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Macedonian Australians
Македонски Австралијци
Makedonski Avstralijci

Notable Macedonian Australians: 'Mile Sterjovski' 'Nick Malceski', 'Chris Joannou'
Regions with significant populations
Melbourne, Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Perth
Languages
Predominantly Macedonian
Religion
Predominantly Macedonian Orthodox

Macedonian Australians are Australians of ethnic Macedonian descent. Many have their origins in the 1920s and 1930s although larger numbers came to Australia after the Greek Civil War, which ended in 1949. By far the largest wave of immigration was during the 1960s and 1970s. Today a large number of people have Macedonian origin and they are one of Australia's most prominent minorities groups. Macedonians have made a beneficial contribution to Australian society.

Demography

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v t e

In the 2006 Census, 40,656 Australian residents are listed as having been born in the Republic of Macedonia. In addition, 83,978 residents declared their ancestry as Macedonian, either alone or in combination with another ancestry. As at 2006 the Macedonian language is spoken at home by 67,833 residents. 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 in 2001 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.

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 adherents 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 elsewhere.

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. Most Australians born in Macedonia use the Macedonian language at home (35,070 or 86% out of 40,656 in 2006). Proficiency in English for Australians born in Macedonia was self-described by census respondents as very well by 33%, well by 33%, 26% not well (8% didn't state or said not applicable).

History of 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 were when, in 1924 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 Florina, Kastoria and Bitola. After World War II and the Greek Civil War many Slavic Macedonians from Greece came to Australia, these people are known as Aegean Macedonians, they settled in areas including Richmond and Footscray.

As at the 2006 census 64% of Australian residents born in Macedonia had arrived before 1980.

Macedonians in New South Wales

Sydney

In 1976 the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Света Петка/Saint Petka of Rockdale was established by Macedonians from the village Capari (Tsapari). In 1976 the Macedonian Ethnic School, 11th October was founded in Yagoona followed by a second in Canley Vale, St Nikola, in the following year. In 1977 the foundation stone was laid for Свети Никола/Saint Nikola of Cabramatta was laid. Soccer clubs such as Bankstown City Lions (Sydney Macedonia), Rockdale City Suns (Rockdale Ilinden), Yagoona Lions Soccer Club and Arncliffe Macedonia Soccer Club were all founded by Macedonians. 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 language 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. In 1983 ties with Macedonia were strengthened as Bitola and Rockdale became sister cities.

Richmond

The 1996 census recorded 267 Macedonian language speakers this fell to 218 in 2006. The total number of people claiming Macedonian ancestry in the Richmond area in 2001 was 291.

Illawarra

In 2006 there were 8,111 Macedonians in the Illwarra and 7,420 speakers of the Macedonian language.

Newcastle

Peter Hill estimates that there are 3,600 Macedonians in the Newcastle region. In 1996, 2,095 people spoke the Macedonian language at home compared with the 1,863 in 2006. In 2006 the number of people with Macedonian ancestry in the Newcastle are was 2,424 of whom Aegean Macedonians comprise 20%.

Macedonians in Victoria

In 1994 the Victorian state premier Jeff Kennett ordered government departments and agencies to use the term 'Slav Macedonian' to describe Macedonian people. This was done as a measure to shore up electoral support from Victoria's large Greek Australian community. A court eventually repealed the decision in 1998 and since then the prefix "slavo-" has been dropped, on the basis of racial discrimination. In 2008, Trajce Atanasovski became the first Macedonian elected mayor in Australian state of Victoria..

Melbourne

Geelong

In 1965 the Macedonian based soccer club "West Geelong" was founded.

Shepparton

In the 1970s the St George, Greek Orthodox Church was built although the local congregation was primarily Macedonian. The "Florina Saturday School and Community Centre" was built in 1978 next to the church. The school is still open today and teaches both the Greek and Macedonian language. Shepparton formed sister city arrangements with the two Macedonian cities of Resen and Salonica.

Western Australia

Perth

Wanneroo

Manjimup

The Macedonian community in Manjimup was recently visited by the Macedonian Ambassador to Australia.The Macedonians have left a lasting imprint on the Manjimup community.

South Australia

In 1947 a chapter of the Macedonian-Australian People's League known as "Alexander the Great" opened in South Australia. Its first president was Vasil Apostol. In 1947 the group raised over £350 for the Macedonian Hospital Appeal. In 1951 Kosta Radin and Kosta Kiosses founded the "Alexander the Great Youth association". In the 1960s the Pro-Greek, Lerin association was founded and in the 1970s the pro-Yugoslavian, Makedonka organisation was also founded, they soon dissolved. After the decantralization of the Macedonian-Australian People's League the "Macedonian Orthodox Community of South Australia" was founded in 1957. In 1967 the group constructed the first Macedonian Hall which soon became the center of Macedonian social activities in Adelaide.

