“Macedonian Spark” The First Macedonian Newspaper in Australia

Makedonska Iskra (Macedonian Spark) was the first Macedonian newspaper to be published in Australia, from 1946 to 1957. A monthly with national distribution, it commenced in Perth and later moved to Melbourne and Sydney.

The newspaper was published at a time of great historical significance for the Macedonian people: the future Republic of Macedonia had been formed within Yugoslavia, the Greek Civil War had begun, and there was a great expectation that the Macedonian people would finally achieve a free homeland.

The newspaper provided Macedonian immigrants with news from the home country, as well as with reading material in the Macedonian and English languages. The newspaper is now a record of key historical events that shaped the Macedonian nation and of the many people and events within the Macedonian community in Australia.

Macedonian Spark was founded by Edinstvo (Unity) and the Macedonian Peoples League of Australia with the assistance of many people, among them: in Perth the editors Laurie Malco and Kiro Angelkov and assistants Michael Veloskey, Stojan Sarbinov and Naum Sharin; and in Melbourne Risto Altin and Stojche Stojchev.

Source: Pollitecon Publications