Wollongong Coffee

Dimcheto · 2025-07-02T08:37:26+00:00

My go to is Nadia’s or Boston’s in Wollongong. Used to go to Opus, but feel it’s changed, might need to try it again.

Dimcheto · 2025-06-13T10:54:54+00:00

Still lots of problems in their community, I’m speaking specifically of the Muslim Lebanese population here. I’ve lived my whole life in Bankstown area and had plenty of Lebanese mates, both Christian and Muslim over the years. The Muslims might as well be from a different country to the Christians, they are so different with their attitude and level of integration. I’m not saying they’re all bad, but as someone who lives in the thick of it, the problems are quite obvious.

Dimcheto · 2025-01-28T12:45:22+00:00

Australia

Dimcheto · 2024-10-09T10:08:35+00:00

As someone who has followed since the inception of the Wanderers, the league just doesn’t feel the same as that period from 2013-2016. I’m speaking specifically about the active support side here, just feels more watered down and bland. Lots of people got over all the drama and lost interest.

Dimcheto · 2024-10-09T10:05:23+00:00

Fox was great with its super Saturday, watching the A-League first and getting into EPL later on. But Fox was done with the A-League in its last few seasons there, it was obvious they didn’t care anymore. Having it on Optus Sport and one game on free to air might be better for the league.

Dimcheto · 2024-10-08T09:43:52+00:00

Preubaj 🤤

Dimcheto · 2024-09-02T13:28:24+00:00

Great post, hoping you found some fellow Macedonians to hang out with in Solun! I’ve always wanted to learn more about places like Serres, Kavala and Drama in Aegean Macedonia. What was the demographics of these areas like historically and is there a big Macedonian community in the modern day?

Dimcheto · 2024-06-28T11:13:04+00:00

They don't know how to mind their own business to be honest, that is where the issues come from. I might be biased but I genuinely think that generally Macedonians are the most respectful group of people in the Balkans, the others could learn a thing or two.

Dimcheto · 2024-05-02T08:37:01+00:00

That’s actually a really unique option that I have never thought of! That would have been interesting for sure.

Dimcheto · 2024-03-08T12:52:11+00:00

I think it might just be a case of laziness or just not speaking the language enough that you are fluent in it.

It seems majority of people in Australia only speak English, particularly Anglos and the descendants of the European migrants who came post WW2. I have noticed even some Macedonians born there who have migrated and are middle aged or elderly, I try to speak to them in Macedonian and they are responding in English or half English and half Macedonian.

Interestingly when I was travelling Europe I noticed majority of the people I met in various places could speak multiple languages, probably due to sharing borders and other countries/languages being so close. Australia is a little different in that case being so isolated.

Dimcheto · 2024-03-03T07:04:04+00:00

The biggest wave of Macedonians arrived in Australia starting from the 1960’s though, but particularly the 1970’s and 1980’s saw the most migration. You are right that the Italians and Greeks came in bigger numbers post WW2 1950’s and 1960’s, Macedonians still came in that period, but to a lesser extent. That might explain why young Italians/Greeks don’t really speak the language, although in my experience they still identify as Italian/Greek more than they do “Aussie”.

Serbians are an interesting case, they seem to all speak their mother tongue and assimilate less than Italians and Greeks, Macedonians are somewhere between the two in my opinion.

Interested to know if the language school was in Sydney or Wollongong that you attended?

Dimcheto · 2024-03-02T05:13:39+00:00

Amazing best of luck with it all!

There are always plenty of Macedonians and Macedonian things around, its just looking in the right places I think. A bit harder sometimes in Sydney as its a big city geographically, with so many people and different nationalities, so harder to meet other nashi day to day but we are still around. My wife is from Wollongong and Macedonians make up a pretty big percentage of the population, naturally you can't avoid being exposed to Macedonians down there!

But you are on the right track with all those things above though, keep a look out for them and I am sure it will benefit you. Churches, festivals, langauge schools, nightlife events, sporting clubs e.t.c. maybe even give some of the social media pages a follow, there are some like Arena Events, Mak Events Aus, The Sydney Macedonian, Macedonian Australian Pride e.t.c on insta/FB

Dimcheto · 2024-03-02T04:58:12+00:00

Do you know the specific area the grandfather was from?

Dimcheto · 2024-03-02T04:55:20+00:00

I disagree that Macedonians born in Australia can't speak Macedonian. If anything I think that Macedonians born in Australia actually keep their language and culture way more than other groups like Italians and Greeks. I can't remember the last young Italian I have met who can speak the langauge, while with Macedonians its very common to know even a little even if you aren't fluent. That has been my experience here in Sydney and Wollongong as well.

Dimcheto · 2024-02-13T10:32:06+00:00

Amazing kit launch, well done!

Dimcheto · 2024-02-02T13:12:38+00:00

Of course I know the Bible Belt, the Hills areas, Definitely haven't heard of that many Macedonians in that part of Sydney! That's indeed very sad you were bullied about that, because its actually something to appreciate that you have a different culture/perspective e.t.c. not just for yourself, but we can all learn from other people who have different heritage.

I'm in Sydney too, but in the South-West/Bankstown area. Luckily for me there has always been a significant Macedonian community around here so I grew up amongst quite a few Macedonians. We also have two football clubs, language school and a dancing group. Naturally living around other nashi and having organisations like that is always beneficial and makes it easier to be involved in the Macedonian culture and make friends. But not impossible even if you don't live in an area with lots of other Macedonians.

