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Author : V. Sibilev
Deputy Director of the Department for Work with Compatriots Living Abroad, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Russian Federation, Candidate of Sciences (History)
ANOTHER WORLD CONGRESS of Russian
Compatriots Living Abroad took place in Moscow. On
the eve of this significant political event in the life of
the Russian diaspora abroad, interest naturally turned
to what was making various compatriots' organizations
tick and how ready and willing they were to hold a di-
alogue and cooperate with their historical Homeland.
The Russian-speaking diaspora in Australia began to
form as early as the 19th century, but this process un-
derwent an immense upswing after the historical upheavals that occurred in the 20th cen-
tury: the October Revolution and the pursuant Civil War in Russia, the Second World War,
the Cold War, and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The migrants to Australia are mainly concentrated around the parishes of the Russian Or-
thodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR. It is worth noting that First Hierarch of the
Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and
New York took part in both stages of the regional conference in Canberra and Sydney.
The delegates and guests of the forum of compatriots from the APR positively assessed
his presence, which was noted in several speeches.
Among the successes and achievements of compatriots revealed during the conference,
its participants were particularly impressed by the Russian hospital they visited in Sydney's
suburbs administered by the Reverend Sergius of Radonezh Charity Society with the sup-
port of the local municipal authorities. The society's leaders are mainly Russian immigrants
from Harbin. Elderly compatriots suffering from different diseases of varying severity are
receiving treatment and care in the hospital. They enjoy single rooms with first-class equip-
ment, fittings, care, and services, including a Russian-language library and Russian television
channels.
The compatriots also talked about their short- and mid-term plans and hopes related to
building a new contemporary Russian club in Sydney and opening a Russian center of sci-
ence and culture.
Summing up the observations I made during my visit to the Fifth Continent and meetings
with compatriots, I would like to note that the Russian diaspora there is unique in its own
way, self-organized, essentially self-sufficient, and capable of developing real partnership
with the historic Homeland.
http://interaffairs.ru
On the Russian Community in Australia