The
lustralian Slovenian Review
Summer 1997 Vol. 5 Issue 1 $4.00
Inside this issue....
■	Slovenian Education in Focus
■	Christmas in Slovenia
■	Frederik Baraga - Missionary
■	Youth Concert
Media Watch
Editorial -
7 [
, m if ave you noticed anything new? We found it J Ví necessary to grow in size to allow for some flexibility in the types of stories we offer our readers. This has meant implementing a new way of posting our Review to you. Imagine if we folded this bumper issue into a standard envelope! This change like any other has not been without hiccups.
Our marketing and administration teams are still recovering from the shock of the cost involved in producing this 32 page issue when the purchase of the snazzy plastic sealing machine hit the treasurer's desk. Never mind.... All of the subscription dollars our faithful followers are (as we speak) sending us will help to fill the hole in the bank account. Don't forget to send your form and cheque in ASAP!
Not only is the length and postage style different, the content has also moved in a different direction. The editorial team have decided that we are going to give each issue a theme. In this way there is a more coherent approach to what we are offering you to read and it also allows us a better opportunity to plan issues ahead of time.
Let's face it we are not a newspaper that hits your doorstep weekly or even monthly, so our News page contains news highlights throughout the season, and the rest will inform you of other wider topics.
This edition's focus is Education. With the NSW 1997 Maturantski Pies recently being billed as possibly the last for many years, we felt it was important to let people know how to get involved in learning the Slovenian language and also options available to them with study in Slovenia. We hope you enjoy this new approach to the ASR and please offer us your comments and suggestions for future themes.
Some really nice things have been happening in our community of late showing the strengths of our generation of Australian Slovenians. The Annual Slovenian Youth Concert was held at St Rafael's Community Centre in Sydney. From the very young to the not so very young the quality and variety of skill was inspiring.
I'd like to congratulate every one who was in any way associated with the evening and thank them for their hard work and dedication. Not only did I have the opportunity to be dazzled by the talent of our performers, but I was also able to spend just a little time talking to our interstate guests about their views on the ASR.
(Continued on page 5)
Editorial
Irene Stariha Dorothy Kobal Sonia Kolar Henry Stariha
Production
Ciril Kosorok Mark Stariha John Kobal Julie Brcar
Administration
Renata Susanj Jude Bavcar-Skubla Boris Kobal Sylvia Loncar Olga Kuznik Robert Suber Jenny Stariha
Public Relations
Robert Suber Dorothy Kobal Irene Stariha
Contributors
Irene Stariha Dorothy Kobal Jenny Stariha Milena Godec Veronika Ferfolja Lenti Lenko Urska Smuk Metka Cuk Miriam Stariha Natasa Drummond Aleksandra L Ceferin Kristina Suber Ziatka Pondelak Barbara Falez F. Darko Znidarsic
The Australian Slovenian Review is a non-profit venture, which aims to publish quarterly. Production and distribution costs are funded by sponsorship and advertising.
The ASR is not a platform for any particular interest group and does
not represent any group or organisation within the Slovenian community.
The ASR team believe that there
should be a forum available to inform and discuss issues that are of interest to first and second generation Australians with a Slovenian heritage.
Articles for publication are most welcome. They may be presented hand written, typed or preferably on an MS-DOS format floppy disk
Articles can be sent to:
ASR Inc P.O. Box KL926 Kings Langley 2147
NSW Australia Fax: (02) 9674 4583
Sponsorship or advertising enquiries should be directed to Robert Suber on (02) 9829 1303
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Subscribing to the ASR
As you have no doubt read, the ASR is introducing subscriptions. The initial subscription will be $16. The idea of a subscription is to help raise enough funds to produce the ASR. Presently, we obtain funds from donations, advertising and general fund-raising. The subscription will also assist in covering the growing costs of producing this publication.
If you would like to support us, please complete the details overleaf, and return the coupc along with your payment to the ASR postal address.
Your support of the ASR is encouraged and appreciated. With your support, we will continue to bring you informative and exiting commentary on the Slovenian community in Australia, news from Slovenia and Slovenians from around the world.
The ASR team. Summer 1996
News
Slovenia elected to UN Security Council
The United Nations General Assembly has elected Slovenia, to sit on the 15 nation Security Council for a two-year term starting January 1, 1998. Other countries elected were Bahrain, Brazil, Gabon and Gambia. Slovenia defeated Macedonia by 140 votes to 30 in a contest for the East European seat currently held by Poland. "The election is a recognition for the initiative that Slovenia holds in the international arena, particularly in resolving the Balkan crisis, to its contribution in the United Nations reform and its struggle for peace" said President Milan Kucan in a statement to Radio Slovenia.
Australian Slovenian murdered in PNG
Sydney resident Philip Plibesek was stabbed to death in the PNG's capital Port Moresby. Plibesek, a 37 year old geologist and his wife were both sleeping in their fourth floor security apartment when a 'cat burglar' scaled the side of the apartment building and entered through an open balcony door. When his demands for money were unsuccessful, he stabbed Plibesek several times and attacked his wife before fleeing empty handed. The murder has shocked both the expatriate community in Port Moresby and the Slovenian community in Sydney. "Phil was full of enthusiasm, hard-working and with a dry sense of humour" one of his colleagues said. The ASR Team send their condolences to Philip Plibesek's wife, family and friends.
First Slovenian Charg d' Affaires departs Canberra
Aljas Gosnar, the first representative of the new independent Slovenia, recently bade farewell to all Australian Slovenians, as his four-year residence in Canberra drew to a close. Gosnar, with his wife and daughter, returned to Slovenia after numerous speeches of thanks from many Slovenian communities around Australia, In his place, Helena Drnovek-Zorko will be temporarily in charge of the Slovenian Embassy in Canberra, until a replacement for Mr. Gosnar arrives from Slovenia,
Slovenian delegation on old age pensions visits Australia
October saw a visit from a three-person delegation from the Slovenian Department of Social Security to take part in the first round of discussions with their Australian equivalent. The purpose of the visit was to begin formulating an agreement concerning citizens of both Slovenia and Australia, who are eligible for the aged pension. Currently there are agreements between Italy and Britain to name only a few. These agreements determine which government has the responsibility for caring (financially) for these aged pensioners. The second round of talks will take place in Slovenia next year. Once formulated, the agreement must be ratified by each respective government and passed as legislation.
Once an agreement lakes effect, pension entitlements (either Slovenian or Australian or both) will be more portable, making it easier for pensioners to live in cither Slovenia or Australia and receive their full pension entitlements. It will however, most certainly lead to the end of "double dipping" by pensioners. Non-disclosure of assets and income earned in Slovenia by Australian residents (or visa versa) will also become a thing of the past as the two governments exchange information under this new agreement.*:*
Milan Kucan visits U.S. President
During his visit to the United States, Slovenian President
Milan Kucan held a separate meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton in New York in September. After the meeting. President Clinton announced that the United States would abolish visas for Slovenians, effective I October 1998. Later that week, Kucan also met with the Slovenian business community in the United States, attended the opening of Slovenia's new General Consulate on Third Avenue in New York, and addressed the 52nd session of the UN General Assembly.
Slovenia Today
Christmas in
Slovenia
by Urska Smuk
f he American dream has taken I a front row seat in the lives of most of the world's population, and sitting comfortably beside the dream is marketing. Marketing is a way of life, it has conquered the world and Slovenia has been no exception. We all, including Slovenians, want a bite of that very tasty looking Christmas pudding which is so often on our television screens. During the festive season of Christmas, the sidewalk's are full of last minute shoppers, and the streets are a circus of ornaments, Christmas trees and buildings are finely lined with twinkling fairy lights. Sounds like a typical Australian Christmas?
Well you would be correct if you didn't notice the difference in the city architecture and instead of people walking around in as little as possible, everyone is cooped up in their winter coats admiring the shimmer of the decorative Christmas lights against the crystal white snow,
Along with Bing Crosby many Australians dream of experiencing a white Christmas and it is not hard to see why. The snow is the icing on the cake, and completes the entire picture
of Christmas. Festivity has become very popular in the whole of Slovenia especially in Ljubljana. Concerts are being staged in all parts of the relatively small city, to suit all personalities, moods and tastes, ranging from the rock scene which is on PreSernov Trg, where stands Ljubljana's highest Christmas tree, to classical church Christmas hymns, performed by the Vienna Boys Choir.
All this has been relatively new to most Slovenians, yet all the excitement experienced over this new way of life which they, along with many other east European countries, had been shut out of for so vety long, has not let them forget about their heritage and tradition which for some were forced not to practice.
The family home and religion has become an important issue among Slovenia's society. Amidst all the excitement of Santa Claus and Christmas carols, they take time out from this busy season to say grace and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Midnight mass is the most important ingredient to a typical Slovenian Christmas dinner, the night is lit up for the many people, baptised or not, to attend church and to wish each other a Merry Christmas, ♦>
Front Cover
The picture on the front cover is by Canberra resident Mark Kobal. Titled "Reconcilable Distances" it consists of the merging of two landscapes: Australian and Slovenian. The upside-down mountain peaks is representative of Km, a mountain in Slovenia, while the more gentle peaks are representative of an Australian landscape. The holes in the land portray the empty spaces that are left when a sense of place is lost; something that migrants can be effected by, but hopefully can be rectified with an understanding and appreciation of an adopted land. With this understanding and appreciation, distances (both physical and metaphorical) can be overcome. •>
NOTICE
Slomskova Sola Merrylands (Sydney) is now accepting enrolments for Term 1 1998.
