"Iskierki" first began rehearsals, in April, 2000 at the Polish Community Centre "Syrena" Rowville. The choir, which then consisted of 16 members, who were also members of the "Beskidy" dance/song ensemble, began singing religious polish songs as opposed to their usua mix of folk and traditional polish fare.

    "Iskierki" sang regularly in St Mary's Church, Dandenong then branched out to include the parishes of Richmond, Essendon, Geelong, and Gippsland.

    In amongst their travels they had also been interstate in Adelaide, Canberra and Sydney.

    The choir has amongst their achievements 3 cd's: - the first 2 were sent to Pope John Paul II.

    "Iskierki" 2001 - consisting of religious songs

    "Iskierki" Kolędy - 2003 - Christmas Carols - in polish, and english

And their latest cd.-

    "Iskierki" - " Dziś i Jutro" - 2005 - a mixture of polish/english religious songs and the second half consisting of Polish and Australian popular songs.

The highlight of the choir's career was going on tour to Poland in August 2005.

    After nearly two years of fundraising and actively seeking sponsors, the choir then consisting of 9 member, 7 girls and 2 boys were able to tour southern Poland for 13 days.

In a swirl of activities they commenced their tour from the nation's capital: -

    Warsaw - ,singing in the church of "Świętego Krzyża" and in "Dom Polonii". The next stage of their tour saw them in the holiest of all places in Poland, and of major religious significance in the world, Jasna Góra - where they sang in front of the painting of the Black Madonna.

    After singing at Sunday Mass in Częstochowa, they continued to Kraków, singing in the Mariacki Cathedral, and performing on centre stage in the Rynek Krakowski during a multi cultural festival.
Visiting Wadowice, the Pope's family home..singing one of his favourite songs - "Barka"...

    Zakopane - surrounded by stunning views of the mountains -singing in the Church specially dedicated to the Pope, and seeing the parishioners joining in and clapping in time to the beats of their songs.. Zwierzyniec... surrounded by national parklands... singing in the square..with the backdrop of the white church on the lake.. joining in the festivities at Topulcze for their annual Dożynki...

    The many places they visited, and the various performances, the people they encountered along the way, created such an impact on every memberof the choir which will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

    "Iskierki" is already planning for the future.

    This year, 2006, plans are already underway to participate in this year's "Pol-Art" festivities in Hobart, Tasmania.

For more information: - view links: - Contacts.