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Macedonian Australians

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Macedonian Australians
Македонски Австралијци
Makedonski Avstralijci
Regions with significant populations
Melbourne, Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Perth
Languages
Predominantly Macedonian
Religion
Predominantly Macedonian Orthodox
Part of a series on
Macedonians
Македонци
Coat of arms of North Macedonia
Culture
By country
Subgroups
Religion
Language
Other

Macedonian Australians are a group of Ethnic Macedonians who reside or were born in Australia. In 2006, 83,978 people claimed Macedonian Ancestry.

Demography

In the 2006 Census, 40,656 Australian residents are listed as having been born in the Republic of Macedonia.[3]. In addition, 83,978 residents declared their ancestry as Macedonian, either alone or in combination with another ancestry[4]. Macedonian language is spoken at home by 67,833 residents[5]. In 2001 the Republic of Macedonia was the 26th most common birthplace in Australia.

Australian cities with the largest Macedonian-born communities are Melbourne (17,286, in particular the outer suburbs), Sydney (11,630, in particular in the Southern) and Wollongong (4,279 - about 1.6% of the Wollongong population).

In 2001, 81,898 people claimed Macedonian Ancestry, in 2006 this rose to 83,978 in 2006. Macedonian was the 21st most common Ancestry group. Of the total number who claimed Macedonian ancestry 39,244 or 47.9% were born in the Republic of Macedonia, 35,805 or 43.7% were born in Australia, 2,919 or 3.6% were born in Greece and roughly 5% were born elsewhere. [6]

Most Macedonian Australians are of the Orthodox Christian faith, although there is a small number of Muslims and Methodists. 36,749 Macedonian-born Australian residents declared they were Christian, and 2,161 stated they were Muslim. In 2001 there were a total of 53,249 adherants to the Macedonian Orthodox Church. 28,474 or 53.5% of these were born in the Republic of Macedonia, 21,324 or 40% were born in Australia, 1,340 or 2.5% were born in Greece and roughly 4% were born elswhere.[7]

Major Macedonian Influences in New South Wales are most evident in the Rockdale and Port Kembla areas, in which Macedonian delis and burek shops can be found. Many Macedonians take part in culture and folklore-preserving groups.

Second Generation Macedonians are the most likely to own or to be purchasing a housing according to a ABS study. Of the Second Generation 83% of 25-34 year olds and 91% of 35-44 year olds were in the process of buying a house or already own one, compared to second generation New Zealanders - 53% and 65%, second generation Germans - 63% and 75%.[8]

Apart from second generation Lebanese, second generation Macedonians were the least likely to co-habit with only 1% of females and 6.5% of males co-habiting (in a couple situation), compared to Germans - 24.2% and 27.3% respectively and Australians - 22% and 29% respectively.[9]

Second Generation Macedonians also had divorce/separation/widow rates which were nearly half the national average at 20%. Macedonians (10%) were followed by Lebanese 11% and Chinese 11.5%[10]

Language

The Macedonian language was the tenth most common language spoken in Australia after English. In 2006 67,835 people spoke the Macedonian language at home[11]. In 2001 the one-third of Macedonian speakers were aged over 65, and 25.9% were aged from 55-64.


History of ethnic Macedonians in Australia

Macedonians have been arriving in Australia since the late 1880s on Pečalba. Pečalbari (the man in the family) would go and work overseas to earn money then return home with the spoils. This restricted major settlement. The two major waves of early Macedonian migration according to Peter Hill[12] were when, in 1924 [13] America implemented tougher immigration policies and in 1936 when the Ioannis Metaxas regime came into power. By 1921 there were 50 Macedonians in Australia, by 1940 this number had reached over 6,000., the majority of whom were from Lerin, Kostur and Bitola. After WW2 and the Greek Civil War many Macedonians from Greece came to Australia, these people are known as Aegean Macedonians, they settled in areas including Richmond and Footscray[14].

