During the visit, President Adam Gajkowski honoured the President of the IPN, Jarosław Szarek with the Cross of the "Golgotha of the East". The Cross contains soil sanctified by the blood of Polish heroes who died in Katyn, Miednoje, Bykivnia, Kharkov and Smolensk. The award was granted for Dr Szarek’s contribution to popularizing Polish history, cultivating Polish tradition and defending Poland’s good name abroad. President Szarek thanked for the award emphasizing his commitment to continue working for the benefit of Poland, fulfilling the mission of the Institute and its statutory duties.
The talks were focused on the possibilities of future cooperation with the Australian partners - the aforementioned Federation of Polish Organizations in New South Wales, the Polish Community Council of Victoria, the Board of the Pilecki Project Committee, the Association of Polish Political Prisoners in Australia, the Polish Embassy in Canberra, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Sydney under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It was agreed that the IPN will support the "Wolf’s Trail Run” organized in Australia. In addition, it will provide publications, games and educational materials to Polish organizations, including educational institutions, Polish clubs, pastoral centers and Australian libraries. The inauguration of the "Time for Heroes" exhibition at the Parliament of New South Wales in Sydney and the joint popularization of IPN exhibitions on World War II were also touched upon. The screenings of the English version of the “Passports to Paraguay” film were also discussed. Moreover, the participants of the meeting talked about future archival projects of the Institute of National Remembrance and the testimonies of living witnesses to history.
Thanks to the cooperation of Polish diplomatic missions with the Federation of Polish Organizations in New South Wales, the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Poland regaining its Independence were organized. During the event distinguished activists were honoured with the Crosses of Freedom and Solidarity. The event was accompanied by the IPN exhibition entitled the "Fathers of Independence".
In addition, this year's edition of the "Wolf’s Trail Run” with the honorary patronage of the President of the Institute of National Remembrance, was also organized in cooperation with the Federation. The Institute sent medals, educational packages and gadgets to Australia.
In agreement with our Australian partners, led by the Board of the Pilecki Project Committee, the exhibition "Time for Heroes" was presented in Australia. It was shown in the Australian Parliament of Victoria in Melbourne, in the Parliament of Western Australia in Perth and in the Jewish Cultural Center "Kadimah" in Melbourne. The exhibitions were also presented in such places as The Jewish Holocaust Center in Melbourne, Monash University, the Yad Vashem Institute in Jerusalem, the Auschwitz Museum and the Polin Museum.
For more information on the cooperation of the IPN and its Australian partners ►http://ipn.gov.pl/en/news/1420,Exhibitions-on-Polish-heroes-in-the-Western-Australian-Parliament-in-Perth-6-15-.html