<from main page

MISS POLONIA DOWNUNDER 2008

The tradition of Miss Polonia being invited as a VIP guest on the Grand Prix circuit provides a marvellous promotional opportunity for building the theme of a modern and fashionable Polish Image, particularly with the participation of Polish driver, Robert Kubica.

This year Basia Tatara was photographed with a host of Formula 1 drivers including Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and a special photo opportunity with Robert Kubica. At the Grand Prix Ball Basia wore an exclusive gown designed by Polish fashionista Ewa Minge and made the front page in a photo with the world famous Rock and Roll band KISS. Basia was featured regularly in television interviews, both on Australian and overseas media outlets thanks to her gifted linguistic skills in different languages.

At a Government House reception, Basia met with the Governor of the State of Victoria David de Krester, the Premier of Victoria The Honourable John Brumby, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Walker and a number of international and Australian celebrities including pop singer Leo Sayer and celebrity author Tara Moss. 

Miss Polonia also helped promote the most popular sport in Australia, Australian Rules Football with a visit to AFL House where Basia took part in a publicity photo celebrating the 150^th anniversary year of Australian football.

Basia also assisted with the launch of a new Polish product on the Australian market.
She was guest of honour at an industry function on behalf of Potocki Vodka and met with the owner and descendent of one of Poland’s famous families, Jan-Roman Potocki.

A further highlight of the visit included meeting the local Polish community of Victoria.

Apart from interviews with Polish Radio SBS and the Polish Weekly Newspaper, Basia and Elzbieta were guests of honour at a Charity Cocktail Party hosted by the Polish-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry(PACCI) for the benefit of the Australian-Polish Community Services(APCS). Over 100 invited guests were in attendance and over $2500 raised to support APCS who through CEO Elzbieta Drozd and over 200 employees provide extensive age, home-help and dementia care for Polish senior citizens in Victoria. The function was held at the Spaghetti Tree Restaurant, owned and operated by Vicki Malaspina.

The two ambassadors of the Polish Image found some recreational time in their busy schedule to enjoy the unique Australian coastline of Sorrento and Portsea on the famous Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. They also discovered the wonders of DFO shopping and would like to express their gratitude to Eric Rybar for the use of his wonderful apartment on the 44^th Floor of Eureka Towers in Southbank, Melbourne CBD. 

Biuro Miss Polonia-Australia looks forward to the next chapter of Miss Polonia Downunder in Year 2009 by maintaining the tradition of the Australian Grand Prix visit as well ambitious plans for the 2009 Melbourne Fashion Festival featuring the unique collections of Ewa Minge – A new venture to promote the Polish Image.

 gallery >