For more information contact: Krîstina Suber (02) 9605 4384
Editorial ... cont'd
(from page 2)
Some had never heard of us (and seemed not to want to) while others were quite enthusiastic. There were also many who were neither here nor there, i believe these people have the most to offer ASR as they obviously have needs that are not quite met by us, yet aren't apathetic enough to ignore us. These are the people that should be flooding us with articles of interest to them and hassling us loudly if we do not publish them! I We now have a team member who is taking on the role of coordinating a coalition with interstate Australian Slovenians, We look forward to good times ahead.
Another nice thing that occurred during the past couple of months was a real "first" for our generation. The Slovenian Embassy in Canberra invited a group of second generation Australian Slovenians to attend a meeting in Sydney to voice our needs, interests and expectations of the Embassy and of Slovenia. This meeting was extremely interesting to me as it highlighted the lack of cohesion within our community, Whilst asking the Embassy for resources we found that some of these were already floating around in the community but with no organisation to coordinate, were missing the very people who need them. We need someone who will commit themselves to bringing the focus groups in our community together every few months to discuss there needs, goals and sharing of resources. Wouldn't it be great if we could share our knowledge rather than keeping it to ourselves in order to gain some perceived "power".
It was clear through this meeting that people wanted to know more about the Slovenia of today and that we would like some modern entertainment to reach our shores and some books that give us translated literature as well as the original Slovenian. We are proud of the business links that Slovenia has made within Australia and some of our second generation Slovenians may even want to expand on these. Most importantly, the people who attended the meeting were proud to be of Slovenian heritage and wanted to know more about Slovenia's achievements so that they could pass this pride on to others. It is after all nice to be Slovenian isn't it?
The ASR has taken some of these perspectives on board and will reflect these in the themes of future issues. For example our next issue will look at contemporary Art and Culture. If you have any suggestions please pass them on and feel free to research some great Slovenian artist, poet, designer etc.
I can't end without making some comment about the silly season that we are fast approaching, Do the months seem shorter every year to you? It seems as though I was wishing you all a Merry Christmas just a couple of months ago and now I'm doing it again. 1 remember my mother saying that the years get shorter as you get older, so now I know that age must be creeping up on me. Not only are the years getting shorter but I'm sounding more and more like my mother!
UrSka Smuk, who was once an Australian Slovenian but is now a Slovenian Slovenian shares with us how Christmas is celebrated in modern Slovenia. I wished I could be there when I read her article .... but however and wherever you celebrate this joyous time, 1 wish you all abundant happiness, love, peace and the opportunity to let those that you love be touched by your caring. Vesele praznike! *>
Education
Slovenian at Macquarie University
by Metka Cuk
Lecturer in Slovenian, Macquarie University
/ 1 t Macquarie University, it has f % been possible to study Slovenian for the last nine years. Many Slovenians in Australia fee) proud that Slovenian is taught at tertiary level; many, however, still aren't even aware of the possibility.
Slovenian at Macquarie University has always been funded by Slovenians themselves - initially by Slovenians in Australia, these days by the Slovenian Government. In any case, a lot of money is involved, and raising it has always proven a hard nut to crack. Every year the same problem arises: Are we going to secure funds to continue the program?
This year is no exception. Only at the end of October did the money arrive to cover old debts and. as it seems now, the Slovenian program in 1998 is under no further threat. A sigh of relief. 'Till Sept 1998 when history will repeat itself.
However, funding worries would be less were there more students. Student numbers are dwindling in all schools where Slovenian is taught.
Is it that you don't want to learn Slovenian any more?
Young people are busy living their lives, finding a good job, completing their studies, choosing a suitable partner, and last but not least, having fun. Learning Slovenian certainly does not sound iike a lot of fun, even less so when you have to spend a heap of money only to find yourself working hard and being constantly under the pressure of meeting deadlines for assignment submission.
Learning Slovenian, thus, is not about having fun, even though teachers at ail levels should aim to create attractive and enjoyable courses. Learning Slovenian is about searching for your other self, about getting to know your heritage, your history, understanding the country where you could have lived had the turn of events been different, and accepting it the way it is. You are no less Australian if you can speak Slovenian too, however, you are a much better-bred, better-educated and worthy person if you cherish and respect your inherited culture as well.
Respect comes with knowledge, and knowledge is the result of studying. I remember a student who enrolled in the Slovenian literature course a few years ago. After a month of listening to the lectures on cassettes she had to tell me how very struck by them she was. She had visited Slovenia - actually, it was only her parents' family on an isolated farm somewhere high in the mountains -a few years ago, and was slightly put off by their outdoor bathroom facilities and no running water in the house. This experience formed her attitude towards everything Slovenian. Being a positive person, she had hoped at least for some folk stories when enrolling in the course, but to her utter amazement she discovered a fully-fledged literature with a long tradition, an urban culture totally different to anything she had previously experienced, and a series of contemporary Slovenian writers who might never win the Nobel prize but certainly belong to something distinctly called Slovenian literature.
In the recent years, there has been a sense of crisis in the community. In my opinion, the main reason is the inability of new generations to identify with their perception of Slovenia. Australian 'Slovenia', though, is the only place you know about. And it feels stale and stalled.
If you search for the 'real' thing, you will soon discover that Avseniki are not the music young Slovenians listen to today, and PreSeren is not the only Slovenian poet (whose poetry, by the way, is just as hard to understand to an average Slovenian as to you), Slovenians in Slovenia do not meet in clubs, and a 'maturantski pies' in Ljubljana does not even resemble the one held in Sydney.
I am not saying there is anything wrong with any of these things, on the contrary, they are part of your Australian Slovenian culture, however, in order to overcome the staleness and present
crisis you will have to learn about the real Slovenia too, and mix it with your Australian experience of life.
The way you speak Slovenian at home is just another part of your Australian 'Slovenia'. It is really important to understand that your dialect is nothing to be ashamed of - it is your unique contribution to the well called Slovenian language from which all Slovenians drink. You too, with your dialect, are actively involved in the permanent change of the language by creating and using it.
On the other hand, in order to fully appreciate and understand Slovenia and your peers there, it is equally important to learn this 'real' Slovenian as well. And if you feel confident with your dialect these two variations of the language will always be able to live side by side, without any threat to one another.
There is a large group of young Slovenians who do not feel addressed here - simply because they never learned any Slovenian at all. I often wonder what an attitude towards Slovenia their parents must have, not to teach them the only thing that really matters in the appreciation of your culture. I am well aware that in Australia English is the language everyone has to learn, nevertheless, failing to learn the language of your own parents is a sign of deep disrespect for them and your own roots. Don't you agree?
I rest my case for learning your language, with you. On a more pragmatic note, I suggest you read the article by Nataša Drummond on the possibilities of studying Slovenian in conjunction with another degree at the University of Technology in Sydney, and sincerely hope to see you in the next academic year at Macquarie University (and all other Slovenian schools) in great numbers! ❖
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Education
The Slovenian
Education
System
(Part II)
by Milena Go dec
# lie Slovenian Education System, as it f should be after the adoption of the new acts outlined in the White Paper on Education (Jan. 1995), by the governing body, the Ministry of Education and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia has four distinctive levels:
•	Pre-school education
•	Primary education
•	Secondary general, technical and vocational education
•	Post Secondary vocational, professional higher education and university education
Pre-school education is not compulsory and is not a pre-requisite for primary school admission.
Primary schooling is compulsory, over nine years, divided into three educational periods.
Secondary general, technical and vocational education, also compulsory, will involve two types of schooling: grammar schools (gimnazija), and the technical or general schools. Both last four years, and are completed with a matura, an external leaving examination set on a national basis, first introduced in 1995. It consists of five subjects: three compulsory (Slovenian, mathematics, foreign language) and two electives.
Candidate Rick
The Matura allows access for students to a university. A similar final examination for entrance to other professional higher education programs and some university courses, from the technical schools, consists of four subjects (two compulsory and two elective).
Post Secondary and higher education
includes two levels of qualification. The first encompasses a continuation of secondary professional and technical schooling programs at a higher level, with a course of study over two years. The second, universities, offer the award of scholarly titles, last three to four years, and may offer post-graduate specialist programs. The current Higher Education Act, adopted in 1993, also redefined the status of higher education institutions. It acknowledged the introduction of the professional higher education institutions in amalgamation with one of two universities, or as a free-standing institution. There is provision for possible accreditation and establishment of private higher education institutions. Of significant importance is the recognition of the universities as an academic community, not only autonomous in its management, but also in its academic freedom in the development of scientific and educational research, art and other disciplines.
Willi the many challenges that Slovenia as a developing independent state faces, the new changes to the education system aim to correct previous deficiencies and offer exciting new possibilities for entering the diverse technology
Candidate Rick
In 1995 Slovenia introduced the Matura examination, a new secondary school leaving examination set on a national basis, with external assessment, allowing admission to university level higher education. The National Examinations Centre was established as an institution which sets up, organises and administers external assessments. Candidate Rick was created for the promotion of Matura in Slovenia.
innovative and increasingly more competitive European and international systems which give high priority to
education, skills and workforce competence as vital factors in economic performance. Participation in various international organisations in recent years has led to funding, modernisation, increased student and faculty mobility, and the supply of much software, hardware and other equipment. Two areas of great importance in future developments have been highlighted through their involvement with European educational councils and committees: diploma recognition in higher éducation and quality assurance in the education system. This period of transition will provide many indicators for further challenge and development in the field of education, particularly in higher education
[#1] Statistical Year Book, UNESCO, 1994 [#2] Vrecko, D. (Editor). Higher Education
in Slovenia, 1995 Ret. Vrecko, D, (Editor), Higher Education in Slovenia, 1995 *t*
Did you know?
Slovenian is a perversly complex language, particularly for an English speaker. English syntax has no genders (Slovenian has three), no cases (Slovenian has six), and while English and most other languages utilise a singular and plural form, Slovenian is one of the few human tongues to have a dual form. In other words, a different verbal conjugation for '"we two" as opposed to "we three or more" or for "those two glasses" rather than "those three glasses." And typical of the illogical whimsy of this Slavic language, the dual is specifically not used for those items which in nature actually do occur in pairs - eyes, breasts, ears, parents, to name a few.