When the Yugoslav policies that encouraged its citizens to work overseas was started many Ethnic Macedonians within Yugoslavia left for Australia. The peak of this migration was in the early 1970s. They settled in mainly industrial districts, particularly in Wollongong and Newcastle, in the Melbourne suburb of Thomastown and the Sydney suburb of Rockdale. Many Ethnic Macedonians from Yugoslavia would also settle in isolated parts of Australia such as Port Hedland. Most of these immigrants were from a agricultural background. Macedonian migration sharply stopped by the 1980s only to restart in the early 1990s after the breakup of Yugoslavia.

In 1994 the Victorian state premier Jeff Kennett ordered government departments and agencies to use the term 'Slav Macedonian' to describe such people. Some analysts considered the measure was an effort to shore up electoral support from Victoria's large Greek Australian community[15]. A court eventually repealed the decision in 1998 and since then the prefix "slavo-" has been dropped, on the basis of racial discrimination.[16]

Aegean Macedonians

The Aegean Macedonian people have had a long history with Australia. In 19th Century pečalba, working away from home, was a widespread Macedonian custom.[17] The first Aegean Macedonian was Stojan Kenkov who came to Australian in 1914. Pre-World War Two migration occurred in two waves: the first, in 1924, when the USA imposed heavy immigration restrictions and the second, after 1936, when the fascist regime of Ioanis Metaxas in Greece took power.[18] The third wave occurred after the Greek Civil War when many ethnic Macedonians fled Greece. Charles Price estimates that by 1940 there were 670 Ethnic Macedonians from Florina and 370 from Kastoria resident in Australia.[19] Charles Price also claims that by 1989 an estimated 21,140 could claim ethnic Macedonian ancestry from Greece.[20] Peter Hill also estimates a figure of 50,000 Aegean Macedonians (including second generation and excluding the aegean Macedonians who identify as Greeks).[21] 2.5% of adherents to the Macedonian Orthodox Church in Australia were born in Greece[22] while 3,152 speakers of the Macedonian language were born in Greece and 2,919 people born in Greece claimed ethnic Macedonian ancestry or roughly 3.6% of the total population group.[23]

Aegean Macedonians were essential in the establishment of the Macedonian Australia People league (Macedonian: Makedono-Avstraliski Naroden Sâjuz) which dominated ethnic Macedonian life throughout the 1940s and 1950s. They then went on to establish organizations and events such as Macedonian Cultural Week, Preston Makedonija, Makedonska Iskra, Macedonian Community of S.A, Nova Makedonija and many others.[24]. There are Aegean Macedonian minorities in Richmond, Melbourne, Manjimup[25], Shepparton, Wanneroo and Queanbeyan.[26] The Church of St George and the Florina Community Centre and Day Care center was built in Shepparton the Aegean Macedonian hall - Kotori was built by 32 families from the village Kotori in Richmond. Another Church was established by Aegean Macedonians in Queanbeyan and a hall erected in Manjimup. Other Aegean Macedonians oragnizations include the "Macedonian Aegean Association of Australia" and the "Richmond Aegean Macedonian Cultural and Sporting Association.

The Waves of Immigrants

The History of Ethnic Macedonian immigration to Australia is often classified in various waves. The emergence of these waves often had to with Geo-political circumstances in Europe and especially the Balkans.

  • The First Wave: When Pecalbari decided to come to Australia, many of them chose to remain in Australia and established Market Gardens and small scale farming. (1880's-1920's)
  • The Second Wave: After the the failure of the Ilinden Uprising many Macedonians decided to emigrate (1903-1910)
  • The Third Wave: The Third Wave of Macedonian Immigration to Australia occured in 1924 when the United States implemented tougher immigration policies (1924-1930)
  • The Fourth Wave: After the Metaxas regime took control of Greece in 1936 many Macedonians were victimised, persecuted and discriminated against[27] This cause an exodus of Ethnic Macedonians from Greece. (1936-1941)
  • The Fifth Wave: Following the Collapse of the DSE, the National Liberation Front and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). Thousands of Ethnic Macedonians fled or were evacuated from Greece. Thousands of these would evetually make their way to Australia joined by refugees from the Second World War. (1946-1950's)
  • The Sixth Wave: After Emigration restriction's were lifted in Yugoslavia, tens of thousands of Macedonians emigrated to Australia. Many of these returned to Yugoslavia. This was the largest wave of Macedonian immigration to Australia. Most of these immigrants went to work in Industrial Centres such as Wollongong, Newcastle and Geelong. (1960-1990)
  • The Seventh Wave: The Seventh Wave occured after the Breakup of Yugoslavia, thousands of skilled migrants came to Australia. Many of these migrants were educated and were professionals.(1991-Present Day)


