THE FOURTH HUNGARIAN FLAG

The story began in November 2024, when I found out that I had been awarded the Kőrösi Csoma Sándor Scholarship. My mentor, Petra Lipóth, connected me with the Hungarian community in Brisbane.

The renowned Brisbane amateur theatre group was looking for a new play for their upcoming premiere, and they asked me to assist in selecting a suitable piece. Since November, we’ve kept in regular contact, having conversations from time to time, and in February 2025, I even had the chance to meet some members of the community in person when they flew over to Auckland to attend the 2nd Hungarian Festival and Market.

At the end of July, I had the opportunity to travel over to Brisbane and visit them in person. I was hosted by Zita Farczádi and her partner, Zoltán Vladucz, and spent a week at their home. Without any exaggeration, I can say that staying with them felt like being at home — they were wonderful hosts, and I got to know truly great people through them.

During this week, I also had the chance to meet two other KCSP scholarship holders living in Australia. On Thursday, I met Anna-Liza Lévai in Gold Coast, where we shared a delicious coffee and exchanged impressions and experiences.

The next day, Friday, I met with Pastor Lőrinc Kovács, the leader of the amateur theatre troupe, and we finally managed to settle on a play: we chose Zsigmond Móricz’s comedy “I Can’t Live Without Music”, which is expected to premiere in early January.

On Saturday, I went on a hike into the Australian mountains with Laura Kremeny, another KCSP scholarship holder.

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to visit the local Hungarian House and the recently built church, where I attended a service led by Lőrinc and Zita.

This little church was built exclusively for the Hungarian community there — it even has its own wine cellar — and during the service, it became clear just how strongly it brings the local community together.

So, quietly, when no one was looking, I tucked the fourth Hungarian flag behind the pulpit; and so, the fourth Hungarian flag found a home in Brisbane, Australia, in a church built by and for the Hungarian community.

Áron Darvasi