Erica J Debeljak.
p34. Slovenija Magazine Spr 1996.
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When I look back
Slovenian School
Yesteryear
by Miriam Stariha
M I uring the celebrations for the \ S 40th anniversary of the Slovenian Association Sydney you may, as I did, have had the opportunity to visit the showcase of the club's history. Browsing through the many old photos on display there, I was prompted to think about the past and my involvement in the Slovenian community as it was then, now some thirty years ago,
I remember attending Slovenian Mass in a different church each Sunday of the month, being dressed in national costume and going out to the airport to be part of the "welcome committee" when Slovenian
dignitaries visited our shores and making "butarice" at Easter time, but there is one other ritual that sticks out and that was the regular Saturday routine of going to Slovenian school. Indeed, as a child at the time, I thought this was the weekly drudgery, but we (there were three of us, my brother and sister) attended each Saturday afternoon come rain or shine -that was our parents' commitment and we dared not raise their ire!
Gospodicna Toncka, as we affectionately called her, was our teacher and we attended class at the Sacred Heart School in Cabramatta, NSW. Looking back, those were fun days, yes they actually were, but
it's only with the benefit of wisdom that you come to this realisation, which doesn't help the Slovenian youth attending Slovenian school today much, does it? Thinking about my primary Slovenian schooling spurred me on to a path of discovery, Surely Slovenian school was established well before my youth and indeed it was. In fact this happened way back in 1957.
On 16 June 1957 at the premises of the Slovenian Association Sydney, then a house in Woollahra, Mrs Vlasta Cergol proposed to the then cultural committee, thai every sixth Sunday should be devoted to the children of our (the Slovenian) community. This was accepted and so the first class of Slovenian studies began soon after that date in the classrooms of St Francis' Church in Paddington.
Slovenian classes were also established in the classrooms of St Joseph's Convent in Leichhardt. This made it more accessible to the children living in the inner suburbs of Sydney. Later on classes were also established in Cabramatta and Condell Park.
Slovenian school then, as it does today, co-incided with the official school year and classes were usually of two hours duration. The general age span of students was 5-13 years. In asking Ms Toncka what sort of subject matter was taught she replied "Anything the children asked for and more. Sometimes the children even brought with them their English school work particularly if they needed help."
School, amid the acquisition of language, also provided an avenue for cultural exhibitions. Some school afternoons were spent celebrating national customs such as "Pust" (masquerade) and sv. Miklav (St Nicholas). Others were devoted to displays of the Slovenian national dress and on some occasions we were even taken on excursions - with parents in tow of course.
! would like to acknowledge and thank Ms Toncka Vodopivec (pictured above), my Slovenian school teacher, for her assistance in this article. The wealth of knowledge she imparted left me astounded and fed my interest to find out more about Slovenian school in years past.
Excursions were the highlight for us students and many fun times were had. On one particular occasion Ms Toncka took us to Leura in the Blue Mountains, NSW, to see the "Everglades" - these were gardens. We then continued to the Mines & Minerals Dept in the Blue Mountains where 1 can vividly remember being given lots of information about rocks - which as children, we thought was just astounding. We then continued to some old, no longer working, coal mines just past Lithgow. Those carefree days were magic.
Part of our Slovenian schooling was also devoted to preparing for stage presentations. Be they drama, oration, dancing, singing or playing an instrument, stage presentations were very popular and no Slovenian event was complete without the obligatory performance.
The first official stage presentation took, place on 9 November 1960. The children, trained by Mr Drago Pogacar, a ballet master from Ljubljana, gave two ballet performances. Ms Toncka recalls the intensity of stage-fright amongst the children she taught. Many of them had to be taken by the hand onto the stage.
She remembers one particular incident when a male student (name omitted to avoid embarrassment) was to greet Bishop Jenko on stage in St Francis' church hall, Paddington. He knew his greeting extremely well, but when he faced the audience the tears welled up in his eyes and he started to cry. Being the "professional" he was, he quickly composed himself and finished the job very well. Today this gentleman is a well respected, high school mathematics teacher.
As all teachers do, Ms Toncka, also had many anecdotes - good and bad, funny and sad. I was anxious to find out more. She recalls two snowmen during a Christmas drama performance in Paddington church hall. " On the evening of the performance one of them literally went to sleep on the stage. How do I know? - well one of them was definitely snoring! There was not much I could do during the show, but afterwards I asked both boys about the snoring - the answer was - Oh, that was Mirko. Straight away Mirko asked "Will we be able to hear the snoring on the photos? I said: "I hope not! You wouldn't like to have a picture that snored all day and night would you?"
Slovenian primary school - and it was known as SlomSkova Sola then too - was an institution which catered for many more needs than language acquisition alone. The school left a great legacy to those who attended: a respect for things Slovenian, it's culture and customs and lots of good friends, I for one am extremely grateful to my parents for their commitment in taking us to Slovenian school. ♦>
-Education -
Learning Slovenian in Slovenia
by Dorothy Kobal
SO
I^^ack in 1987 (which is ancient history by some people's standards!) when I was wishing to do a language course in Slovenian, there was not much choice. I attended the Poletna Sola (Summer School) in Kranj. Even so, I still have fond memories of that time, both in the friends that I made (many from countries I had not seen) and the fact that my appreciation of my second home was much richer from the knowledge 1 had gained. Today, students have so many more choices! But the enjoyment and satisfaction remains the same. To give you an idea of the array of courses available, here is a summary. Please note that prices are in U.S. dollars. If you want more details on the courses, the deadlines to lodge application forms etc, please refer to the particular organising body.
A Note of Warning. Australia is often slow to hear of when these courses are running. Make your enquiries directly with the organising body (see table), otherwise you may not have much time to lodge your application forms. *>
■ Summer School of Slovenian Language Choice of 2 and 4 week courses. Entry knowledge test for placement in beginners, intermediate or advanced group. Lessons from 9:00am -12:15pm (4 x 45min daily sessions) Mon - Fri. Afternoons and weekend activities include lectures, workshops, discussion groups and excursions. Additional language classes also available. Courses run from the end of June till end of July. Accomodation: Student dormitory accomodation and all activities located near the centre of Ljubljana. Cost: 2 weeks: $330 tuition + $270 accomodation; 4 weeks: $625 tuition + $500 accomodation.	Applications usually close end of May
■ Winter School of Slovenian Language Similar to above; with lessons from 3:00pm - 6:15pm. Mornings reserved for sports: alpine and cross country sking (lessons available for non-skiers), walking, skating and more. Guest speakers present interesting topics on Slovenian culture. Course runs for 2 weeks in late January. Accomodation: Students stay at Porentov Dom -Kranjska Gora; NW Slovenia (close to the Austrian & Italian borders). The guest house also has a gym, sauna & horse riding. Cost: $645.	Applications usually close end of December.
■ One-Year Slovenian Language Course An intensive language course begining in October and ending in June. Lesson times as above for summer and winter (4 x 45min daily sessions) Mon - Fri. Entry knowledge test for placement in beginners, intermediate or advanced group. The course is supplemented by workshops designed around participants' interests, lectures on different aspects of life in Slovenia, theatre, watching Slovenian films and excursions. Certificate of Achievement issued on completition of the course. Accomodation: Arrange your own. Cost: Term 1 - $650, Term 2 - $585, Term 3 - $585	Applications usually close beginning of September.
■ Other options: MOST - Slovenian Volunteer Group Come to Slovenia as a volunteer and spend part of the European summer in various work camps organised by MOST (The Bridge), a Slovenian volunteer organisation which is part of Service Civil International (SCI). MOST also sends participants to work camps outside Slovenia. In 1995, MCW organised 25 international camps ranging from ecology, renovation and social issues, including several long-term work camps. The Slovenian Students Organisation advises that interested volunteers should apply via their local SCI branch or MOST directly. Contact Details: Your local branch of SC/ or MOST - SCI, Breg 12. 1000 Ljubljana. Ph: +386 61 125 8067	
Notes: In all cases you must be at least 17 years of age.
Participants are mostly high school or university students, however anyone interested is welcome.
(T) Further information & application forms can be obtained by contacting:
Filozofska Fakulteta, Aškerčeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia. C +386 61 176 9238 Fax: +386 61 125 7055 http://www.fT.uni-lj.si/ccnter-slo Email: centre-sio@ff.uni-lj.si *>
Study Slovenia Major at UTS, Sydney
by Nataša Drummond
»	S	n ^
Young Australians who wish to study at university have so many different courses on offer that making the right decision can be a very difficult process. Even when the student knows exactly which kind of degree he or she wants to pursue, there is still the choice of the right university to be made. What is on offer at each g university and what the student really needs, has to be determined| .
f his article presents the combined f degree, which is one of the options available to students at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). There are a number of combined degrees offered by the Institute for International Studies and the Faculties at UTS. The principle behind the combined degrees is that students can combine a professional degree with a degree in International Studies, specialising in the study of a countiy of their choice. This combined degree program aims to provide for undergraduate students in a variety of disciplines the opportunity to study a language and culture along with their professional degree. For example, students can combine a Bachelor of Business with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies or a Bachelor of Law with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies.
Slovenia Major
The main attraction of the combined degree for students of Slovenian background is that one of the majors on offer by the Institute is Slovenia.
Students learn the Slovenian language and study Slovenian culture, history, contemporary society, economics and politics. They will get to know Slovenia as it is now - a young, changing country in the heart of Europe.
Slovenian language is a central part of the Slovenia Major. Students undertake their language program at Macquarie University where Slovenian is taught at the Department of Modern Languages by Metka Cuk. Students in the Slovenian Major will be expected to improve their language skills in relation to the existing level of their language capabilities. This means that each student has the opportunity to become as proficient in the language as possible during four semesters of study.