Migrants from the First Half of the 20th Century were mainly Aegean Macedonians. Immigrants from 1960 have generally been Ethnic Macedonians from the Socialist Republic of Macedonia.

Sports

Many Macedonians in Australia are involved with Soccer and other sports.Macedonian Australians have helped to make soccer one of the most popular sports in Australia. Some of the various clubs they have helped to establish are:

New South Wales

Sydney
Illawarra
  • Wollongong United or Wollongong Makedonija
  • Warrawong United
  • Lake Heights Junior Soccer Club
  • Cringila Lions Soccer Club
  • Coniston Macedonia Soccer Club
  • Pelister Illawarra Soccer Club
Newcastle
Queayanbeyan
  • Macedonian-Queanbeyan Soccer Club

Victoria

Western Australia

  • West Perth or Macedonia United
  • East Perth or The Vardar Club

In Sydney the "Australian-Macedonian Mountaineering Association" was established by Dimitar Illievski.

Media and Newspapers

Macedonian Newspapers have been a common sight in many Australian Newsagencies for close to thirty years. Notable Newspapers are:

There are many Macedonian Radio stations throughout Sydney, Melbourne, Wollongong, Newcastle, New South Wales, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra.


Religion

Most Macedonians in Australia are followers of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. Although there are many Macedonian Muslims and people who follow other branches of Christianity. In 1996 there were 53,152 followers of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, in 2001 there were 53,244 adherents. [28] in 2006 this number had fallen to 48,084 people. There is a diocese of the Macedonian Orthodox Church for Australia and New Zealand. The Macedonian Orthodox Church is often shortened to MPC.

There are over 40 Macedonian Orthodox Churches in Operation throughout Australia, 3 monasteries and two Cathedrals. Most of them fall under the jurisdiction of the Macedonian Orthodox Church - Diocese for Australia and New Zealand. The monasteries are MPM- Свети Прохор Пчински/Saint Prohor Pcinski of Donnybrook, MPM- Свети Наум Охридски/Saint Naum of Ohrid of Kinglake and MPCO- Света Петка/Saint Petka of Kembla Grange. The Cathedrals are Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral- Свети Климент Охридски/Saint Kliment of Ohrid of Red Hill and Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral- Свети Кирил и Методиј/Saints Cyril and Methodius of Roseberry (autocephalous).

Although Most Macedonians are adherents of the Macedonian Orthodox Church many follow a different faith. In Melbourne there are two Macedonian Protestant Churches; the Macedonian Church in East Preston (Uniting Church) and Macedonian Baptist Community of Regent. There is another Macedonian Baptist Church in Sydney. Another Macedonian Methodist Community was established in Melbourne.

Cultural Organizations

Many Macedonian Cultural Organisations have been set up in Australia. They rang from Poetry Groups, Cultural and Folkore Organisations and Ethnic Theatres.

