrs Christine Klaricich, Mrs Ana Bruning and the Croatian Consulate in Sydney representative Mr IvicaMilicic on behalf of the Consul General Mr Hrvoje Petrusic.

The Narona Family M and A Vidovic Award is awarded every year to one student of the Croatian Language at the Macquarie University for the overall outstanding performance during the study period.

The Department of International Studies Prize Giving Ceremony 9 May 2017