To make sure that the students really understand what they are learning about and to gain first hand experience of the society and culture of their chosen country, all students in the combined degree spend the fourth year of their studies in the country of their major,
studying language and culture. This is a year of opportunity to familiarise oneself with the culture and everyday life of Slovenia - the best way to really become competent in the language and to experience the adventure of meeting new people and making friends for life.
There are two possible sites for the in-country study period in Slovenia: Ljubljana and Maribor. Negotiations with institutions in each of these locations are in progress. While in Slovenia, the students are expected to focus on Slovenian history and culture and, where feasible, have access to professional degree subjects in the university's regular undergraduate programs. For example, students whose professional degree is Business may have the option of enrolling into some business subjects at the university in Slovenia, providing their Slovenian language is proficient enough to understand the lectures given in Slovenian. They would be able to join other Slovenian students and experience student life in Ljubljana or Maribor. The cost of travel to the country of study and the tuition fees at the host university are paid by the Institute for International Studies for all its students. Students pay for their own living expenses.
More facts about the International Studies Program at UTS
When choosing a Major for an International Studies program, students can select one major from the following list of countries: Argentina, China, Chile, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, South China, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine. The study program for each major includes four subjects of the relevant language, a subject on Modernisation and Social Change, which introduces students to cultural diversity and comparative
(Continued on page 21)
Slovenians at Play
18th HSC Graduation (Maturantski Ples)
With the future in mind then we believe that it is timely to gather these thoughts and experiences as we honour this year's graduates, and in reunion with each other, pay tribute and celebrate 19 years of language learning." ❖
by Milena Godec
"...For most of us, the value of having Slovenian as a second language has found its place in our personal identity, and in our daily lives, as we continue to keep the language and traditions of our Slovenian heritage alive in our families through the 1st and 2nd generations of Slovenian migration.
Never before in our Australian society have we been more able to be so open in acknowledging our cultural diversities, despite our successful assimilation. In the past, and in more recent times, we have been able to discover and have had opportunities to celebrate the commonality of our Slovenian inheritance through various community functions and events e.g ASR. Indeed, the nature of some of these functions has seen change, in the way they have been designed to meet the needs of a growing and very different Slovenian Community - our generation! Certainly, the "Maturantski Ples" has played an important role to this end in our past. It is then, with a certain sadness, that with declining student enrolments, a particular part of our history may become just that in the unforeseeable future.
Anthony English, from the Class of 93 has no Slovenian blood in his veins! Speaking in Slovenian, he presented Mariza Llcan a gift, acknowledging her contributions to the Slovenian School of Languages._
Past graduates of HSC Slovenian Studies
Many past graduates attended the 18th HSC Graduates Ball. There have been 182 graduates since the begining in 1979. Pictured below are those unlucky enough to be captured on film at the ball.
Below: Alfred Breznik was a Graduate of the first year in 1979.
Class of 97 Teacher
Marie Williamson was presented with gifts of appreciation fronr her students. Pictured with Sylvia Siroelj-
^ Class of 1997
Natalie Brcar Dejan Rusakovic Gabriel a Pirc Sylvia Sircelj Erika Zarn Maja Zdolsek
<=> From the Class of '95 Julie Brcar - the evening's compare.
Slovenians Out and About in Sydney
Date	Place	Event	Details
Saturday December 7	SDS	Miklavzevanje	St Nicholas arrives at 5pm Music by Marimba
Sunday December 7	Triglav	Miklavz Picnic	12 - 6pm The Masters 2 - 6pm
Sunday December 14	Triglav	Rock & Roll	7pm - 12pm
Saturday December 20	Triglav	Aii evenings dance with Elio Pisak accompanied by Marjan Express Band	Elio a singer from Slovenia will perform modern and traditional songs
Wednesday December 24	St Raphaels	Midnight Mass Christmas Eve	In Hall
Thursday December 25	St Raphaels	Christmas Mass	8am - Congregational singing 9.30am - with mixed choir
Friday December 26	St Raphaels	Boxing Day Dance & Declaration of independence celebration	7pm - 12pm Music by Veseli Gorenjci
Wednesday December 31	SDS	New Years Eve	Spm - lam Music by Black Baron
Wednesday December 31 . ■ ■ ■	Triglav	New Years Eve	Dance Spm - lam Bookings essentia! Ph: Marta Magajna
Thursday January 1	St Raphaels	New Year Mass	9.30am & 7pm
Saturday January 17	SDS	Dance	Spm -12 Music by The Masters
Saturday February 7	SDS	Celebration of Preseran	Spm-12 Music TBA
Saturday February 2!	SDS	Pustni Picnic	12 - 6pm Music by Lipa 2-6pm
Sunday March 1	SDS	Picnic	12 -6pm Music by The Masters 2-6pm
Saturday March 14	SDS	Jozefovanje	8 - 12pm Music TBA
Sunday March 29	SDS	Picnic	12 - 6pm Music by The Masters 2 - 6pm
For more details on the events listed above contact the organisers direct:	SDS (Siovenian Association Sydney) 2-10 Elizabeth St Wetherill Park 2164 (02) 9756 1658	St Rafaels Slovenian Catholic Church 313 Merrylands Rd Merrylands 2160 (02) 9637 7147	Triglav Club Ltd. 80-84 Brisbane Rd St Johns Park 2176 (02) 9610 1627
Book
Review
The Certainty of Destiny by Max Namestnik (1997). Author and publisher.
Reviewed by Veronika Ferfolja
Vt^ith the passing of time and generations, the life experiences of people who were part of the post-Second World War mass migration to Australia could be lost forever: in this multicultural society of ours there are all too few testimonies by migrants about themselves. Hopefully, however, Mr Namestnik's work will become part of an emerging trend which will ensure that this won't be the case.
1 was struck by the openness of Mr Namestnik's autobiography. There were times Í was touched and times ! wanted to argue with the man behind this book. Indeed, I almost felt confronted by Mr Namestnik's presence, and I think that this is a good thing - it meant becoming engaged with his fife story as I am sure others will. This work will surely be of special interest to other European migrants in Australia; to compare and reminisce about life before migration,
(Continued on page 25)
THE LADIES WHO PREPARE Ik OUR MIDNIGHT SNACK
THE PRODUCTION TEAM
OUR SPECIAL GUESTS THE PENRITH SCHOOL OF GUITAR
MATTHEW KOSOROK
JULIE KARL BRCAR & LUKEZIČ
LIDIJA 3 RATINA
KARA STARIHA!
OPERA SENSATIOI VIVIAN FALEŽ
.■LENT! * LENKO
THE BIG BANG THEORY;
- PLANICA, MELBOURNES
PRVI REJ, CANBERRA
3ARBÂRA SMRDEL
ANDREV BRATIN/
'WENDY CESTNIK
MALI PREŠEREN, SYDNEY)
CHRISSY MESARIC
QUovwm L^ssoctafron Sydney's § 4M Jkmvmany Ceflebftaüon I
FORMER PRESIDENTS
MALI PREŠEREN
^jflf.pij ^Bi/itWay
muoweehM wiam^mi
What a RUSH!
if you're interested in playing an exciting ^ & challenging game of SKIRMISH in '08. %A look out for posters displayed @ church or ^ phone Julie: (02) 47365525_
Education
Teaching the Slovenian language in Australia

T)
.- m S arents believed, in common with m Australian education authorities, that knowledge or maintenance of another language would not only prevent the desired adaptation and assimilation, but also turn the children into indifferent speakers of English. Thus little effort was made to maintain the Slovenian language.
It was in the late fifties that educated Slovenians - teachers, priests, academics - began to organise classes for the younger children. These classes were most often conducted in clubs or religious centres. The children were taught some reading and writing skills, Slovenian songs, plays and folk dances. The classes and cultural activities for the young flourished in the sixties, while the number of Slovenian clubs and centres grew. It was practical and desirable for children to learn the language, while parents helped to build the club.
The seventies saw an increase of interest in language maintenance as travel to Slovenia became more frequent. The government supported these so-called "ethnic schools" through yearly per capita funding. It also provided funds for the establishment of libraries which contributed considerably to the establishment of a Slovenian cultural presence in this country. Libraries, radio programs and printed
publications in the Slovenian language in all the states today support and complement the teaching of Slovenian. The development of language skills among the second generation has been considerably assisted by the establishment of Slovenian Studies at Macquarie University in 1989.
Many people have also availed themselves of the study opportunities offered by Slovenia, university scholarships and summer language courses. Adults, some of them with no language background, are enrolling in Slovenian courses at secondary and tertiary level in increasing numbers. It is a trend that promises to continue, as the interest in the country and it's people grows.
Slovenian as a secondary school subject in Victoria
A major breakthrough for the Slovenian language occurred in 1976, when Slovenian became an accredited school subject in the Victorian School of Languages (VSL). By the end of 1976 the, Slovenian Teachers Association of Victoria (STAV) was founded. The purpose of the organisation was to gather qualified teachers of Slovenian background and form a pool of teachers to draw upon for teaching. In 1997 six classes were opened at three VSL Centres.
The major wave of migration to Australia of people of Slovenian ethnic background occurred around 1950. The primary goal of the immigrants was to establish a home, learn English and to find a comfortable place in the new society.
by Aleksandra L Ceferin
They were well supplied with a suitable text-book, Slovenian Language Manual (Gobetz) published in USA and a large number of resource books published mainly in Slovenia and Italy.
The accreditation of Slovenian as a matriculation subject (Higher School Certificate) took place in 1980, the first subject to be accredited under the more rigorous reformed V.I.S.E.(Victorian Institute of Secondary Education) system.
