Do nosso Cônsul Emérito de Melbourne, Doutor Carlos Lemos, recebemos notícias sobre dois importantes eventos da nossa comunidade, ocorridos num tempo muito recente, que nos parece já tão longínquo e paradisíaco, quando ainda podíamos estar a menos de um metro de distância dos outros seres humanos e abraça-los...
" primeiro, o Festival Português em Warrnambool, realizou-se a 22 e 23 de Fevereiro. Mais de 300 portugueses estiveram presentes e foi um grande fim de semana. Envio-lhe o pequeno discurso que proferi na cerimónia oficial junto ao Padrão. Envio-lhe também uma foto do Padrão agora resplandecente com o escudo que paguei do meu bolso e de que falei. A RTPi transmitiu alguns aspetos do Festival na rubrica ‘Horas dos Portugueses’, 28 de Março, que poderá ver no link https://www.rtp.pt/play/p6641/
"O outro evento, 14 de Março, foi a celebração do segundo aniversário da Associação das Mulheres Portuguesas na Austrália com um jantar de gala, com a presença de cerca de 170 pessoas, e colaboração de vários artistas, incluindo uma violinista portuguesa, que vive em Brisbane, com muita classe. Achei piada que fui introduzido , com outros VIPs, como o ‘Ídolo da comunidade’. Exagerado, mas é melhor do que chamarem nomes feios. Sílvia Renda, conselheira do CCP, preside, com muito eficácia"
(extratos do email enviado pelo Dr Carlos Lemos a Maria Manuela Aguiar)
Na íntegra, o discurso do Dr Carlos Lemos, a quem inteiramente se deve a iniciativa da implantação do simbólico Padrão e a ideia da organização do Festival Português, para reforçar a especial ligação Portugal/Austrália, que terá tido início com a chegada da primeira caravela, 250 anos antes de Cook.
Em poucas palavras, uma impressionante descrição do percurso com que se celebra, se refaz e se continua a nossa História nos mares do sul...
TALK AT THE PORTUGUESE FESTIVAL
WARRNAMBOLL, 23 FEBRUARY 2020
We celebrated today 30 years of the Portuguese Festival and it gives me great pleasure to stand again on
this spot after so many years.
I think it is time to recall the reason why Warrnambool means so much to the Portuguese living in Australia and Portugal.
Em poucas palavras, uma impressionante descrição do percurso com que se celebra, se refaz e se continua a nossa História nos mares do sul...
TALK AT THE PORTUGUESE FESTIVAL
WARRNAMBOLL, 23 FEBRUARY 2020
We celebrated today 30 years of the Portuguese Festival and it gives me great pleasure to stand again on
this spot after so many years.
I think it is time to recall the reason why Warrnambool means so much to the Portuguese living in Australia and Portugal.
It all goes back to the shipwreck sighted on the coastal sand dunes somewhere
between here in Warrnambool and Port Fairy in the 19th Century. Many believe
that this shipwreck was the wreck of a Portuguese caravel.
between here in Warrnambool and Port Fairy in the 19th Century. Many believe
that this shipwreck was the wreck of a Portuguese caravel.
But the person who gave most credibility to this legend was Kenneth McIntryre,
in his book The secret discovery of Australia: Portuguese ventures 250 years
before Captain Cook, published in 1977.
in his book The secret discovery of Australia: Portuguese ventures 250 years
before Captain Cook, published in 1977.
I first came to Warrnambool in 1978, with Kenneth McIntyre, when he showed
me the area where the wreck of the ship was found. And it was at that time
that the idea of building a monument to celebrate this discovery came to my mind.
me the area where the wreck of the ship was found. And it was at that time
that the idea of building a monument to celebrate this discovery came to my mind.
The book published by McIntyre generated a great deal of interest. The book
was prescribed reading in some schools and the possibility of Portugal having
discovered Australia gained some momentum.
was prescribed reading in some schools and the possibility of Portugal having
discovered Australia gained some momentum.
The big issue then was to find the remnants of the wreck to prove the theory.