There are two Macedonian Theatres in Australia "Macedonian Theatre "Bill Neskovski" is based in Port Kembla and the "Australian Macedonian Drama Group" in Melbourne. The "Macedonian Theatre "Bill Neskovski" has won many awards for their plays such as "Pečalbari" and "Much ado about Nothing".[29]

The Macedonian Literary sociey of "Gligor Prličev" was founded in Sydney in 1978. The Society releases a quarterly journal called Povod. The Society keeps a Macedonian langauge library. The society organises competitions for literature. And in 1985 the society published a volume of poems called Vidici (Vistas) with poems from 31 Australian Macedonian poets, this was done with the help of the Australia Council. Members of the Society have been invited to the prestigious Struga Poetry Evenings.[30]

List of notable Macedonian Australians

Artists and media

name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with Macedonia
Toni Matičevski 1977- Fashion designer born Australia Matičevski's parents migrated from Macedonia[31]
Bill Neskovski 1964-1989 Playwright migrated to Australia in 1974 born in Macedonia; wrote in both English and Macedonian
Vlase Nikoleski Sculptor and Artist migrated to Australia Born in Trebenište, Ohrid

Sports

name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with Macedonia
John Markovski 1970- Former Socceroo Born in Australia Parents from Macedonia[citation needed]
Sasho Petrovski 1975- Socceroo Born in Australia Macedonian ancestry[citation needed]
Mile Sterjovski 1979- Socceroo (member of 2006 World Cup squad) Born in Australia Parents from Macedonia[citation needed]
Spase Dilevski 1985- Olympic Socceroo Born in Australia Parents from Macedonia
Billy Celeski 1985- Olympic Socceroo Migrated to Australia Born in Ohrid, Macedonia
Alex Temelkov Retired Australian professional boxer
David Micevski 1986- Olympic Socceroo Born in Australia Parents from Macedonia
Zlatko Nastevski 1957- 1989 NSL Player of the year Migrated to Australia Born in Macedonia
Sasa Ognenovski 1979- A-League player Born in Australia Parents from Macedonia
Spase Dilevski 1985- Olyroo Born in Australia Parents from Macedonia
Cane Despotovski Illawarra soccer player of the year
Naum Sekulovski 1982- A-League player Born in Australia Parents from Macedonia
Vlado Bozinovski 1964- Soccer Player Migrated to Australia Born in Ohrid, Macedonia
Ivan Necevski 1980- Sydney FC Born in Australia Parents from Macedonia
Zoran Petrevski 1979- Queensland Roar Born in Australia Parents from Macedonia
John Sapazovski 1978- Preston Lions Migrated to Australia Born in Bitola, Macedonia
Peter Daicos 1961- Australian rules footballer[32] Born in Australia Parents from Greek Macedonia
Alex Marcou 1958- Australian rules footballer[33] Born in Australia Parents from Greek Macedonia
Žarko Odžakov Former Soceroo
Deni Gorevski Warilla Wanderers
Vlade Srbinovski Wollongong Wolves Parents from Macedonia
Nick Malceski 1984- Australian rules footballer Born in Australia Parents from Macedonia
Goran Lozanovski 1984- Soccer Player Born in Australia Parents from Macedonia
Ilija Prenzoski Wollongong Wolves
Steven Božinovski Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Richard Tuntevski Sydney Macedonia
Len Pascoe 1950- Cricketer Born in Australia Parents from Macedonia[34]

Politics

name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with Macedonia
Kiril Jonovski Former Deputy Lord Mayor of Wollongong Emigrated to Australia Born in Macedonia
Bill Saravinovski Lord Mayor of Rockdale City Migrated to Australia Born in Macedonia
Con Goulopoulos Member of the Australian delegation to the U.N. Migrated to Australia Born in Greek Macedonia[35]
Steve Taškoski Alderman, Queanbeyan City Council Emigrated to Australia Born in Macedonia
Dragi Bogoevski Alderman, Wollongong City Council

Music

name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with Macedonia
Chris Joannou 1979- Guitarist from the band, Silverchair Born in Australia Parents from Greek Macedonia
Volk Makedonski MC from the act, Curse Ov Dialect

Media

name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with Macedonia
Zoran Vidinovski 1984- Big Brother 2007 Housemate Born in Australia Parents from Macedonia