In 1981 the first group of students matriculated in Slovenian. Since then sixty-four students have completed the HSC or VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education), as it was later named, when the second and radical reform took place.
Slovenian as a secondary school subject in NSW
Slovenian was accredited by the state school system of NSW in 1979, when it was introduced as a subject in the newly established Saturday School of Community Languages, NSW. The accreditation was facilitated in the initial stage with assistance from the Victorian course developer, who prepared a Slovenian language outline as a basis for approval of Slovenian as a matriculation subject in NSW.
The Slovenian Schools Committee of
NSW was established at that time and has functioned successfully for many years. About one hundred and fifty students have matriculated in Slovenian in NSW between 1979 and 1997.
The National Assessment Framework For Languages at Senior Secondary Level (NAFLaSSL)
Since 1992 Slovenian has become one of the group of languages, referred to as NAFLaSSL or "interstate cooperation languages", together with Croatian, Macedonian, Serbian, Turkish and Arabic among others (22 languages altogether).
Three states have undertaken the responsibility for development of national syllabuses and for national assessment: New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. The syllabus is developed jointly, but responsibility for setting the written examination paper has been allocated according to numbers of candidates in a particular state during the period 1989-1990. Since Victoria had no candidates during those two years, the setting of the Slovenian external examination became the NSW responsibility.
Apart from the common syllabus statement and external examination, NAFLaSSL languages are taught in each state according to its own established
mode. For instance NAFLaSSL languages in Victoria share with the non-NAFLaSSL languages a common course design, a topic approach to teaching, assessment based on real-life situations and communicative tasks and the external test for oral skills, an externally set task and the extension of the matriculation course over the two senior years (Year 11 and Year 12).
Slovenian Studies at Macquarie University, NSW
Macquarie University is the first and -apart from post-graduate units - till now the only university in Australia to offer Slovenian Studies. The course was first offered in 1989, with satisfactory enrolments every year and a great deal of community support.
The language program is offered at three levels. It caters for students who already have studied Slovenian at secondary level, but also for beginners who are offered an introductory language course and a culture unit in English.
Since Macquarie offers courses by correspondence, it is accessible to all students with interest in the Slovenian language, wherever they live across Australia.
Teaching Resources
The only available textbook for teaching Slovenian suitable for Australian conditions as a basic text is still the Slovenian Language Manual, produced by Prof. Gobetz for teaching in USA. It contains essentia! vocabulary fields, linguistic elements and exercises, so that it can be used by individuals or groups in a multilevel classroom.
However there are a number of textbooks published in Slovenia which can be used to make teaching more varied and interesting - by use of cassettes, colour
(Continued on page 27)
Education
Slovenian School
An introduction to the Slovenian language, culture and customs,
by Kristina Suber and Zlatka Pondelak Translation: Miriam Stariha
-t*
f his article aims to describe, albeit ( briefly, the importance of the Slomškova Šola at Merrylands. There are currently 13 students attending school and they are divided into two classes. With sister Francka's departure earlier this year, I must say we had our work cut out, but despite the demands we continued to teach to the best of our abilities.
Our endeavour for the next school year is to enrol many more students. We are convinced that within the Slovenian community there are a large number of children who would like to learn the Slovenian language. This of course, is largely dependent on their parents' encouragement and commitment to regularly bring their children to school.
We strongly believe that attending lessons, particularly in the elementary years, is fundamental to language study,
given that most children of first and second generation Slovenians speak only English at home these days. If we do not introduce our children to the Slovenian language, the Slovenian culture and its customs in their formative years, it will be little wonder if they do not foster an interest as they grow into teenagers and indeed adults.
Our main aim at SlomSkova Sola is to give our children a foundation and a respect for the Slovenian language and to instil in them a pride in being descendants of Slovenian parents.
In addition to reading and writing, we learn Slovenian poems, songs, we do craft and also have various activities with painting and drawing. This year we prepared an exhibition of our students' works. Attending Slovenian school encourages both new friendships and social skills and I hasten to say that any
parent would be very proud to hear their child speak Slovenian. Given the reasons mentioned, it is very important that we continue with Slomškova Šola and that we encourage more children to attend. Keeping Slomškova Šola alive and well will also ensure the existence of Slovenian Studies at high school level at the Bankstown School of Community Languages and if the door to this secondary learning avenue closes, it will be extremely difficult to open it again.
For more information regarding 1998 enrolments to the Slomškova Šola at Merrylands please call Kristina Šuber on telephone number (02) 9605-4384.
For readers outside NSW who are interested in their primary school aged children learning Slovenian, contact the Slovenian clubs or Church communities in your state. Ed. ❖
(Continued from page 13J Study Slovenia Major at UTS, Sydney ... cont'd
social change, a subject about contemporary society in the country of their major, and two subjects of In-country Study, which allow students to spend two semesters at a tertiary institution overseas in the country of their major.
For the students who already have an undergraduate degree and want to further their studies in International Studies, there are two kinds of postgraduate degrees available:
Research Degrees:
Masters of Arts {by thesis) and Doctor of Philosophy. Applications for research degree candidature are welcome from all graduates with an interest in social, political, economic and cultural change in East Asia, South-East Asia, Latin America or Europe.
Coursework Degrees: Graduate Diploma in International Studies, Master of Arts in International Studies.
The coursework postgraduate degree program provides graduates from disciplinary backgrounds with the opportunity to study a language and culture other than English.
The International Studies program is open to all students at UTS. Students may access the International Studies program through one of the combined degrees that combine International Studies with a UTS degree course, or through the Postgraduate Coursework Degree Program, or lake its subjects as electives in any UTS degree course. Duration of the combined degree (an International Studies major and the training of a professional degree together in an integrated program) is 5 or 6 years full-time study.
Contact details
The coordinator for the Slovenia Major at the Institute for International Studies is Rhondda Brill (tel: 02 9514 1591).
Lecturer for Slovenian language at Macquarie University is Metka Cuk (tel: 02 9850 7032).
The Institute for International Studies is located on Broadway No. 9-11, in Sydney.
Mailing address:
PO Box 123,
Broadway, NSW 2007,
Tel: 02 9514 1574, Fax: 02 9514 1578,
Email: IlS.Reception@uts.edu.au
Web page; http://www.uts.edu.au//fac//iis
Natasa Drummond
Institute for International Studies
Phone: +61 2 9514 1507
Fax: +61 2 9514 1500
Email: Natasa.Drummond@uts.edu.au ♦>
mri SLOVENIAN ASSOCIATION SYDNEY	
ACN 000 904 754	2-10 Elizabeth Street Wetherill Park NSW 2164
	ft Bistro
	ftBocce
Visitors	ft Pool Tables
most	ft Poker Machines
welcome	ft Electronic Dart Boards Hl^h-T^
	& Tennis & Basketball courts
	ft Library with Slovenian Books
	ft Indoor Shooting Gallery
Tel: (02) 9756 1658	Social Club available for
Fax: (02) 9756 1447	Weddings, Parties,
	Functions and Hall hire
The Slovenian Association Support's the Advancement of Slovenians	
Folkloric Dancers
Canberra Dance Group Tour Slovenia
it's not very often that an Australian dance group whose roots are firmly based in Australia, are invited to Slovenia for a national tour. The successful Prvi Rej tour confirmed that Slovenian dance traditions are alive and well in Australia.
by Barbara Falez
Martin Osolnik, a member of our dance group and my father, Cvetko Falez, were both in Slovenija in the European summer of 1996 and met with Boštjan Kocmur the President of the organisation Slovenija v Svetu. In the discussions Boštjan mentioned that he had initially offered to take an Oktet on a tour of Australia but dad instead suggested that maybe they could sponsor a tour to Slovenija of an Australian-Slovenian folkloric dance group. After much liasing, this came about.
From December, things became really serious. We began practicing twice a week and once a month wonderful Rudi came ail the way from Sydney to Canberra for a weekend practice and we also had Fred Pribac from Melbourne join us on a few occasions. At this stage we still did not have enough dancers and
/ 1 t a dance practice sometime M »early last year, Prvi Rej received an invitation to participate in an International Folk Festival to be held in April this year on the Isle of Ibiza, Spain. Needless to say, some of us became quite excited at the prospect of going on a tour and so began fantasising about it.
.....Of course, it was very "pie in the sky
stuff1 but it did get us thinking about the possibility of spreading our wings and performing outside Australia. Once reality took over we had to accept that the Spanish Festival was out of the question, we talked about Slovenija and the chances of making it there, and somehow, it seemed a little more realistic. But that was where it stayed.
Pater Ciril Bozic had invited us to perform at Brezje, which we did after attending an outdoor mass. We partook of some dancing to the sounds of Rudi backed by an entire brass band, there's really nothing like it. The band was amongst other visitors to Brezje on the day, but alas we had to take leave and head to Austria. Arriving in Zelezna Kapla we were greeted by the local Austrian police who issued Darko with a speeding ticket. Thanks! Our hosts in Zelezna Kapla were the choir that had toured Australia a couple of years ago, Gallus. They made us fee! very welcome although we were already
her years there. A group from the school was having training so we ended up joining in, we learnt something from them and we showed them some of our Australian dances. We thought we were not too bad but they were sharp. We knew then that we still had a long way to go. We had a look at their facilities, wow, what a costume collection, it was incredible and much of it, Ljuba was responsible for. Anyway, afterwards we all went out for pizzas and beer. It was great fun.
On Tuesday, our performance was at the Franciskanska Cerkev in the centre of
managed to recruit a couple more much needed "boys". (They seem to be so hard to come by!!)