The first major attempt to find proof of the wreck took place in 1981 and was led
by Dick Smith, who sponsored the search, with the assistance of Ian McKiggan
and Army technicians. Coinciding with the search I organised an excursion to
Warrnambool, with more than 300 people from Melbourne and Geelong
participating.
by Dick Smith, who sponsored the search, with the assistance of Ian McKiggan
and Army technicians. Coinciding with the search I organised an excursion to
Warrnambool, with more than 300 people from Melbourne and Geelong
participating.
We were received by the Mayor John Lindsay and members of the Warrnambool
City Council. McIntyre made a speech from a boat anchored at the Flagstaff museum,
to the large audience on the quay, which I translated as he spoke. Dick Smith also
arrived in his helicopter and filmed the scene with the large gathering on the quay
listening to McIntyre speaking, which he added to the documentary he produced
shown later on national TV
City Council. McIntyre made a speech from a boat anchored at the Flagstaff museum,
to the large audience on the quay, which I translated as he spoke. Dick Smith also
arrived in his helicopter and filmed the scene with the large gathering on the quay
listening to McIntyre speaking, which he added to the documentary he produced
shown later on national TV
But the issue was not forgotten. John Lindsay and the Mahogony Ship Committee
led by the Chairman Pat Connelly organised various seminars and the discussions
carried on.
led by the Chairman Pat Connelly organised various seminars and the discussions
carried on.
On our side, my idea of a monument gained momentum and I convinced the
Portuguese Government to send a replica of the Padrão, which was erected
and inaugurated here in Warrnambool in 1990.
Those who are present today will remember that the 25 of February 1990
was perhaps the most significant day marking the presence of the Portuguese
in Australia, and particularly in Victoria.
Portuguese Government to send a replica of the Padrão, which was erected
and inaugurated here in Warrnambool in 1990.
Those who are present today will remember that the 25 of February 1990
was perhaps the most significant day marking the presence of the Portuguese
in Australia, and particularly in Victoria.
The Padrão was inaugurated by the Governor of Victoria, Davis McCaughey
with the Ambassador of Portugal, José Luis Gomes, attending the event, and it
was estimated that more than 500 Portuguese came to Warrnambool for the
occasion. The event had great media coverage and I was interviewed by
radio and television. The local newspaper, the Standard, also gave good
coverage of the event.
with the Ambassador of Portugal, José Luis Gomes, attending the event, and it
was estimated that more than 500 Portuguese came to Warrnambool for the
occasion. The event had great media coverage and I was interviewed by
radio and television. The local newspaper, the Standard, also gave good
coverage of the event.
Another boost to the possibility of finding the wreck of the caravel came
about in 1992 when the State government of Victoria offered a reward of
250,000 dollars for the discovery of the wreck. It was Steve Crabb, then
Minister for Tourism, who announced the reward, and this
gesture gave Warrnambool and Portugal extensive exposure in the media,
not only in Australia but also overseas, including the New York Times who
reported the event. The reward attracted many search teams, using
modern technology, but, sadly, the elusive caravel was not found.
about in 1992 when the State government of Victoria offered a reward of
250,000 dollars for the discovery of the wreck. It was Steve Crabb, then
Minister for Tourism, who announced the reward, and this
gesture gave Warrnambool and Portugal extensive exposure in the media,
not only in Australia but also overseas, including the New York Times who
reported the event. The reward attracted many search teams, using
modern technology, but, sadly, the elusive caravel was not found.
McIntyre’s theory, however, the most plausible of all others, was and
is in the minds of many, and in 1997, two years before Macau was
incorporated into China, the Governor of Macau, General Rocha
Viera, visited Melbourne and I had the opportunity to brief him about
the legend of the Mahogany Ship, the Padrão and the Portuguese
presence in Warrnambool. I suggested to him that it would be a great
contribution if Macau, under his leadership, could provide the busts
of Vasco da Gama and Prince Henry the Navigator to erect next to the Padrão.
He accepted the request and commissioned a well-know sculptor in Portugal
to execute the request. The busts arrived, the Warrnambool City Council
agreed to erect them, and here they are today, to enhance this little
Portuguese enclave in Warrnambool.
is in the minds of many, and in 1997, two years before Macau was
incorporated into China, the Governor of Macau, General Rocha
Viera, visited Melbourne and I had the opportunity to brief him about
the legend of the Mahogany Ship, the Padrão and the Portuguese
presence in Warrnambool. I suggested to him that it would be a great
contribution if Macau, under his leadership, could provide the busts
of Vasco da Gama and Prince Henry the Navigator to erect next to the Padrão.
