Czech and Slovak Newsletter - July 2011

VodaFest Czech and Slovak Association

We are thrilled to announce the incorporation of VodaFest Czech and Slovak Association, the legal body to govern planning and organisation of the next VodaFest Czech and Slovak Festival. The formal incorporation of what was the 2010 VodaFest's steering committee is supposed to provide a platform for the festival volunteers, partners and sponsors, and to make our work safer and even more enjoyable.

It is all happening, folks, and this is a good time to become a part of it! To learn more about the association, its purpose and about how to become a member, visit http://vodafest.org/association

Czech and Slovak Night at Koliba

Thanks to everybody who made it to the Day of Slovaks Living Abroad edition of the Czech and Slovak Night at Koliba on 5 July! Once again, Koliba was tightly packed and we all had a ball. Big thanks goes out to Ondrej Dubovsky who played Slovak folk songs on accordion, and everybody who sang along.

It was good to have Andrej Bucko and Ika Detrich with us, the speakers and editors of the SBS Radio broadcasting in Czech and Slovak languages. Also, quite a few new people showed up to socialise and make friends among compatriots. It is great to see the word spreading!

Calendar Now in Sale

On the night, the "godparents" Eguenia and Paul Mocnay used Slivovitz to symbolically baptise the Slovaks in Australia 2012 calendar and kick off its sale. And what a kick off it was! A hundred copies have been sold, with another hundred distributed among partners around Melbourne ready for you to grab a copy. Thanks heaps for supporting our community projects and for supporting local Czech and Slovak businesses:

• The Sweet Guys, 9 Moresby Court, Heidelberg West
• Koliba Czech and Slovak Restaurant, 11 Johnston Street, Collingwood
• Sokol Melbourne - Narodni Dum, 497 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne
• Sumava Peksa Park, 46 Locks Way, Belgrave South

Remember, you can always jump online and place your order at our e-store http://slovaksinaustralia.com.au/2012

Traditional Pig Slaughter Feast and Wine Ball

Date: Saturday, 16 July from 7pm
Location: Slovak House, 105 Triholm Avenue, Laverton VIC 3028

At the Slovak House this month, the Slovak Social Club "Ludovit Stur" are having Traditional Pig Slaughter Feast and Wine Ball. From their Facebook invitation:

If you love "klbasi" and all the other good things that are made at a "zabijacka" then this is the "zabava" for you! We have Admir Tokic coming who will also entertain us with his vast repetoire of Yugoslav songs in addition to our Slovak Group Zmena 5. This is sure to be just like at a "zabijacka" back home! Please make your booking with Eva Bilek on 0425 739 372.

Czech Spring Festival of Hobart 2011

Date: 1-7 November 2011
Location: Hobart, Tasmania

"My name is Robert and I am the festival director of the Czech Spring Festival of Hobart 2011. We are currently putting together our program for this year's fest to take place between 1st and 7th of November 2011.

We are interested in inviting Melburnians to our festival, featuring Australia's finest Jitrnice Feast as seen on SBS's Gourmet Farmer. We are also interested in showing any of your talents, such as costume parade, puppets, dancing, games.

Would you be able to notify your members about our festival for both: attending and perhaps contributing. Thank you and we hope to see you in Tassie soon. Sincerely Yours, Robert Raus"

Have a great coldest month of the year, it's all downhill from here -- and not in a bad way! See you out there!