Ljuba Vrtovec-Pribac, our "main woman", without whom we would never have reached this point, had the biggest workload, sewing and preparing the costumes and choreographing the dances. Until one becomes as involved as we did. it is hard to believe how much work actually goes into just the preparation let alone the sewing. Some of us have become experts at starching and ironing and even some of the guys had a go! (Trivia time: Did you know that it takes about two hours to iron one of our starched petticoats'"")
After roughly six months of hard work, wc left Canberra, (others from Sydney or Melbourne) on the evening of Thursday 26 June 1997, nervous, excited and still quite not believing that it was all happening. We had a group of about 30 people, 16 dancers, 2 musicians, Ljuba and then several relatives and friends.
Once in Ljubljana we were taken to the Skofovske Zavode in Sentvid, a lovely newly renovated boarding school. Being school holidays we were almost the only guests there, truly magnificent. This became our base and from here we went on our "side trips".
Our first performance was at the Zavod which was well attended by members of the Slovenski Narodni Svet from the world over and also locals. Following that performance it was a repack of costumes and off to Predvor, a little north of Ljubljana for our evening performance
Sunday morning, bleary eyed, we packed the bus, a new driver and a new bus. Being a smaller bus our main piece of luggage, which contained much of the costumes had to go onto the bus instead of under it. It was just that much cosier on the bus.
late so we hurriedly unpacked and put on a full program consisting of six different dances. Gallus also performed with us. The following morning (Monday) we went to Celovec, and Svece, (a village on the way back towards Slovenija), where we were shown a museum housing Koroske costumes and some artwork by local artists.
From there it was back to Ljubljana and off to the studios of France Marolt Folk Dance Organisation This in fact was our only free evening. We wanted to see where Ljuba had first acquired a taste for dancing and then spent 15 of
Ljubljana, where there was an opening of an art exhibition. It was super there, a great crowd and our best performance ever, we danced inside the gallery and then went to Prešernov Trg where we performed two dances one being an Australian dance. It was lots of fun and we had onlookers join us for a spin at the end. Our dear friend Irene Stariha was even in the audience there, what a nice surprise! (Ed. It was great to meet these talented Aussies in Ljubljana!)
After a great meal with Boštjan and his wife, it was apparently time for a night out. Our younger members were keen to (Continued on page 24)
(Continued from page 25) Canberra Dance Group Tour Slovenia ... cont'd
experience a Slovenian disco and those of us not so young went off to an Irish pub in the centre of Ljubljana... of all things. Members of France Marolt, joined us and we checked out a few night spots. A fun night was had by all and a very late night was had by a few.
On Wednesday we left for Maribor (and the Stajerska region) where we stayed until Saturday. During this time we danced in Hotinja Vas, hiked to the top of Boc (a small mountain/large hill), performed with a local dance group, had a formal reception with the Mayor and enjoyed the event of the tour!
At the Mariborski Festival (called Lent) every year, they crown a "Miss Lent". They invite male members of groups to vie for this honour and it doesn't start before midnight. Well, four of our lads decided that they would like to dress up
as girls.....we have to mention names.
They were Steven, alias Stefanie, Lojzek, alias Lojska, ever so sweet Mark became Maricka and lastly was Rudi Crncec, alias Claudia who became the ultimate winner of the quest, Miss Lent 1997. How proud we were!
The night before we left this part of Slovenia we enjoyed a jam session with the musicians of the various groups that performed at the festival. That left us dancers to enjoy ourselves as we know how. The groups included Czechs, Poles, Spaniards, Hungarians, Turks and lots of others. We danced ourselves silly. This late night was cursed the next morning, (Saturday) when we had to pack up everything as we were heading off to the seaside. The lift had broken down in the building where we were staying and we happened to be on the top floor,(7th or 8th) so everything had to be carried down. Thank God it didn't happen on the
way up! A long drive today, all the way to Vipava where we were to perform that evening. After a lovely lunch and tour of a winery,we were given a tour of the town.
What a lovely place, Slovenske Benetke they used to call it, full of history. The evening performance here was held in conjunction with the local dance group and was memorable and well attended. Afterwards we were guests of two brothers who have a small winery. We enjoyed their great wine, prsut, sir and salamis and then danced in the tiny streets of Vipava to the tunes of both their and our musicians. Reluctantly we bid them goodnight well after midnight and drove to Ankaran.
It was about 2am by the time we arrived in Ankaran, we checked into rooms and one of our dancers discovered she had left her passport and other valuables, perhaps back in Maribor. We telephoned them immediately and
"praise be the Lord", everything was still in tact as she had left it.
On Sunday morning, my dear dad who had his own car, took a drive back to Maribor to pick up the "lost" passport. Thanks again dad. The rest of us managed a little sleep-in then headed up to Srgasi, a village not far from Ankaran, where Ljuba has a house. There we enjoyed lunch and then did some ironing just for a change. From there we headed lo Osp, where we performed on an outside stage. The changing area we were allocated was a little tricky and we were almost changing in front of the audience. Oh well! Afterwards, we partied with the Osp dance group where we finished off the evening once again dancing in the streets!
On Monday morning we crossed the Italian border and arrived at Opcine where we would be staying, then straight on to Doiina to be formally welcomed by the Mayor, Boris Pangerc, a member of
Well, four of our lads decided that they
would like to dress up as girls ...
Trzaski Oktet. You will remember they toured Australia last November and were thrilled to return some of the hospitality they'd received,
From the Mayor's office, we visited an ex-pat Australian basketball player who played with the Melbourne Giants, Boris Vitez who is now living in the area. He had a lovely bar/restaurant where we enjoyed some nibblies and Fosters beer, From here, we went to Repentabor, the site of the evening's performance. Wow, what a spectacular setting, in the grounds of an old church and other buildings. We
Welcome Pater Metod
As of the 10th August 1997, Pater Metod Ogoverc OFM has been chosen as the replacement of the late Fr Basil Valentine to take over the huge task of running the Slovenian Religious and Cultural Centre in Kew as well as preparing "Misli", the Slovenian monthly newspaper which Pater Bazili prepared for 25 years -right up to his passing away.
Pater Metod, the Slovenian community in Melbourne and Victoria welcomes you with open arms and may your stay among us be a long and pleasant one.
Lenti Lenko *>
commenced our show just prior to sunset with a stunning view over Trieste in the distance. Personally, 1 think this site was the most suitable of all, the ambience was perfect. Our performance was enthusiastically received by the large audience who also enjoyed a few songs sung by the Oktet.
'['he following morning we bid farewell and drove to Kocevje where we were met by members of Prifarski Muzikanti and a couple of members of the France Marolt dance group from Ljubljana. Here we did some sightseeing and rehearsed for our performance of the day. Then came the last official day of our tour, Wednesday. It was taken up with preparation for our last performance in Vnanje Goricah, outside Ljubljana. We headed out in the afternoon, danced six dances interspersed with dances performed by
the local group.....and then had another
party!
Thursday was a lazy day in readiness for our "last supper" together before everyone went their own ways. It was
(Continuedfrom page 15) Book Review... cont'd
arrival, building a home, as well as return trips "home". It also provides second (and future) generation migrants with a peephole into one of the first generation's experiences and thoughts. This work will be of especial importance to Slovenian migrants and those of Slovenian descent, not least because there is so little written about the lives of Slovenians in Australia. Furthermore, Slovenians are all too familiar with appearing invisible to the general community, and it came as no surprise to read that Mr Namestnik's work mates assumed he was Dutch! On the other hand, Anglo-Australians might like to know how they have been perceived in the eyes of a Slovenian migrant.
sad that all this was over, but I must say that everywhere we visited, our hosts were extremely warm and welcoming, we received some wonderful gifts but most of all what will stay with us are the wonderful memories of a truly "enkratno" (once only) experience.
On behalf of Prvi Rej, 1 must first thank Bostjan Kocmur and Slovenija v Svetu for making this entire venture possible, secondly, Ljuba Vrtovec-Pribac again without whom we would be just another group with a little knowledge of Slovenian dances and very limited wardrobe. Thanks also to Rudi and Fred who made our performances alive, going with just tapes would have been pretty dull and besides you both amused us in many other ways. 1 would also like to thank dad, Cvetko Falez, for all of his support, liaising and organisation and then all those others of you who supported us by attending our performances and making donations.
We'll keep you posted as to what may happen in the future, one has to have goals to work towards!!!? ❖
Veronlka Ferfolja is a Postgraduate Researcher in Slovenian WWII and Migration History at the University of Adelaide. *!*
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— History -
Frederik Baraga
by F. Darko Znidarsic
-r'
f his year we are celebrating I the 200th anniversary of a great Slovenian missionary, Bishop Frederik Baraga.
The anniversary was the reason for a string of celebrations in his home village Mala vas near Dobrnic and council of Trebnje. Many attended and participated in these celebrations who wished to enrich themselves by taking as their model this saintly bishop, apostle of American Indians, writer, and, above all, faithful priest. The celebrations peaked on Sunday, 21 September 1997, in Dobrnic, when the 21st Baraga Day was honoured with a prayer hour, solemn high mass (conducted by archbishop and metropolitan dr. Franc Rode) and a solemn celebration with Msgr. Dr. Maksimiljan Jezemik and Dr. f. Bruno KoroSak as speakers presenting some aspects of the process of Baraga's beatification.
Last year on his visit to Slovenia, Pope John Paul II said: "'Modem society today shows a deep need for saints, for people who can, for their close ties with God, help us feel his presence and convey his answers..." Just like in the past, holiness has to be lively and happily embodied in life today. Many Slovenian mothers and fathers deserve to be mentioned in the history of the nation as they gave an important example of Christian consistency. Holiness is the force that can change the world."
Bishop Frederik Baraga was born on 29 June 1797, in the castle Mala Vas near Trebnje. His father Janez later sold this castle and bought another one in Trebnje where Frederik spent his childhood. He went to primary school and lyceum in Ljubljana. During his schooling, both his mother and father died, in 1808 and 1812 respectively, and Dr. Jurij Dolirsar, professor of law, became his guardian. After schooling in Ljubljana, he continued his studies at Vienna iaw school. There he met St. Klemen Hofbauer Dvorak who had
formed a circle of young people whom he introduced to a deep religious life. Frederik Baraga gradually realised God called him into his service. In 1821 he completed his studies in law and entered Ljubljana seminary. He was ordained on 21 September 1823.
