On Tuesday, 25 July 2017, the Gala Opening Reception of the Exhibition of the Nikola Tesla Museum from Belgrade “Unlimited Mind’ was held at the Michael Crouch Innovation Centre, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney. The Exhibition was previously held in Perth “Tesla EXPO 2017” from 1^st – 16^th July and attended by HE Mr Miroljub Petrovic, Serbian Ambassador to Australia.

The Exhibition, held for the first time in Sydney, was organized in collaboration with the Nikola Tesla Museum from Belgrade, members of the Nikola Tesla Srpski Society, the UNSW hosts, sponsored, especially by “Air Serbia” and “Etihad”, with assistance of the representatives of the Serbian Missions in Canberra and Sydney.

The Sydney exhibition showcased 13 exhibits, posters and models representing replicas of Tesla’s inventions, such as Tesla’s Egg of Columbus, induction motor, including important details from Tesla’s personal archive and his life. There were also two plays presented, which were organised by the above mentioned Society from Sydney, performed by the local actors of Serbian decent. As a part of the Exhibition on 1^st August 2017, the Australian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce (ASCC) was launched. During the Exhibition period, the visitors were guided by a team of professionals, led by Director of the Nikola Tesla Museum, Dr Branimir Jovanovic, including professors and students volunteers from the UNSW, Faculty of Engineering. 

The dean of UNSW, Prof. Mark Hoffman, representing the hosts, addressed the attending guests at the Gala Reception. Ambassador Mr Miroljub Petrovic, expressed his gratitude to the Nikola Tesla Museum from Belgrade, UNSW, particularly to the not for profit organization “Nikola Tesla Srpski” and its director, Mr Dragan Stegnjajic, a prominent member of the Serbian diaspora “without whose enthusiasm and commitment this Exhibition would not have been possible”. Speaking about the work of Nikola Tesla, the Ambassador pointed out the importance of this scientist for the whole of humanity. In the context of Serbian-Australian relations, he reminded the guests of the meeting and cooperation between two great scientists, Nikola Tesla and Henry Sutton, in London 1892. Addressing the audience, His Grace Siluan, Bishop of Australia and New Zealand of the Serbian Orthodox Church, reminded the audience of the origin of Nikola Tesla and his father who was a Serbian Orthodox priest. Mr Stevan Sipka, the representative of "Air Serbia" addressed the audience on behalf of the organizers and sponsors of the Exhibition.

In his speech, Dr Branimir Jovanovic, Director of Nikola Tesla Museum from Belgrade, stated that “in the Museum in Belgrade, beside the exhibits displayed at the exhibition in Sydney, there are over 200 documents that have attracted interest of scientists from around the world”. As a token of appreciation to UNSW and students volunteers, Mr Jovanovic presented Prof Mark Hoffman with a copy of one of Tesla’s patents, which was approved by the Australian authorities in 1910, as a testimony of the scientist’s close relationship with Australia.

In addition to the above mentioned guests, the Gala Opening Reception was attended by HE Mr Branko Radosevic, Consul General and Mr Branislav Grbic, Consul, members of the NSW Consular Corps, as well as representatives from the Australian public, scientific and political arena. Some of them are: Dr Maria Milosavljevic, NSW Government Chief Information Security Officer; Prof Dr Branka Vucetic, University of Sydney, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering; Nick Lalich, MP NSW Parliament, as well as many prominent representatives of the Serbian Diaspora and the clergy of the Serbian Orthodox Church. 

This event was also attended by the grandson and granddaughter of the famous Australian scientist Henry Sutton.

The Gala Opening reception was embellished by the songs of the Serbian ethno vocal-instrumental ensemble “Lazarikon”, whose members were dressed in the Serbian national costume and sang the traditional Serbian songs, including “Tamo Daleko”, a song played at Tesla’s funeral, as his last wish. The organisers ensured that over 150 attending guests also enjoyed a selection of specialties from the Serbian cuisine.

The Sydney exhibition of the work and personal life of the great scientist of Serbian background Nikola Tesla, is another example of the Serbian community promoting Serbian culture, tradition and identity of its people, in this country. 

Photos from the opening ceremony of the Exhbition.

Report of Radio SBS in Serbian language from the Exhibition.