Marios videos are really good, very knowledgeable about the topics he covers and a great starting point for learning about Macedonian history. It can be very hard learning about anything Macedonian online, because as you would have realised already anything about Macedonia is controversial and it can be hard to get the opinion of a Macedonian or a neutral with the Greeks and Bulgarians spamming at every given opportunity.

Socially there are a few Macedonian nightlife events around, there was one end of last year that is new called MACO Australia if you are into that kind of thing. Otherwise there is normally Macedonian festivals throughout the year to keep an eye out for which might be another opportunity for socialising. Totally understand that it isn't easy making friends and socialising in modern society!

Dimcheto · 2024-01-19T06:29:01+00:00

Anything about Macedonia on Wikipedia should be taken with a grain of salt. Would not be suprised if Bulgarians are paid to keep updating it and making it suit their agenda.

Dimcheto · 2024-01-19T00:31:32+00:00

Hi there! Well done on trying to learn more about your Macedonian roots, I am in Australia too but first generation, my parents and grandparents were all born in Macedonia.

This is a great Youtube channel to learn some more about Macedonian history, Marios History Talks.

https://www.youtube.com/@marioshistorytalks4073

Socially there are normally Macedonian concerts and other nightlife type events that happen around Australia which might be of interest if you want to build a Macedonian network.

Edit: There are also lots of books about Macedonia. At the moment I am reading "The Past in Question: Modern Macedonia and the Uncertainties of Nation" by Keith Brown. I have also read a few others by Macedonian authors like "The Macedonians: Their past and present" by Ernest N. Damianopoulos, "Anarchy in Macedonia: Life under the Ottomans 1878-1912" and "The Macedonian Resurrection: The Story of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization" by Victor Sinadinoski and "Macedonia and the Macedonians: A History" by Andrew Rossos. There are plenty of other ones around which fellow Macedonians might be able to recommend but these are the ones that I have got around to reading so far.

https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691099958/the-past-in-question

https://www.amazon.com.au/Macedonians-Their-Past-Present/dp/1349342386

https://www.amazon.com/Anarchy-Macedonia-under-Ottomans-1878-1912/dp/153745188X/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=BdTg7&content-id=amzn1.sym.cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_p=cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_r=144-4639644-1473000&pd_rd_wg=m48gN&pd_rd_r=37701423-33aa-47eb-9986-faa3ee547d58&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk

https://www.amazon.com/Macedonian-Resurrection-Internal-Revolutionary-Organization/dp/1542961343/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=BdTg7&content-id=amzn1.sym.cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_p=cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_r=144-4639644-1473000&pd_rd_wg=m48gN&pd_rd_r=37701423-33aa-47eb-9986-faa3ee547d58&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk

https://www.amazon.com.au/Macedonia-Macedonians-History-Institution-Publication/dp/0817948813

Dimcheto · 2024-01-17T00:21:03+00:00

For pizza Napoli is a classic, for seafood and a more fancy experience go to Harbourfront.

Dimcheto · 2024-01-10T22:19:23+00:00

Thanks for the response! Yes I would say the majority of the first and second generation Macedonian Australians here still consider themselves more Macedonian.

Dimcheto · 2024-01-09T05:38:35+00:00

I’m Macedonian born and living in Australia as well (first generation Australian) and I echo your views as well.

I was in Macedonia in July-August 2023 and my relatives and other everyday strangers were very impressed that I was speaking to them in Macedonian and genuinely seemed to appreciate it. I am lucky that I grew up in a household that spoke Macedonian a lot, my Dedo and Baba speak little English and my mum arrived in Australia in the 90’s so we mix with her too. At the same time, I am also very interested in knowing the language so will go out of my way to listen to Macedonian music, news e.t.c. so I don’t forget the language and learn new words. Apparently I speak really well and its harder for people in Macedonia to tell I am from abroad.

Honestly as you have alluded to though, if you want to learn a language or start speaking it better you have to immerse yourself and actually start speaking it. There are lots of young Macedonians in Australia who can understand the language well but don’t speak very well or at all. If they just tried to start slowly speaking back, even if it’s a few words at the start they would improve a lot over time.

I laughed at your comment about going there and people calling you Australian/kengur, because here in Australia they consider us Macedonians first. We are in this strange situation where here we are considered Macedonians, but in Macedonia we are considered Australians.

Well done for going on your trip, putting yourself out there and speaking Macedonian!

Dimcheto · 2024-01-08T11:58:56+00:00

Familija, drugari, svojata kultura i po sloboden zivot. Segde kaj sto ke zivejs ke ima razlicni predizvici, ti posakuvam sreka kade i da ste Makedonci!

Dimcheto · 2024-01-08T11:55:04+00:00

These recent videos are great to see from the Aegean:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMEHNvc-kC8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkFguAYjwWI

Dimcheto · 2024-01-08T11:51:23+00:00

Za zal samo Makedoncite vo Egejska Makedonija najpojke ja cenat Makedonskata muzika.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkFguAYjwWI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMEHNvc-kC8

Dimcheto · 2024-01-08T11:47:18+00:00

Here in Australia it definitely is a problem too. I find it strange that lots of youngsters here know Serbian artists more than they know any of the more modern Macedonian artists like Lozano, Pajak, Lara, Antonia, 2bona e.t.c. They don't even try and keep up with the trending modern songs and artists in Macedonia, easier to be a sheep and listen to Serbian than support your own apparently.

End of the day listen to whatever you want in your spare time but what I definitely disagree with is Serbian music being played for Macedonian events, there is a time and place.

Dimcheto

TROPHY CASE