BEFS News
70th Birthday Celebrations
28 May 2019
Over 250 Bulgarians, their families and friends attended the 70th Celebrations on Sunday May 25th held in the large hall. We were honoured to share the day with Associate Professor Panchev from the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore with Ethnographic Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia as well as interstate visitors.
We were also honoured to have The Honourable Jing Lee, Assistant Minister to the Premier at Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Government of South Australia present the Society with a plaque. Mayor of Charles Sturt Council spoke of the importance of the Festival as a gift to the people of the area.
Media presentations featuring past and present photos as well the activities of St. St. Cyril and Methodius Sunday School. Our very own Kitka Dance Group presented a number of traditional dances.
Our thanks go to Donato and Mimi Di Ieso of the Grand Ballroom for the exceptional catering provided - delicious food and a wonderful ambience added to the very nostalgic event.
The Committee's goal is to strengthen our Community to be the place where Bulgarians and friends can meet and share with each other. Having a place for our children's cultural and language education, holding events and celebrations such as this and the Festival are designed to strengthen our Community and share our unique heritage with the wider community.
Thank you to the many volunteers who helped to make this day possible.
Contributor: Tique Bennett
It's a Wrap
The second Zdravei Festival was held on Sunday 10th of February with an even larger crowd that the previous year.
The entertainment featured guest artist, Vasko the Patch and our very own Kitka Dance Group whose performance was world class.
Paul Vasileff, of Paulo Sebastian and Rilka Warbanoff were also guests artists.
We were able to source two Bulgarian beers, Kaminitsa and Asika which both were well received. We also featured traditional Bulgarian foods.
This Festival was the brainchild of George Beltchev, who sadly passed away last year. His desire, also echoed by the Festival Committee was to create an opportunity to bring the Bulgarian Community together and we believe this was successfully achieved.
An event such as this could not have gone ahead without the help of the dedicated team of volunteers assisting the Festival Committee. Thank you to all of you who took part and made this Festival the success that it was.
Thank you to all the sponsors of the Festival. First time sponsors, Bendigo Community Bank as well as, Virginia Nursery, Evanoff Tax, Netcraft Australia, Goldi Design, SRG Advisory, Checkside and Maughan Thiem all contributed.
Contributor: Tique Bennett
7 December, 2018
Vale George Beltchev
It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the passing of our dear friend George Beltchev on Wednesday December 5.
George's friendship, ideas, dedication and love for the Bulgarian Way and our community will be sadly missed.
It was George's foresight and vision that inspired our community to create the Zdravei Festival.
The funeral service will be held on Wednesday 12th December at 10am, Heysen Chapel, Centennial Park.
7 September 2018
2019 Zdravei Festival Update
Planning is well underway for the next Zdravei Festival to be held on February 10, 2019 in the grounds of the Bulgarian Educational and Friendly Society.
We are calling for voluteers to help us stage this wonderful celebration of our culture and food. Please register online.
4 March 2018
The 3rd of March Celebrations
Yesterday on March 4th, we celebrated our most significant holiday in the Bulgarian Calendar; the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire. Through the presentations we were reminded of the significant sacrifice our forefathers made to escape the harsh yoke of Ottoman rule.
Approximately 100 people attended the Celebration which included presentations by the children of Sts Cyril and Methodius Sunday School, Pepi Glagovski and the Very Reverend Todor Popov.
The afternoon finished with dancing and catching up with families and friends.
Contributor: Tique Bennett
2018 Zdravei Festival a wonderful success.
12 February 2018
Over 1200 visitors came yesterday to the first ever Zdravei Festival held on the grounds of the Bulgarian Educational and Friendly Society property.
Our visitors tasted excellent home made food including Shopska Salad and Banitsa made the BEFS Womens Auxiliary, traditional meats and to finish off Bulgarian Rakia and wine from sponsors, Dandelion Wines. For dessert there were Butichki and other traditional sweet treats.
Sponsors, Virginia Nursery transformed the car park into a lush and inviting place with shrubbery and small trees.
Hearing our Bulgarian and Australian anthems sung in the opening ceremony were especially moving and there were many of us, myself included, who felt very emotional for the two countries we love.
"I really appreciated that I didn't have to pay an entry fee to come as is common with other festivals. It gave me more money to spend on food and drink", said one visitor.
The non-stop entertainment featured traditional music and dancing with the audience getting a chance to practice their steps. Port Power player Hamish Harlett also made his mark as a dancer as well as a footballer.
There is so much more I could write and tell you about this wonderful Festival, suffice to say a good time was had by all.
Thank you to the team of Volunteers who assisted the Organising Committee in created this beautiful Festival and thank you to George Beltchev who had the idea and vision.
Contributor: Tique Bennett
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