Zdzisław Jarentowski
President
president@kosciuszko-darra.org.au
Our Offers
Polish association of Darra Inc. offers
Hiring the Hall
The Board of the Association offers the possibility of renting a room for all celebrations and occasions.
This offer can be used by members of our Association as well as people not related to our Association.
The room reservation is conducted by Zbigniew Mizanowski who also provides all information.
Contact Details
Email: treasurer@kosciuszko-darra.org.au
Mobile: 0422 632 996
Dancing Parties
We organize dance games and events based on the Association's annual Calendar of Events
Tresa Markiewicz takes care of all information and booking places.
Contact Details
Email: booking@kosciuszko-darra.org.au
Mobile: 0433 221 469
Friday Evenings
Every Friday, the kitchen and bar are open to members of our Association, their friends and families.
The kitchen recommends great Polish dishes and the bar offers a wide selection of Polish beers. Members of the Association enjoy discounts when buying a dinner. Click the icon above to see the menu and other offers.
More information on Friday Evenings will be provided by Jurek Wiśniewski. Contact details: Mobile: 0424 125 757
Movie evenings
We organize film evenings during which we will screen Polish films that we like and remember, as well as new films that we do not know yet.
Admission is free and you will be able to take advantage of the offer of our kitchen and bar.
We will inform about the dates and time of the screening by e-mail.
Polish Association of Darra Inc.
Association's goals
- Connecting Poles with Darra and other Brisbane neighborhoods.
- Supporting Polish culture, traditions and history in Australia.
- To make it easier for Polish society to understand Australia's multicultural history and lifestyle.
- Making it easier for children of Polish origin to improve the Polish language, customs and traditions.
- Fundraising and donation support other associations (Polish or Australian).
- Collaboration with other associations or social groups.
- Creating appropriate conditions for the interaction between the members of the Association and their friends and providing them with all or some of the privileges, opportunities, facilities, equipment and premises of the Association.
History of the Association 1954-1994
- Poles of post-war emigration to Queensland were usually directed to the Emigration Camp in Wacol. Most of them later settled in nearby neighborhoods such as Darra, Oxley or Corinda, and children from Polish families attended the Polish Saturday School located in the Catholic School in Darra.
- By 1954, two groups had formed in the Polish community near Darra.
- One of them, led by Stefan Połotynski, thought about creating its own independent organization.
- On the other hand, the second, led by Edward Placek, sought to merge with the Polish House in Milton
- Both of these Polish diaspora trends merged when the administration of the Catholic school was handed over by the Goodna Convention to the Corinda Convention. This decision created some organizational understatements but directly contributed to a kind of unity in the environment of Polish emigrants from the Darra area.
- The meetings of the combined factions in the Polish community took place mostly at the property of Mr. A. Megger and Mr. Stefan Połotyński was the chairman of the organization.
- At his request, on August 26, 1954, a General Assembly was convened at the Catholic School, establishing the Association of Poles Tadeusz Kościuszko, and the first Management Board was temporarily elected:
- President: J. Mieszkiełło
- Secretary: M.Kowalski
- Skarbnik: A. Megger
- Stefan Połotyński remained an advisor and representative of the Association, at the same time handing over some of his books as the beginning of the Polish library run by A. Megger.
- On December 7, 1954, the Association was officially registered as: Kosciuszko Polish Association of Queensland (registration number 1695).
- From October 15, 1955, it began to publish its own free newsletter edited by Stefan Połotyński.
- Membership in the Association was free for a long time (until November 3, 1957) and the developing organization did not have its seat. At the General Assembly on April 1, 1956, it was decided to purchase a construction site at Station Avenue in Darra in order to build our own Polish House. The square cost £ 300, of which £ 100 was paid in cash.
- In August 1958, two barracks were purchased for the sum of £ 180, and it was decided to dismantle them and use the recovered materials to build the Polish House.
- The plans for the building were prepared by Mr. W. Kostecki and Mr. F. Peterak became the Chairman of the Construction Committee.
- Many people collaborated on the construction of the Polish House, they were, among others:
- S. Banaś
- J. Bączyński
- Chmiel
- F. Drapiewski
- J. Dziopa
- J. Gospoś
- Pan Jankowski
- W. Karaś
- J. Marczak
- C. Piotrowski
- C. Radziewicz
- K. Rembacher
- A. Rogusz
- S. Rosolak
- J. Suszko
- Pan Trojnar i wielu innych
- Subsidies for the construction, mostly in the amount of 10 pounds, were spontaneously donated by the members of Polish Community, thanks to which in June 1959 the roof structure was finished with the proverbial "panicle".