A 1970 estimate put the number of Macedonians in South Australia at 1,200. While the 1976 census recorded 676 Macedonian speakers in 1976. By 1996 this number had risen to 923 falling to 705 in 2006. In 2006 there were only 400 Macedonian born people living in South Australia while 1,424 people claimed Macedonian Ancestry.

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. 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 4th of August Regime of General Ioannis Metaxas took power in Greece. 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. Peter Hill also estimates a figure of 50,000 Aegean Macedonians (including those born in Australia and excluding Slavophone Macedonians who identify as Greeks). 2.5% of adherents to the Macedonian Orthodox Church in Australia were born in Greece 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.

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. There are Aegean Macedonian minorities in Richmond, Melbourne, Manjimup, Shepparton, Wanneroo and Queanbeyan. 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 organizations 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: The First Wave of Macedonian Immigration to Australia occurred in 1924 when the United States implemented tougher immigration policies (1924-1930)
• The Second Wave: After the Metaxas regime took control of Greece in 1936 many Macedonians were victimised, persecuted and discriminated against This caused an exodus of Ethnic Macedonians from Greece. (1936-1941)
• The Third 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 eventually make their way to Australia joined by refugees from the Second World War. (1946-1950's)
• The Fourth 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 Fifth Wave: The Fifth Wave occurred 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

• Bankstown City Lions or Sydney Macedonia
• Rockdale City Suns or Rockdale Ilinden
• Arncliffe Macedonia Soccer Club
• Yagoona Lions Soccer Club.

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

• Broadmeadow Magic or Newcastle Macedonia soccer Club
• Newcastle Suns FC
• Macedonia Junior Soccer Club

Queayanbeyan

• Macedonian-Queanbeyan Soccer Club

Victoria

• Preston Lions FC or Preston Makedonia SC (originally "the Makedonia Soccer Club")
• Altona Magic or Altona Vardar
• Sydenham Park Soccer Club

Western Australia

• West Perth or Macedonia United
• East Perth or The Vardar Club
• Stirling Lions or Stirling Makedonia

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.

List of notable Macedonian Australians

Artists and media

Sports

Politics

Music

Media

Other

See also

• Macedonians
• Republic of Macedonia
• United Macedonian Diaspora
• Macedonian-Australian People's League
• Macedonian Diaspora
• Stirling Lions
• Preston Lions FC
• Altona Magic
• Bankstown City Lions
• Broadmeadow Magic FC
• Rockdale City Suns
• Federation of Macedonian Cultural Artistic Associations of Victoria

References

• The Australian Bureau of Statistics: www.abs.gov.au
• Hill, Peter (1989). The Macedonians in Australia. Hesperian Press.

1. ^ "20680-Country of Birth of Person (full classification list) by Sex - Australia" (Microsoft Excel download). 2006 Census. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2008-06-02. Total count of persons: 19,855,288.
2. ^ "20680-Ancestry (full classification list) by Sex - Australia" (Microsoft Excel download). 2006 Census. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 2008-06-02. Total responses: 25,451,383 for total count of persons: 19,855,288.
3. ^ "20680-Language Spoken at Home by Sex - Australia". 2006 Census Tables. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2007-06-27. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
4. ^ "The People of Australia: Statistics from the 2001 Census" (pdf of 84 pages). Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. 2003. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
5. ^ "2914.0.55.002 2006 Census Ethnic Media Package" (Excel download). Census Dictionary, 2006 (cat.no 2901.0). Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2007-06-27. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
6. Hill (1989) p. 10
7. ^ Thomas, Martin (2005). "Migration Heritage Centre: A Multicultural Landscape: National Parks and the Macedonian Experience: 4. Macedonian migration to Australia". A Multicultural Landscape: National Parks and the Macedonian Experience. National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales). Retrieved 2008-07-16.
8. ^ Hill (1989)
9. "2001 Census Tables : Hawkesbury (C) (Statistical Local Area)" (requires Excel download). Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2006-08-04. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
10. Macedonians in the Illawarra, www.abs.gov.au
11. Hill (1989) p. 120
12. THE "RESIGN, JEFF!" REVIEW 1994
13. Molitto, Sylvia (1998-04-21). "Australian Macedonians a Unifying Title". Sydney Morning Herald.
14. Macedonian Information Agency
15. Post war soccer in Geelong
16. Hill (1989) p.40
17. Hill (1989) p. 108
18. Lucky eight a great celebration : southwest.thewest.com.au
19. ^ Price, Charles (1963). Southern Europeans in Australia. Melbourne.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
20. Kris, Betty. A study of the Slav-Macedonian community in Adelaide, South Australia. MS University of Adelaide (1970)
21. 2006 Census Data : View by Topic
22. Hill(1989) p. 18
23. Hill (1989) p. 123
24. 2001 Census QuickStats : Manjimup
25. Hill (1989) pp. 91,86,48
26. 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)
27. ^ Hill (1989) p. 132
28. http://www.magpies.net/nick/players/tribute/playersdaicos.html
29. Hill (1989) p. 131
30. Hill (1989) p. 130
31. Hill (1989) p. 133
32. Hill (1989) p. 135

