Dziadziu Mirek

Miroslaw (Mirek) Sulpicjusz Paszkiewicz 1927 - 1985

Mirek Paszkiewicz, born Warszawa Poland, 17th February 1927, to Aleksander Paszkiewicz and Stefania. Died in Box Hill, 16 July 1985.

Mirek lived with his parents and two younger brothers in Eastern Borderlands (Kresy Wschodnie) of Poland in a town called Opsa, Braclaw (now Belarus). He attended school and also belonged to Zuchy (Cub Scouts).

September 1st 1939 Germany invaded Poland, and two weeks later, 17th September, the Russians invaded Poland from the East. With the Russian invasion, arrests of Officers, Police and the Polish Intelligentsia began. Mirek's father was a Policeman, and was arrested and taken with other officers to what is now known to be near the Katyn forests, where he was executed along with some 22,000 others. Stefania, and Mirek, along with the younger sons, Zbyszek and Andrzej, were taken away in the early morning of 10th February 1940, packed into cattle trucks and transported to Kazachstan, where both Mirek and his mother endured immensely cruel conditions as they were forced labourers, building the TransSiberian railway.

The 1942 Sikorski/Majski treaty opened the gates of the gaols and the gulags and allowed for the creation of a Polish Army at Buzuluk under General Wladyslaw Anders, who had been released from the Lubianka prison. Mirek managed to join the Anders Army, despite being underage, and with this Army he was transferred via Iran to Palestine. There in Palestine, a Cadet School (Szkola Junakow i Korpus Kadetow) was established. Harcerstwo (Polish Scouting) was also established here for the cadets and Mirek made his Scouts Promise (Przyrzeczenie) before Hm Ignac Plonka on December 31st 1942.

Mirek spent the next three years in Cadet School and Harcerstwo, growing, learning and enjoying many memorable activities. Above all, he recollected Ogniska (Camp Fires) where he sang. Mirek had a magnificent voice (Tenor). Mirek also told stories of Guard Duty in Nazareth at Easter.

At the end of WWII, Poland was no longer independent, but was a vassal of Soviet Russia and the Kresy Regions were included in Soviet Russian territories. The Polish Government in London was not recognised, and became the Polish Government in Exile. It was not until 1990 that the official Government insignia held in London were returned to the newly elected President Lech Walesa, by the last Polish President in Exile, Ryszard Kaczorowski (who was also a Polish Scout). However, at the end of WWII, there was no return to the Polish lands, for those who were forcefully taken by the Russians in 1940. The Polish Armies were demobilised and the soldiers were transferred to various countries, via England. Mirek was one of the first "Soldier Settlers" in Australia, arriving in Hobart on the Strathnaver in 1948. There he worked in building the dam at Tarralea and Butlers Gorge. He moved to Melbourne in 1949 in search of a better tomorrow. He attended evening classes at RMIT and completed his Welding Diploma followed by a Metallurgy qualifications, while he worked at the Country Roads Board (now VicRoads), where he worked until his death in 1985.

Mirek met the love of his life, Wieslawa Wojtasiewicz, while they were still overseas, and as pen pals, they grew to know one another until they finally met in Melbourne in 1950. Wieslawa was also a Harcerka (Girl Scout) and they married at St Augustine's Church in Melbourne on 26 December 1950. They had two children, Olek (Alexander) and Marysia. As a family, they were actively engaged in Harcerstwo in Melbourne and Mirek was involved in the original scouting "Family" called "Piast" from which the original troops of Zuchy (Cubs) were formed.

Mirek was very actively involved in the Polish Community in addition to his Scouting activities, though in 1980, he became the Hufcowy of Podhale (Victorian Branch Commissioner of Polish Scouting in Australia). Mirek was also involved in the committee of Kosciuszko House, as its Treasurer while it was still in LaTrobe Street, and was an active member of the Polish sub branch of the RSL, marching every year in the Anzac Day parade. He was elected President of the Polish sub branch in 1983. During all of these years, Mirek's love of singing did not abate and he was an active member of the choirs, first Lutnia and then Syrena. His beautiful voice led our singing of Koledy (Christmas Carols) every year at Wigilia and his strong Tenor could be heard at Polish Masses every Sunday.

Mirek was a family man, devoted to his family and missing his mother and brothers who were still in Poland. He visited Poland twice, once in 1966, and the second time with his wife Wiesia in 1977. As a family they travelled to many parts of Australia and he was a part of every celebration, including the marriages of both of his children. Unfortunately he passed away on 16 July 1985 and did not live to see his five grandchildren.

Mirek left behind a tape recording of some of his favourite songs, and you will find it at the top of this page.