- On November 11, 1960, the building was opened, which was consecrated by Father Zygmunt Klimowicz.
- For a long time, the organization did not have its own constitution, and only at the beginning of 1960, S. Banas and S. Chmiel developed the final version of the Association's Statute, which was officially approved.
- The following sections of the Association were created:
- Polish Youth Circle (May 24, 1963) with W. Kleczaj as Chairman, Secretaries S. Chmiel and I. Rosolak and Skerbnik K. Król
- Polish Women's Circle (July 7, 1953) under the leadership of the ladies: Gwacka, Ceglarska and Megger
- At the turn of 1965 - 1966, the first Banner of the Association was founded, which proudly flew on the 150th anniversary of the birth of the patron of the organization Tadeusz Kościuszko, when in April 1967 the Association hosted a US Consul.
- Darra was not connected to the sewage system until the beginning of August 1975 and a new kitchen and toilets were built in the Polish House.
- In 1986, the issue of merging all Polish community organizations into one thriving organization was discussed. The merger was actively supported by President S. Chmiel.
- As a result of the negotiations on September 2, 1986, the President of the Tadeusz Kościuszko from Darra (S. Chmiel) and the President of the "Polonia" Association from Milton (F. Rutyna) solemnly vowed to cooperate on the background of organizational banners.
- Over the years of its activity, the Tadeusz Kościuszko Association of Poles in Darra demonstrated strong connections between its members and supporters with Polish traditions, customs, history and culture, and actively supported the promotion of the Catholic faith.
- The Polish House in Darra also hosted many state and church dignitaries, both Polish and Australian
Members of the Association's Board from 1954 to 1994
26 August 1954
- President: J. Mieszkiełło
- Secretary: M. Kowalski
- Treasurer: A. Megger
- Advisor: S. Połotyński
2 December 1954
- President: C. Radziewicz
- Secretary: M. Kowalski
- Treasurer: A. Megger
- Advisor: S. Połotyński
3 July 1955
- President: C. Radziewicz
- Secretary: M. Kowalski
- Treasurer: S. Rosolak
- Advisor: S. Połotyński
- Guardians: C. Radziewicz i J.Banaś
12 August 1956
- President: C. Radziewicz
- Secretary: M. Kowalski
- Treasurer: S. Rosolak
20 August 1957
- President: M. Kubiak
- Secretary: F. Majerowski
- Treasurer: J. Bieniaś
July 1958
- President: J. Mieszkiełło
- Secretary: S. Rosolak
- Treasurer: S. Banaś
August 1959
- President: S. Chmiel
- Vice President: C. Piotrowski
- Secretary: S. Rosolak
- Treasurer: S. Banaś
July 1960
- President: S. Chmiel
- Vice President: C. Piotrowski
- Secretary: S. Rosolak
- Treasurer: S. Banaś
22 July 1961
- President: M.Kowalski
- Secretary: Szota (J. Gospoś)
- Treasurer: B. Geruła
23 July 162
- President: S. Chmiel
- Vice President: J. Dziopa
- Secretary: J. Gospoś
- Treasuer: Szota
14 July 1963
- President: S. Chmiel
- Vice President: B. Ceglarski
- Secretary: S. Banaś
- Treasurer: A. Megger
2 August 1964
- Prezes: B. Ceglarski
- Secretary: J. Gospoś
- Treasurer: S. Rykiert
July 1965
- President: W. Siuda
- Secretary: M. Kowalski
- Treasurer: Gwacka
August 1966
- President: J. Mieszkiełło
- Vice President: M. Kowalski
- Secretary: R. Wręczycki
- Treasurer: F. Drapiewski
August 1967
- President: J. Mieszkiełło
- Vice President: M. Kowalski
- Secretary: R. Wręczycki
- Treasurer: F. Drapiewski
July 1968
- Prezes: S.Trzciński
- Wice Prezes: K. Bączyński
- Sekretarz: Z. Wróblewski
- Skarbnik: S. Kuźma
10 August 1969
