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West Australian
20-05-2025
- General
- West Australian
Zoran Panzich: Long-time Manjimup journalist signs off
ZORAN STEPHEN PANZICH Born: November 16, 1953 Sarajevo, Croatia Died: May 13, 2025, Manjimup, Australia There are no streets named after Zoran Panzich, he wasn't nominated for an Order of Australia, and his name is not in gold letters on a board at the council or any sports club. His family wasn't exactly welcomed to the district as European migrants in 1958, his school years were peppered with disdain, and later, as the local journalist, he could cop the worst. Yet Zoran loved the Lower South West. So much so, that the house that his parents built five years after arriving in Australia, remained his home right up to his death last week on May 13 aged 71. When Zoran joined the then Warren Blackwood Times in 1984 as the senior journalist — and for a long while the only journalist — he alone had the choice in how he would write about the place that had treated him with less than fair respect. And for 21 years he chose to champion it. Then, in retirement he took to emails and the internet to set right those in power who he thought did not have the best intent for the region. But the rage in his writing to government ministers over issues such as the closing of the timber industry, was never hinted in the way he approached life. Zoran was habitually enthusiastic. He openly subscribed to the idea that the way of the world was largely 'nuts' and that people who worked only for money had missed the point. He obsessed over doing a good job at the Warren Blackwood Times (later the Manjimup-Bridgetown Times) and so rarely had a day off, and regularly worked 60-plus hour weeks. Yet visit the office, whatever the time, and it was in a state of chaos, as he always had more stories he still wanted to write, fuelled by a fridge stocked with soft drinks and chocolate bars. The kid who had arrived as a four-year-old from Sarajevo, and learnt English with his Dad at classes for migrants at the Jardee Mill Hall, loved being the local newspaper reporter. It was his Dad, a dock saw operator, who encouraged Zoran to understand the 'language' and get an education, with the alternative there would always be a spot at the mill. Zoran chose the education, but in his early years, the schools of the time often didn't have the skills, patience or interest in southern European migrant kids. He would recount numerous times how he and the other 'Slav, Italian and Masso' kids were left out, but he wasn't bitter, rather he would say 'imagine this place now without us'. As it was, he left Manjimup not long after finishing high school, and eventually worked as a journalist in the Wheatbelt, writing for various local papers and as a contributor for the Sunday Times. When the job opened at the Warren Blackwood Times in July 1984 it was only supposed to be temporary, but he stayed until his retirement in 2005. Along the way, head office finally decided to send him some help, and he threw himself into mentoring the junior reporters. Zoran readily accepted, as with all people in public jobs, he would be criticised at times, but he also didn't always make it easy on himself. For a few seasons, he took on the unenviable job umpiring the local football league. On retiring from the paper, he bought the then Overlander Motel just before the Manjimup gateway, but didn't stay in that long. It was said he liked his customers too much to always charge them correctly. Even a few years later when he contracted cancer and as he sat in his bed at Fiona Stanley Hospital awaiting the start of treatment, it seemed as if his unending optimism would still not allow him the words to be negative. In his life Zoran Panzich loved and fought for a place that gave him plenty of reasons not to, and those who knew him will long miss his laughter and enthusiasm.
Associated Press
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Mucha Museum Unveils New Era at Historic Kaunický palác, Prague
PRAGUE, CZ / ACCESS Newswire / May 3, 2025 / The iconic Mucha Museum is proud to announce in the historic building of the Kaunický palác, Prague, has moved & reopened in its new grand venue in the Kaunický palác, Prague offering a transformation in payed of history of the celebration of Alfons Mucha, one of the most influential of the Art Nouveau artists and a symbol of national identity to the Czech people. Originally opened to the public in 1998, the museum is the first in the world entirely dedicated to the works of the much-acclaimed Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha - the collection includes everything from canvases to photographs, illustrations, designs, living, invocative documents, and much more. Citizens of Prague are very proud of this museum, formerly housed in a small and quaint setting, now in its new and very impressive home, which offers a dramatically expanded and re-imagined experience. 'This new home for the Mucha Museum at Kaunický palác, Prague, is more than a move - it is a bold redefinition of how we present Mucha's legacy to future generations,' said a museum spokesperson. 'It reflects the scale and spirit of the man whose work shaped not only an artistic era but a national identity.' Located in the center of Prague, the Kaunický palác offers a graceful and historic backdrop for the appreciation of Mucha's visionary work. Now, visitors can explore all new galleries with original works of art, personal artifacts, archival material, and engaging interactive exhibits showing the artist and the world he inhabited. New Museum Experience Highlights: Alfons Mucha (1860-1939) is known for his masterful art nouveau iconic poster designs that capture the essence of beauty advertising products - it's probably some of the most exquisite examples of advertising art ever seen. His paintings were an expression of culture and national pride, as well as a medium of political sentiment; nowhere is this more apparent than in The Slav Epic, a collection of large canvases that document the spiritual development of the Slav race. With the introduction of this beautiful setting within the confines of the Kaunický palác, Prague, visitors will be able to experience Mucha's work with greater intimacy and depth, and also experience the city of Prague through the eyes of an artist who helped give it a soul. About Mucha Museum - is the official online platform for the Alfons Mucha Museum and legacy. It offers access to exhibition details, tickets, digital archives, curated content, and exclusive merchandise, serving as the definitive source for Mucha enthusiasts worldwide. Media Contact Organisation: Muchovo muzeum s.r.o. Contact Person: Daniel Tanner Website: [email protected] SOURCE: Muchovo muzeum press release