Baragas' birthplace
As a chaplain, he took his parishioners to his heart. He made a very popular confessor and preacher. His main concern was for the poor. For those children who could not afford to pay fees he held classes in his own room. He encouraged fraternities and religiousness, especially worshipping Jesus and Mary Heart. He even wrote two prayer books: Opominvanje eniga duhovniga pastirja za svoje ovc ice sredi svetiga leta ¡826, and the well-known prayer book Dušna paša.
His enthusiasm though, evoked opposition among other priests who were at the time very Jansenist oriented. In 1830 he decided to depart for the missions of North America.
There, the most important period of his life and preaching took place. The bishop of Cincinnati, Edward Fenwick, sent him first to the Ottawas at Lake Michigan, and then to the Chippewa at the Upper Lake. He adapted to the their way of life, got to know their customs and culture, learnt to share their happiness as well as their grief, and listened to the peoples' yearnings for love. He fought for the preservation of Indian dignity, against all kinds of
abuse, primarily alcoholism which was widely spread among them. Besides converting them to Christianity he also taught them how to work in the field, crafts, and how to build houses to keep the cold away. He felt it was important for them to preserve the basic values of their own culture, to respect it and build upon it, especially with the new waves of immigrants coming to America creating a powerful new influence. Baraga did everything in his power for both tribes to keep their autonomy and identity. He compiled a catechism with prayers, wrote Ochipwai grammar in 1850 and, in 1863, the first Indian Dictionary,
Pope Pious ¡X appointed missionary Frederik Baraga the bishop and first apostolic vicar of the new vicarage Upper Michigan. On All Saints Day, 1 November 1 857, he was ordained as a bishop.
In this capacity, he visited Slovenia the following year, for the second and last time. In autumn 1857, the vicarage of Upper Michigan became a diocese with Sault Saint Marie as its seat. In spring 1866, bishop Baraga moved the seat of diocese to Marquette, Michigan, in the autumn of the same year he attended the annual meeting of American bishops in Baltimore where he suddenly suffered a heart attack. After much suffering he died in Marquette on 19 January 1868.
He wrote about his work in many letters. Much of his effort, care and prayers were dedicated to the human being as a whole person and their spiritual life. In a letter to his friend, he wrote:
"Founding a new mission in such a remote and bare country costs a lot of money. However, if we look at it in the light of Christianity we will realise that all the expenses are nothing in comparison with the great and important benefits they are spent on. " ♦>
(Continued from page 19) Teaching the Slovenian Language in Australia ... cont'd
illustrations, interesting ways of presenting words and sentence structures.
Slovenia has traditionally produced attractive illustrated books and magazines - nowadays also video documentaries - which are being used in teaching a range of topics.
The VCE two year course in Victoria has established the teaching of language through the topic approach, so that no single text can satisfy the need for broader contexts of language use and students interests. This principle has been extended to all levels of primary and secondary language schooling.
The Slovenian Course Outlines 1996, a Year 7-12 schooling program has been published by the school and is available for sale interstate for £15 a copy. It is a complete course outline with many suggested activities and ideas which could be of use to any language teacher.
This resource along with many others developed in Australia for the study of Slovenian at secondary level are available through:
The Principal
Victorian School of Languages Private Bag 8 Albert Park Vic. 3206 tel. (03) 9690 9111 fax: (03)9690 9019
Slovenian courses are now accessible to everyone regardless of where they live or what level of knowledge they have of the language. •>
Cooking
vO» ^
Ingredients - Sarme
500g smoked pork spare ribs 50g chopped bacon 500g pork mirice 3-4 tablespoons oil 2 cloves crushed garlic 1 heaped tablespoon sour cream
1 large onion (chopped) 1 heaped tablespoon parsley 150g rice (uncooked) salt, pepper 8-10 sauerkraut leaves (reserve remaining leaves from soured cabbage head to line the dish)
Sarme - Cabbage Rolls
by Jenny Stariha
Not an original Slovenian dish but a very popular winter meal. Often served with Rye bread or boiled potato. In older times they were often served on special occasions such as weddings and family gatherings. Can be frozen.
Method - Sarme
1.	Heat oil, brown onion, garlic, bacon and mince
2.	Add rice, parsley, salt and pepper
3.	Mix well and make 10 sausage like rolls, wrap them in sauerkraut leaves
4.	Oil a baking dish, line dish with chopped sauerkraut and half the ribs
5.	Place rolls on top and cover them with the rest of the chopped sauerkraut and spare ribs.
Sauce Ingredients
Method - Sauce
1.	Brown onion in oil, add flour, tomato paste, paprika and water. Mix until sauce is smooth.
2.	Pour sauce over the Sarme and cover the baking dish.
3.	Bake in a slow oven (150°C) for \'A-2 hours.
4.	When baked, gently mix in sour cream between the Sarme.
Enjoy your meal!
4 tablespoons oil 1 onion (chopped) 30g plain fiour 1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon red paprika 2-3 cups of water
1 cup sour cream
Cumin seeds or bay leaves to taste
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Poetry

ëm '.-t
Nezakonska Mati
(The Unmarried Mother)
7/
M\ a.i Pa Je tebe treba bilo, f ^^,dete ljubo, dete lepo, meni mladi deklici neporočeni materi?
Oca so kleli, tepli me, mati nad mano jokali se; moji se mene sram'vali so, tuji za mano kazali so.
On, kije sam bil ljubi moj, on, kije pravi oca tvoj, sel je po svetu, Bog ve kam; tebe in mene gaje sram!
Kaj pa je tebe treba bilo, dete ljubo, dete lepo! AF te je treba bilo, al' ne, vendar presrcno ljubim te.
Meni nebo odprto se zdi, kadar se v tvoje ozrem oci, kadar prijazno nasmejas se, kar sem prestala, pozabljeno je.
On, ki ptice pod nebom živi, naj ti da srečne vesele dni! Al' te je treba bilo, al' ne, vedno bom srčno ljubila te. *>
France Prešeren
France Presern (1800 - 1849) was the son of a farmer from Verba (in Upper Carniola) He became a qualified lawyer at the University of Vienna and an assistant in the state financial service. Poetry however was his passion and he put up with the burden of a dual life - the life of a liberal-minded lawyer without hope of a career in Metternich's Austria and that of a poet of genius endowed with extreme sensibility In poems, perfect in form and original in content, Presern expressed the highest and truest ideals of human culture: the striving
after beauty, truth and justice; the urge
I - fff?
English translation by Janko Lavrin. Poems by France Prešeren edited by W.K. Matthews © 1997, DZS, d. d., Ljubljana ISBN 86-3411782-0
The Unmarried Mother
(Nezakonska mati)
1 /I § hat was the need of you, V \/ little one, My baby dear, my darling son, To me - a girl, a foolish young thing, A mother without a wedding ring?
My father cursed and beat me, My mother in tears would entreat me; My friends would blush and pass me by, Strangers pointed at me on the sly.
And he who was my own true love, Your father by the will above, He wanders God knows how far from here, Shamed because of us, poor dear.
What was the need of you, little one, My baby dear, my darling son? But whether there was need or no, With all my heart I love you so.
There seem to open azure skies Whene'er I look into your eyes; And when on me you sweetly smile, All I've suffered is gone for a while.
May He, by whom the birds are fed, Joy and blessings on you shed! Whether there was need or no, With all my heart I love you so. *>
towards a nobler relationship between the sexes, based on the greatest mutual respect; the necessity of sacrificing one's personal happiness for the progress of society and of ardent toil on the part of everyone working for the liberty of his/her own and other nations. In this way he made a more effective criticism of the centuries of oppression than he could have done with any radical political program.
Presern's life was filled with personal tragedies which greatly influenced his work. He held a deep love (which would never be realised} for Julia Primic, a wealthy and very married young woman. Presern first saw the object of his idea! love at the Church of St John the Baptist in a suburb of Ljubljana.
He dedicated numerous love sonnets to her but all were in vain. His love for her was so open that even today if you follow the gaze of Presern (the sculpture) in the Presern's Trg Ljubljana, you will see him looking to her leaning out of her window. At the death of his great friend and mentor Matija Cop, Presern was almost paralysed with grief and it was at this time that he realised the futility of his love for Julia. The "love phase" of his poetry was over.
His work after 1841 found expression in three cycles of poems: his love cycle (1841-1843), his social and national cycle of 1844, and his satirical and elegiac cycle of 1845. *
Feedback
The ASR welcomes your suggestions and comments. Send correspondence to:
ASR
PO Box KL926
Kings Langley NSW 2147
Australia
Fax: (02) 9674 4583
Dear ASR team,
On my recent visit to Albuty to attend the "Bonegilla "97" Festival, I also visited the Slovenian Clubrooms in Albury where I came across a copy of your Spring 1997 issue of the ASR. and noted with interest the comments made about Slovenians being unable to speak the Slovenian language -1 am also in that category.
Having left the country under somewhat controversial circumstances in 1941, when I was seven years old to live in Austria, I migrated to Australia at \5'A years of age. I have always classified myself as a Slovenian born "Gotscheer" born in Dolga Vas and was brought up with the German language.
Would you or your readers be able to help me with some information on the expulsion of the Gotscheer people in 1941? All I remember is being placed on a train with my parents and many others with personal belongings. Has anyone to your knowledge recorded this event? This is a part of my life that is missing.
