About Us / Rólunk
At the end of the war, large numbers of Hungarians found themselves in Austria and Germany. They were partly members of retreating army units, and partly those who voluntarily moved to the West in order to avoid the atrocities of the Red Army. Some of these eventually returned to Hungary. Hundreds of thousands, however, who did not wish to live under communist rule, waited for the opportunity to emigrate to such far-away countries, where they could settle down and start a new life.
For the first four years Australia did not admit Hungarians, because they were so called "ex-enemies". In the second half of 1949 however, this ban was lifted, and then ship-loads of them arrived here to the "end of the world". Not being able to speak the language, it was only natural that one association was formed (established) after another, in which members could enjoy each-others company and most important: speak Hungarian. The first one was the 'Mindszenty Association', closely followed by the Catholic and Protestant communities, the Veteran’s Association and the Budapest Soccer Club, the Weekend School and the Folk dancing Ensemble. Later in the mid sixties, two other very important clubs were added to the membership; the Hungarian Club of SA Inc. and the Sponsoring Association of the newly established boys and girls scout groups. Since each of them wanted to, and actually did, organise different functions - such as balls, picnics, socials, celebration of national days etc., the need for a coordinating body arose. Consequently, the 'Council of Hungarian Associations in South Australia' was established.
In the beginning, it’s main purpose was to draw up a yearly function calendar in order to avoid the unpleasantness of two or three members organising something for the same day. To it’s meetings, each member association sent a delegate. The meetings were chaired each time by the president of a different organisation. As the time went on, especially after the 1956 Hungarian uprising, the activities of the Council expanded in different directions, such as:
- Supporting the work of the 'Good Neighbour Council', of the 'Captive Nations Association', of the 'Ethnic communities Council' etc.
- Protesting against anything which is adverse to Hungarian interests.
- Organising the anniversaries of the unjust 'Treaty of Trianon' and of the 1956 Uprising on large scale, in English and inviting to them great numbers of politicians, professors, other Australian dignitarians and also leaders of other national communities.
- Participating in ethnic folk art exhibitons and food tasting carnivals.
- Collecting thousand of signatures in protest against certain actions: e.g. the bulldozing of Hungarian villages in Transylvania or for the beatification of Cardinal Mindszenty, etc.
- Developing closer co-operation between councils of other states.
This last point led up to the establishment of the 'Federal Council of Hungarian Associations in Australia' (recently …and of New Zealand).
When the Victorian Council organised the first Great Cultural Convention in 1969, and it had been decided to repeat such Conventions every 3 yearly in different capital cities, it was also agreed upon that:
- The president of the Council organising the convention, will be the president of the Federal Council for a period of 3 years.
- At each Convention there will be a meeting of the Federal Council.
- The above meeting will decide which State will organise the following Convention.
A few final remarks.
- In 1973, The Council of SA abandoned the habit of having each meeting chaired by the president of a different member-association. Instead, he/she is elected into that position through a Council vote.
- In the mid-seventies, the Council was officially incorporated.
- Herendi János OAM †, 2010
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