External links

Australia Wide

• Macedonian Human Rights Committee - Australia
• Macedonian Embassy in Australia
• Macedonian Orthodox Church - Australia and New Zealand
• Australian Macedonian Business Directory
• SBS- Macedonian language program
• Macedonian Nighlife and Culture Club

Local Groups

• A Multicultural Landscape: National Parks and the Macedonian Experience
• Macedonian Australian Welfare Association of Sydney Inc.
• Australian Macedonian Weekly, the Macedonian Newspaper for Macedonian Australians
• Macedonian Dance Group in Queanbeyan, KUD Razigrana Makedonka
• Federation of Macedonian Cultural Artistic Associations of Victoria
• Port Kembla Macedonian Welfare Association Inc.
• Macedonian Community of Adelaide and South Australia
• The Macedonians of Crabbes Creek
• St Nikola Macedonian Orthodox Church, Perth
• Macedonian - West Australian Business and Economic Forum
• Makedonska Iskra Newspaper
• Stirling Lions Soccer Club
• Wollongong United Soccer Club

v t e Ancestry of Australians
Ancestral background of Australian citizens
Indigenous	Aboriginal Australians Torres Strait Islanders
Africa	Angolan Beninese Burundian Cameroonian Congolese Eritrean Ethiopian Gabonese Gambian Ghanaian Guinean Ivorian Kenyan Liberian Malawian Malian Mauritian Nigerian Rwandan Senegalese Sierra Leonean South African Tanzanian Togolese Ugandan Zambian Zimbabwean
Americas	American Canadian Caribbean and West Indian Australian Hispanic and Latin American Argentine Bolivian Brazilian Chilean Colombian Cuban Ecuadorian Guatemalan Honduran Mexican Panamanian Paraguayan Peruvian Puerto Rican Salvadoran Uruguayan Venezuelan Jamaican Trinidadian and Tobagonian
Asia	Afghan Hazara Pashtun Armenian Azerbaijani Bangladeshi Bengali Bhutanese Burmese Chin Karen Mon Cambodian Chinese Hmong Hong Kong Cantonese Mien Taiwanese Hakka Fuzhou/Hokchiu Hoklo Tibetan Uyghur East Timorese Filipino Georgian Indian Bengali Gujarati Indo-Fijian Malayali Punjabi Sindhi Tamil Telugu Indonesian Acehnese Balinese Javanese Madurese Sundanese Japanese Kazakh Korean Kyrgyz Laotian Malaysian Bruneian Kadazan Temoq Maldivian Mongolian Nepali Pakistani Baloch Hazara Pashtun Punjabi Sindhi Pathan Singaporean Sri Lankan Tamil Tajik Tatar Thai Turkmen Uzbek Vietnamese Hmong Mien
Europe	Albanian Anglo-Celtic Cornish English Irish Northern Irish Scottish Welsh Austrian Belgian Belarusian Bosnian Bulgarian Croatian Cypriot Czech Danish Dutch Estonian French Finnish German Greek Hungarian Icelandic Italian Latvian Lithuanian Macedonian Maltese Montenegrin Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romani Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovene Spanish Swedish Swiss Ukrainian
Middle East and North Africa	Arab Algerian Bahraini Egyptian Emirati Iraqi Jordanian Kuwaiti Lebanese Libyan Moroccan Palestinian Saudi Somali Syrian Tunisian Assyrian Bari Berber Coptic Chaldean Darfur Dinka Iranian Israeli/Jewish Kurdish Mandaean Nubian Nuer South Sudanese Sudanese Turkish Yezidi
Oceania	Fijian Indo-Fijian Niuean Ni-Vanuatu New Zealander Māori Papua New Guinean Samoan South Sea Islander Tongan
according to Reflecting a Nation: Stories from the 2011 Census, 2012–2013 and Census of Population and Housing: Reflecting Australia - Stories from the Census, 2016

• Immigration to Australia
• Australians of Macedonian descent
• Ethnic groups in Australia
• Ethnic Macedonian minorities
• Macedonians in Australia