Written by Edit Garamhegyi, Kőrösi Csoma Sándor Programme Scholar
There are notable days in a person’s life, and there are notable days in a nation’s life. And sometimes, when we find ourselves in exceptional circumstances, the two coincide. In those moments, we don’t just go through the motions of the celebration—we live it, we prepare for it, we plan it. The greater the significance of the occasion, the more time we devote to the preparations.
For us, such a remarkable day was the feast of our state founder, King Saint Stephen, which we celebrated at the Hungarian House in Punchbowl. And it wasn’t just with the local Hungarian community, but also with Hon. Nick Greiner, the former Premier, and Steven Bali, Member of Parliament. It was unforgettable to feel how, through them, the long-forgotten strength of their Hungarian roots began to circulate again, how a sense of belonging was reborn within them. Seeing that and hearing it in their words was truly moving.
Consul Péter B. Nagy, the office head, prepared tirelessly—an enormous effort for everything that appeared so natural and effortless on the day. The quiz about the era of our state founder brought the audience back to their childhood, with everyone eagerly awaiting the correct answers. There were many of us; the Hungarian House was filled to capacity, alive again, buzzing with energy that was not spoiled by minor mistakes or—fortunately short-lived—illnesses. It felt like a true family celebration. Young, middle-aged, and older generations together—it was wonderful! The Kengugró dance, the delicious food, the cakes, the lively atmosphere, the drinks served at the bar—all of it was essential because that’s how it felt right.
You can think whatever you like as an organiser, but the fact that MP Steven Bali was among the last to leave surely meant something. We must not forget the main organiser, Magdi Rozgonyi—her exhausted but beaming face was thanks enough for all of us. We also thank everyone who attended. I can only repeat what I felt at the time: the Australians living here form their impressions of our distant little homeland from what we show of ourselves. With that comes a responsibility to those back home. And I want to believe that on this beautiful afternoon, we showed one of our dearest faces to Australia, because this was how we could truly look each other in the eye.
There are notable days, and they stay with us. From far, far away—more than ten thousand miles—we send this message: Long live Hungary!
