The 150th Anniversary Celebrations will take place in November through to December 2022.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING REGISTRATION FORM AND SUBMIT BY THE 15 NOVEMBER 2022
1. Friday, 25th November 2022 1pm – 4pm (Now booked out)
Visit to Port Chalmers, the arrival place of the Palmerston
A Bus Tour to Port Chalmers, the landing place of the Palmerston and the first Polish Settlers to the Otago Region. The tour will be guided by the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum Curator, Sean Brosnahan. The bus for Port Chalmers costs $10 per person and will depart from the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, 31 Queens Garden, Dunedin Central at 12:30pm.
Officials, Descendants of the Palmerston and invited guests only.
2. Friday, 25th November 2022 5:45pm – 8pm
5:45pm entry for start at 6.pm for the opening of the Official Commemoration of the 150th Celebrations at the Public Art Gallery Auditorium, 30 Octagon, Dunedin Central.
7pm Official opening of the Historic Exhibition at the Community Art Gallery, 26 Princes Street, Dunedin Central
The exhibition will display panels with information, photographs and historical artefacts brought by settlers on their journeys from their homeland together with other objects showcasing the lives of early Polish pioneers in New Zealand.
Opening night: Invited guests only.
Please note that the exhibition will be open to the general public from Saturday 26th November to Thursday 8th December from 10am – 6pm.
3. Saturday, 26th November 2022 10am –1pm A Bus Tour for invited guests to visit highlights of Dunedin. Dunedin sight-seeing tour for official and out of town guests only.
The bus departs from Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, 31 Queens Gardens, Dunedin Central at 10am.
4. Saturday, 26th November 2022 2pm – 4pm
Seminar and Historic Display – Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, 31 Queens Gardens, Dunedin Central
2pm seminar and display: ‘Poles Down South’ presented by Paul Klemick, POHOS historian and Sean Brosnahan. Open to General Public.
5. Saturday, 26th November 2022 7pm Gala Dinner at Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, 31 Queens Gardens, Dunedin Central.
$80 per person.
6. Sunday, 27th November 2022 11am – 1pm
Commemorative Mass celebrated by the Rev Michael Dooley, Bishop of the Dunedin Diocese at Mary Queen of Peace Church, 721A Portobello Road, Broad Bay.
Built by Polish settlers at the end of the XIX century, the church was formerly located in Waihola and was known as St. Hyacinth. Light refreshments will be served after mass.
The bus to Broad Bay costs $10 and will depart from the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, 31 Queens Garden, Dunedin Central at 10am, returning to town at 12:30pm. Bookings are essential. Open to all. If you wish to take your own vehicle, please note parking is limited.
7. Sunday, 27th November 2022 1:30pm – 5pm
Visit Polish Settlements on the Taieri
A bus with tour guide, Paul Klemick, POHOS Historian, will take you following the main southern railway line to the historic Polish settlements of Allanton and Waihola. Visit the cottages and graves of the early Polish pioneers. The day will conclude with refreshments at the Waihola Tavern at the cost of $12.50 per head. (Bookings are essential for refreshments)
The bus for Allanton and Waihola costs $10 per person and will depart from the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, 31 Queens Garden, Dunedin Central at 1:30pm.
Open to all. Private vehicles are most welcome. Meet at Toitu at 1.30pm. Bookings for bus are essential.
8. Tuesday, 6th December 2022 12:30pm – 4pm
Visit to Port Chalmers on the 150th Anniversary Day of the arrival of the Palmerston
A bus tour to Port Chalmers, the landing place of the first Polish Settlers to the Otago Region. A talk on the voyage of the Palmerston will be presented by Toitu Curator, Sean Brosnahan. The unveiling of a 150th Anniversary Plaque to mark the arrival of the Palmerston will be followed by light refreshments and the cutting of an anniversary cake at the Port Chalmers Town Hall. The bus for Port Chalmers costs $10 per person and will depart from the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, 31 Queens Garden, Dunedin Central at 12:30pm and returning at 4pm to the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum.
Open to all. For those travelling independently, please meet up with the bus at Back Beach Yacht Club car park, Beach Street, Port Chalmers at 1:15pm.
(Bookings are essential for the bus).
For further enquiries please contact Carol Meikle, 150th Anniversary Day at Port Chalmers Coordinator: Mobile 0211533556 or email: carol.qsm@xtra.co.nz
9. Thursday, 8th December 2022 6pm – 8pm
Closing Ceremony for 150th Celebrations
At the Community Gallery, 26 Princes Street, Dunedin
PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING REGISTRATION FORM AND SUBMIT BY THE 15 NOVEMBER 2022
Invitees:
- Mr Grzegorz Kowal, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to New Zealand
- Mr Maksymilian Zych, Consul of the Republic of Poland to New Zealand
- Mrs Winsome Dormer, Polish Honorary Consul for South Island,
- Mr Boguslaw Nowak, Polish Honorary Consul for North Island,
- Representatives of Dunedin City Council
- Nicky Page, Director of Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature
- Representatives of ALL Polish Communities in New Zealand
- All founding members of POHOS
- Mr John Roy-Wojciechowski, MNZM, founder of Polish Museum in Auckland
- Descendants, Members and Friends of POHOS