Eugene (in Polish Eugeniusz or for friends Geniek) Bajkowski OAM, my wonderful friend, a great Polish patriot, and highly respected journalist and economist, aged 92,passed away peacefully in Canberra Friday 19th May 2023.
Eugene was born on 1st August 1931 in Harbin, China, where his parents fled following the Bolshevik revolution. He grew up in Shanghai during the period of Japanese occupation.
His family migrated to Australia in 1952 where Eugene studied economics at the University of Sydney, while working as a tram conductor. After holding a range of financial roles, he became a financial journalist with The Bulletin magazine, later becoming its Finance Editor in 1970.
In the early 1970s, Eugene moved to Canberra to take up a position as an economist with the Chamber of Manufacturers, later becoming the senior economist for the Confederation of Australian Industry (now the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry). During this time he advanced the Survey of Industrial Trends in Australia to become one of the nation’s most respected and trusted economic indicators that continues to this day.
At the same time, Eugene launched Australia’s first regular Polish language newspaper, Panorama, from his home in Canberra. Fluent in Polish, Russian and English, Eugene participated in international trade negotiations for Australian commodities exporters and for a time was a tutor in Russian at the Canberra College of Advanced Education.
Eugene was a strong supporter of the Polish Solidarity movement. He travelled to Poland during the turbulent early Solidarity years of the early 1980s and was in Poland when martial law was declared in 1981, filing articles for The Sydney Morning Herald as the world held its breath in anticipation of a potential Russian invasion. He returned to Poland on a number of occasions, including after free elections.
Eugene was a trusted source of local wisdom for Polish diplomats posted to Australia and the creator of the Australia Poland Business Council. Eugene was also awarded several awards by the Republic of Poland, one personally conferred on him by the President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda during a visit to Sydney in 2018.
In his retirement, until shortly before his passing, Eugene continued to write weekly national affairs and political analysis for both Tygodnik Polski (Polish Weekly) and Express Wieczorny (Evening Express). Eugene also continued as a consulting economist to the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, running and ensuring the continuity of the ACCI/ Westpac Survey of Industrial Trends, for which he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (OAM) medal in 2019 for services to business.

But by far the biggest love of his life was his late wife, Jolanta Bajkowski, his two sons Julian and Andrew and his grandchildren Konrad and Thea, who survive him.

Vale Eugeniusz Bajkowski. I cherished your friendship, leadership, and vision very much. Our long lunchtime conversations at Timmy’s in Manuka will be greatly missed.

Hanna and I extend our sincere condolences to Julian, Andrew and their families.

Eugeniusz Bajkowski

with President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda in 2018

The Poland Australia Business Forum (https://pabf.com.au) together with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency organised a Unity Gala function at the Sydney Opera House to celebrate the 50 th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and Poland.
The opening address was delivered by HE Hon. Margaret Beazley AC CK, an Australian jurist and current governor of New South Wales who demonstrated her remarkable knowledge of Polish history and culture.
There were plenty of dignitaries in attendance including the PABF President Tym Pieglowski and the PABF committee; Agata Utnicka, Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of the Republic of Poland; Jakub Wilchelm, Head of Polish Investment and Trade Agency in Australia; Monika Konczyk, Consul General of Poland in Sydney; Hon. Robert Borsak MLC and other parliamentarians; Joseph La Posta, CEO of Multicultural NSW as well as many Australian business and cultural life notables.
The Unity Gala was a celebration of the contribution made by the Polish Heroes to Australian culture, business, and academia.
The Polish Heroes project was created in 2022 by Anna Wojt and Leonie Tillman and consists of a series of podcasts featuring ten highly accomplished individuals in various industries, from arts to academia. All born in Poland,they made Australia their home some years ago. Leonie Tillman moderated a panel discussion with the Heroes.
It was a humbling experience to be named one of the Heroes by the PABF. Other Heroes who participated in the panel discussion were Professor Betina Szkudlarek, Bart Kolodziejczyk OAM, and Marzena Wasikowska.
For a series of Leonie Tillman interviews featuring all ten prominent Polish Australians,visit: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh
For those who are unsure about the meaning of the word, and I quote here from Eva Hussain’s, Hon. Consul of Poland in Melbourne, email, “the word hero comes from the Greek, literally meaning protector or defender but its connotations have changed somewhat over the years. The modern hero is selfless, compassionate and caring. Someone we admire for their courage, outstanding achievements, exceptional strength or noble qualities. Someone who demonstrates an utmost commitment to their morals, regardless of obstacles blocking their way.”

Confersations (video)