In conclusion 1 must compliment you on your magazine which I very much enjoyed reading, wishing you lots of success in the future. Erhard Stermole Hoppers Crossing VIC
Ii sounds as ¡hough you have a story worth telling and should ensure that it is
recorded for future generations of Australian Slovenians. One person who is working very hard to record histories like yours is Veronika Ferfolja from Adelaide. To my knowledge she would be the most likely person to know of the history of the Gotscheer people. We also have a historian amongst us and will set him a task to find out what he can. If you are interested in personally contacting either of these people please let me know and I will help organise this.
Thank you also for enjoying what you have read of our review. Ed
Dear ASR team,
I have a good friend in Trbovljah, who is the father of a well known song artist. Alexander Jez. He is especially loved by the youth in the Štajerska region.
Alexander's father gave me a CD and some cassettes of his songs. I noticed that the CD and cassettes somewhat changed Alexander's voicc and therefore do not give him justice. I am sending you a cassette for you to listen with friends and please let me know what you think of his songs. The CD is somewhat better, which I will send you as soon as my friends from Maribor send it to me, as I have asked.
Irene, I believe that a tour by a young song artist like Alexander would be a
success. It would be great for the young Slovenians, not like the traditional bands that usually come to Australia. Would it not be great to try and organise a visit to Australia by Alexander?
Tell me what you and others in Sydney think of this idea. Best wishes to you. Hope that you have a good time at the Slovenian Youth Concert. Max Namestnik Perth WA
You would not believe how timely your suggestion was. Just of late we have had a meeting between the Slovenian Embassy in Canberra and second generation Slovenians. If you read my editorial you will see some of those outcomes - one of them being more contemporary visitors from Slovenia. I have been working with the Embassy in trying to get a contemporary singer out for 1998, however the time line was unrealistically short for next year's calendar. I know that our generation would love to see some younger Slovenians coming to entertain us but we need some kind of "promoter/entrepreneur " to help organise such a tour. Do you have any suggestions?
PS thanks for the tape and your kind thoughts in sharing it with us. Ed
Dear ASR Team
I was very impressed by Irene's editorial about her visit to Slovenia. I think in future more members of the young team
should be given a chance to be part of a workshop like that. I like your newspaper a lot and I think you reach more people from your generation if you write in the English language. Personally. I don't mind, I am fairly fluent in both languages (even if not quite perfect!) but then I had an opportunity to learn English at school in Slovenia. Many of your parents didn't even have a chance to go to Slovenian school, not to mention English, but their children expect from them to provide them with a good life and education and assimilate in Australia and forget all about the old country. It hurts when I read articles, where young Australians make fun of their Slovenian mothers, their provincial taste in dressing, their taste in music and their bad English.
I don't expect you guys to use the Slovenian language, because most of you don't know how, but be fair! You have thousands and thousands of publications around you in the language you so proudly call yours (English naturally!) and yet so many of you begrudge your parents a measly two - or at least three -publications in their own native language. Why? If you don't know the language naturally you will find it archaic, unpronounceable and vocabularicaly challenged (all the adjectives you found so creative and soooo good!). A well educated and intelligent person will find equal beauty in the works of Shakespeare and Burns as in poetry of Prešeren and Gregorčič (providing he can understand them). Let this archaic, pathetic Slovenian old lady put an equally archaic curse on the people like your "the bears etc": May God give you children, who will show you as little love and respect as you show now for your parents!
Are you so sure you can depend on information about a country, written by a man who couldn't be bothered to find out what is the name of the country's President?
And I even have the guts to sign my letter!
Marta Magajna Sydney NSW
We Slovenians are very passionate about language. For the last few issues we have been debating which language is best, and I think you have hit the nail on the head. Yes we do reach more people if we print in English and that is definitely our aim. It isn't our aim however to degrade , belittle or replace the Slovenian language for those who are fluent in it. We must respect (and I know my colleagues in the ASR team do) the right of all those who read Slovenian, to have the opportunity to do so. I am a great supporter for example of Glas Slovenia. These two dedicated people fulfil a great need within our community and should be congratulated for their work. We do not want to replace existing Slovenian media, we just want to Jill another need within the community.
I am very proud that we appeal to all generations of Australian Slovenians, but I think the articles or letters that offended you most were directed particularly to our younger readers. Our mission is to make ASR a vehicle for all in our community to use, to enable them to communicate ideas and opinions. As with all cultures what one generation finds amusing or fun, can to another seem rude or hurtful. I understand this very well as at the moment I feel like at my age I'm right in the middle and understanding (and yet being confused) by both generations.
I believe that the opinions voiced by those who don't know the name of the president, can 7 appreciate the language or jest about the tastes of their parents were not intended to hurt or show a lack of respect, but simply to make those of their generation share a
little understanding of what it is like to grow up in a country being a little different from our peers.
As the editor I apologise if there was any hurt felt by either yourself or others of your generation, but I do stress that ASR will continue to give all generations the opportunity to voice their opinions.
My mother and I are not compatible when it comes to shopping, but it has as much to do with her age, personal taste and priorities as it has with her ethnicity - and I love her anyway! Ed
Dear ASR Team I would like to thank the Sydney Slovenians for organising this year's Youth Concert. My three children performed on the night and enjoyed the experience very much.
The show was very well organised particularly the stage management and the sound and this is very helpful to young slightly nervous performers. The fact that they were treated professionally made them want to perform to the best of their ability.
One thing that I would like to add is that I felt that there was not enough time for socialising and getting to know our fellow first, second and third generation Slovenians. I feel that it is a pity that bus loads of people come from interstate days before the concert and that there is no opportunity to meet others either before or after the concert. As the concert finished late at night and we had a very early start the next morning we had no choice but to board our coach and call it a night.
On the whole it was a very enjoyable trip for myself and especially memorable for my children. Thank you Sydney. Lydia Bratina Endeavour Hills VIC
(Continued on page 32)
Media Watch
■	"The Little Goebels of Ljubljana".
Between the 13th and 16th of August, 1997 one of our community's older members was very popular with the press. Mr Lyenko Urbanchich featured heavily in The Daily Telegraph, The Sydney Morning Herald and radio station 2BL - Sydney. The reports focussed on the attendance of Mr Urbanchich at a Liberal Party meeting. The suggestions were that "The Libs rendezvous to form a new faction" and that Mr Urbanchich was a leader of the so-called Uglies sub-faction during Malcolm Fraser's leadership. The articles claim that he was a propagandist for the Nazi-backed puppet government in Slovenia during World War 11. He has rigorously denied this as well as the claim that his name had been put on a register of war criminals 40 years earlier in the US because of his pro-Nazi activities. One political commentator even suggested that Mr Urbanchich was referred to as "The Little Goebels of Ljubljana".
In his defence, Mr Urbanchich gave evidence that he fought the Germans, was captured and sent to a concentration camp, interrogated by the British, Italian and German authorities after the war and had been cleared of all charges. The news report stated that Mr Urbanchich was disillusioned with the whimpish policies of former prime minister Malcolm Fraser, and particularly the introduction of diverse and baseless multiculturalist policies. He is claimed to have been anti-Semitic and in favour of South Africa's apartheid regime. Apparently Mr Urbanchich has been subject to a substantial smear campaign due to these views.
■	Llpizanner Horses in Australia
A report in the Australian magazine dated September 6-7 ran a story on the famous horses of Lipica. It reported on the Spanish Riding School of Vienna which conducted a rare lour of Australia. Named "The Royal Lippizanner Stallion Show", it travelled to a large number of cities including Sydney, Brisbane, Newcastle. Adelaide. Melbourne, Canberra, Launceston and Hobart. The story made reference to the origins of the breed and the stud farm where the breed was perfected. Quoting the magazine, "...Archduke Maximillian, later to become the Emperor of Austria, began breeding horses in 1562 and, centuries on, in the tiny town of Lipica, now in Slovenia..."
■	Getaway goes to Slovenia
Have you been watching this popular program on television? On 1 i September 1997, Channel 9's "Getaway" program went to eastern Europe. One of their destinations was Slovenia. Now whilst the description of Slovenia as part of eastern Europe is not encouraged by the Slovenian community, it did present a positive image of Slovenia as a tourist attraction for Australian travellers. The story started with a visit to Ljubljana, describing it as the capital of one of the world's youngest countries. Lovely views of the old city were shown. It went on to explain that Slovenia was not affected by the Balkan war and was, thus, quite untouched. It also mentioned that accommodation is inexpensive, as long as you look for a private room on a "bed and breakfast" basis - a good tip for travellers. Reference was made to the reasonable prices for food and beverages - a cup of coffee in a cafe being only about one dollar!
The final scene had Catriona Rovvntree singing the benefits of a holiday to Eastern Europe, whilst on the banks of Lake Bled - a nice finish showing some of the natural beauty of Slovenia. Ironically, in the program which reported on organised bus tours of Eastern Europe, the bus had the logo "Kompas - .Slovenia"'.
Letters to the Editor ..... cont'd
(From page 31)
We 're glad to hear that you enjoyed the Youth Concert and particularly the fact that your children felt they were treated as professionals. I remember your children 's performances and they were certainly very good at hiding the fact that they were slightly nervous!
In regards to the absence of time to meet with other Slovenians from NSW and other areas of Australia, I totally agree, h is difficult in one weekend to have the organisation and performance of such a concert, and still have the time to socialise and travel. Perhaps in the future when interstate groups come to Sydney, they need to look at accommodation closer to the Merrylands Centre. As this is the focus location for the weekend's festivities, it would be more accessible and time efficient for the interstate visitors and locals. Something to think about for next time.
Anyway we are looking forward to next years concert already wherever it may be. Ed ♦>
(Dorothy 'Kobat
B. Com LL.B.
Solicitor
Tel: (02) 9838 0334 Fax: (02) 9674 4583 Mobile: 0416 208 387
81 SporLng Avenue (P.O. Box KL 926) Kings Langley NSW 2147