- Prezes: A. Kurylewski
- Secretary: Z. Wróblewski
- Treasurer: Supranowicz
12 July 1970
- Prezes: A. Kurylewski
- Secretary: A. Mirecki
- Treasurer: Rojek
11 July 1971
- Prezes: A. Kurylewski
- Secretary: A. Mirecki
- Treasurer: Rojek
23 July 1972
- President: J. Mieszkiełło
- Secretary: S. Banaś
- Treasurer: A. Mirecki
22 July 1973
- President: J. Mieszkiełło
- Vice President: S. Chmiel
- Secretary: S. Banaś
- Treasurer: A. Mirecki
25 August 1974
- President: J. Mieszkiełło
- Vice President: S. Chmiel
- Sekretarz: S. Kaczmarek
- Treasurer: A. Megger
August 1975
- President: J. Mieszkiełło
- Secretary: A. Konczalski
- Treasurer: A. Megger
July 1976
- President: J. Mieszkiełło
- Secretary: A. Konczalski
- Treasurer: A. Megger
7 August 1977
- President: J. Mieszkiełło
- Vice President: I. Drapiewska
- Secretary: C. Kłysz
- Treasurer: T. Gołębiowski
16 August 1978
- President: H. Chmielarski
- Vice President: A. Mirecki
- Secretary: Cybula
- Treasurer: T. Gołębiowski
August 1979
- President: H. Chmielarski
- Secretary: J. Wilczyński
- Treasurer: T. Gołębiowski
23 August 1980
- President: S. Chmiel
- Secretary: S. Ceglarska
- Treasurer: T. Gołębiowski
23 August 1981
- President: S. Chmiel
- Vice President: B. Ceglarski
- Secretary: S. Ceglarska
- Treasurer: T. Gołębiowski
22 August 1982
- President: S. Chmiel
- Secretary: A. Konczalski
- Treasurer: T. Gołębiowski
7 August 1983
- President: S. Chmiel
- Secretary: A. Konczalski
- Treasurer: T. Gołębiowski
12 August 1984
- President: S. Chmiel
- Secretary: K. Ciborowska
- Treasurer: T. Gołębiowski
11 August 1985
- President: S. Chmiel
- Vice President: K. Drzewiecki
- Secretary: K. Ciborowska
- Treasurer: T. Gołębiowski
20 August 1986
- President: S. Chmiel
- Vice President: H. Chmielarski
- Secretary: K. Ciborowska
- Treasurer: T. Gołębiowski
9 August 1987
- President: S. Chmiel
- Vice President: S. Trzciński
- Secretary: K. Ciborowska
- Treasurer: T. Gołębiowski
7 August 1988
- President: S. Chmiel
- Vice President: R. Dunikowski
- Secretary: I. Drapiewska
- Treasurer: J. Rogusz
August 1989
- President: S. Chmiel
- Vice President: R. Dunikowski
- Secretary: I. Drapiewska
- Treasurer: J. Rogusz
26 August 1990
- President: S. Chmiel
- Vice President: A. Czapp
- Secretary: I. Drapiewska
- Treasurer: J. Suszko
11 August 1991
- Prezes: I. Drapiewska
- Vice President: S. Trzciński
- Secretary: T. Czapp
- Treasurer: K. Świtała
22 August 1992
- President: A. Czapp
- Vice President: W. Krzyżanowski
- Secretary: K. Ciborowska
- Treasurer: R. Dunikowski
15 August 1993
- President: A. Czapp
- Vice President: J. Wolny
- Secretary: A. Wolna
- Treasurer: W. Krzyżanowski
10 July 1994
- President: A. Czapp
- Vice President: J. Wolny
- Secretary: W. Krzyżanowski
- Treasurer: A. Łuczyński
Zarząd Stowarzyszenia na rok 2024/25
Beata Connors
Vice-president
Zbigniew Mizanowski
Treasurer
treasurer@kosciuszko-darra.org.au
Grazyna Kornel
Secretary
sevretary@kosciuszko-darra.org.au
Sabina Kopinski
Committee Member
Kazik Dziopa
Committee Member
booking@kosciuszko-darra.org.au
Robert Bennett
Committee Member
Veronica Kopinski
Committee Member
Paul Connors
Committee Member
John Kopinski
Committee Member
Contact with the Association
If you want to contact the Association in various matters, please use the contact details below.
Association building address
23 Station Avenue. Darra QLD 4076
The Association's office is open every Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Please call
Zbigniew Mizanowski
0422 632 996
Mon - Fri, 8:00-22:0
Email:
info@kosciuszko-darra.org.au