Other

name Born - Died Notable for Connection with Australia Connection with Macedonia
Paul Delianis 1929- Former Victorian Police Comissioner Born in Australia Parents from Greek Macedonia[36]
Micheal Radis Ethnic Affairs Commissioner of South Australia Born in Australia Parents from Greek Macedonia[37]

See also

References

  • The Australian Bureau of Statistics, www.abs.gov.au
  • Hill, Peter. The Macedonians in Australia, Hesperian Press, 1989.
  1. ^ 2006 Census Table: Country of Birth of Person by Sex
  2. ^ >2006 Census Table: Ancestry (full classification list) by Sex
  3. ^ 2006 Census Table: Country of Birth of Person by Sex
  4. ^ 2006 Census Table: Ancestry (full classification list) by Sex
  5. ^ 2006 Census Table: Language Spoken at Home by Sex
  6. ^ The People of Australia.pdf
  7. ^ The People of Australia.pdf
  8. ^ McDonald, P., 1991. ‘Migrant family structure’, in Funder, K. (ed.), Images of Australian Families, Melbourne: Longman-Cheshire.
  9. ^ Jones, F. 1994a. ‘Multiculturalism and ethnic intermarriage: melting pot or nation of tribes?’ Paper presented to the Conference of the Australian Population Association, Canberra, September 1994.
  10. ^ Second Generation Australians Report for the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs,Siew-Ean Khoo, Peter McDonald and Dimi Giorgas Australian Centre for Population Research Research School of Social Sciences The Australian National University
  11. ^ Spoken at Home (full classification list) by Sex&producttype=Census Tables&method=Place of Usual Residence&areacode=0 Australian Bureau of Statistics - Languages Spoken at Home - 2006 Census
  12. ^ Peter,Hill. (1989) The Macedonians in Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, pp 10
  13. ^ Migration Heritage Centre: A Multicultural Landscape: National Parks and the Macedonian Experience: 4. Macedonian migration to Australia
  14. ^ Migration Heritage Centre: A Multicultural Landscape: National Parks and the Macedonian Experience: 4. Macedonian migration to Australia
  15. ^ [http://scatt.bilegrip.com/rjr2.htm THE "RESIGN, JEFF!" REVIEW 1994
  16. ^ Sydney Morning Herald, 21-4-1998, "Australian Macedonians a Unifying Title", Sylvia Molitto.
  17. ^ Peter,Hill. (1989) The Macedonians in Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, pp.18
  18. ^ Migration Heritage Centre: A Multicultural Landscape: National Parks and the Macedonian Experience: 4. Macedonian migration to Australia
  19. ^ Charles Price,Southern Europeans in Australia, page 11 and 23, 1963
  20. ^ Peter,Hill. (1989) The Macedonians in Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, pp.122
  21. ^ Peter,Hill. (1989) The Macedonians in Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, pp.123
  22. ^ The People of Australia.pdf
  23. ^ The People of Australia.pdf
  24. ^ Peter,Hill. (1989) The Macedonians in Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle
  25. ^ 2001 Census QuickStats : Manjimup
  26. ^ Peter,Hill. (1989) The Macedonians in Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, pp.91,86,48
  27. ^ http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au/readingroom/reports/npws/npws-4_-2.html
  28. ^ The People of Australia.pdf
  29. ^ Peter,Hill. (1989) The Macedonians in Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle
  30. ^ Peter,Hill. (1989) The Macedonians in Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle
  31. ^ Wells, Rachel (19 March 2002). "Dark horse wins in fashion stakes". Fashion. The Age. Retrieved 2008-06-06. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  32. ^ Peter,Hill. (1989) The Macedonians in Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, pp.132
  33. ^ Peter,Hill. (1989) The Macedonians in Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, pp.132
  34. ^ Peter,Hill. (1989) The Macedonians in Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, pp.131
  35. ^ Peter,Hill. (1989) The Macedonians in Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, pp.130
  36. ^ Peter,Hill. (1989) The Macedonians in Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, pp.133
  37. ^ Peter,Hill. (1989) The Macedonians in Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, pp. 135
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