He accepted the request and commissioned a well-know sculptor in Portugal
to execute the request. The busts arrived, the Warrnambool City Council
agreed to erect them, and here they are today, to enhance this little
Portuguese enclave in Warrnambool.
Although the search for the Mahogany Ship has slowed down, the link
between Warrnambool and Portugal endures.
In 2011 I negotiated an Accord of Cooperation between the cities
of Warrnambool and Lagos in Algarve. The reason is that the cities
have a lot in common in terms of location, population and history.
Many caravels departed from the port of Lagos in the 15th and 16th
centuries and it would be likely that the caravel found in Warrnambool
would have left Portugal originally from Lagos. The former CEO of the City
of Warrnambool visited Lagos and was received by the Mayor and is familiar
with the city. One thing that was uggested was an exchange of students,
with students from Lagos travelling to Australia to attend schools in
Warrnambool, and students from Warrnambool travelling to Portugal to
attend schools in Lagos. This is an idea that could still be pursued.
between Warrnambool and Portugal endures.
In 2011 I negotiated an Accord of Cooperation between the cities
of Warrnambool and Lagos in Algarve. The reason is that the cities
have a lot in common in terms of location, population and history.
Many caravels departed from the port of Lagos in the 15th and 16th
centuries and it would be likely that the caravel found in Warrnambool
would have left Portugal originally from Lagos. The former CEO of the City
of Warrnambool visited Lagos and was received by the Mayor and is familiar
with the city. One thing that was uggested was an exchange of students,
with students from Lagos travelling to Australia to attend schools in
Warrnambool, and students from Warrnambool travelling to Portugal to
attend schools in Lagos. This is an idea that could still be pursued.
In conclusion I must say that nothing could have been achieved without
the support of the city and its personalities, and particularly Comendador
John Lindsay and Comendador Vern Robson, who were the Mayor and the
Chief Executive Officer of Warrnambool at the time.
They were instrumental in getting the support of Council for the establishment
of the Padrão and the idea of the annual Portuguese festival in Warrnambool,
and were also supportive of McIntyre’s theory that the Mahogany ship was
of Portuguese origin and marked the early discovery of Australia by the Portuguese.
We also had the support of succeeding Mayors and the recently retired Chief Executive
Officer Bruce Anson. To those mentioned and many others I am grateful for their
support. We also appreciate the continuing coverage by the Warrnambool
Standard newspaper of the Portuguese connection and the Portuguese Festival
in Warrnambool.
the support of the city and its personalities, and particularly Comendador
John Lindsay and Comendador Vern Robson, who were the Mayor and the
Chief Executive Officer of Warrnambool at the time.
They were instrumental in getting the support of Council for the establishment
of the Padrão and the idea of the annual Portuguese festival in Warrnambool,
and were also supportive of McIntyre’s theory that the Mahogany ship was
of Portuguese origin and marked the early discovery of Australia by the Portuguese.
We also had the support of succeeding Mayors and the recently retired Chief Executive
Officer Bruce Anson. To those mentioned and many others I am grateful for their
support. We also appreciate the continuing coverage by the Warrnambool
Standard newspaper of the Portuguese connection and the Portuguese Festival
in Warrnambool.
This is, most likely, my last presence in Warrnambool. But I hope that the Council
will keep supporting the Portuguese connection, and I also hope that one day
evidence of the wrecked caravel will be found, and that the new generation of
Portuguese in Victoria will continue the connection with Warrnambool and the
historical link between Warrnambool and Portugal.
will keep supporting the Portuguese connection, and I also hope that one day
evidence of the wrecked caravel will be found, and that the new generation of
Portuguese in Victoria will continue the connection with Warrnambool and the
historical link between Warrnambool and Portugal.
My thanks to all of you.
Carlos de Lemos OAM.
Comendador
Note: I would like to let you know that my memoir, published in Portugal in 2016, is now being translated into English, and I hope that it will be published in Australia soon. In my book I wrote extensively about the Portuguese connection with Warrnambool
