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The 2005 Investiture of the Order of St.Stanislas in Austria
Written by Dame Margorzata Jakubowska
It is my pleasure to greet all of Dames and Chevaliers of the Order of St Stanislas. My name is Margaret Jakubowska and I’m happy to introduce myself as the Dame of the Polish, Mazovian Priory of the Order of St Stanislas and as far as I know, the youngest member of the Order in general. During the last summer I was taking part in the Summer Program of the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna. Because of that, Chev. Orland Machnikowski, G.C.C.St.S., the Chancellor for Europe and the former Prior of Mazovia asked me to represent Polish Priory in the Austrian Investiture.
The Investiture weekend of the Austrian Priory took place 19th-21st of August 2005, at the restored Castle of Plankenstein. The castle is owned by Chev. Alexander Trimbacher, K.C.St.S. Commander of the Commandery of Burg Plankenstein and has been rebuilt by his family.
The weekend kicked off with a cocktail and a buffet reception given by the Austrian Grand Prior Dame Sylvia Fritz-Anhalt G.C.St.S. and Grand Legate Chev. Richard Vaughan Rowlands, G.C.C.St.S., Baron Serjeant of Cushnie-Lumsden on the Friday evening. This event was the perfect occasion for friends in the Order to meet up and especially for new friendships and acquaintances to be made. This year the Investiture, was rather kind of a small one but truly international, with the presence of Dames and Chevaliers of the Order of St Stanislas and also friends of the Order from many corners of the world; from Austria, Australia, Belgium, Great Britain, United States, Poland.
Among others arrived: Dame Dianne Male, Lady of Waterstone, D.C.St.S., Dame Elaine Grant, D.St.S., Dame Antonia Titgemeyer, D.St.S., Dame Carmen Petrowitz, D.St.S, Dame Katharina, Baroness von Lemmermann, D.St.S., Chev. Mag. Wolfgang Stindl, K.St.S, Chev. William M. Feighan, K.O.St.S., Count Heinrich Mathias Thurn-Valsassina, Senr. Pedro Menocal.
Unfortunately the Grand Master, Prince Juliusz Nowina-Sokolnicki, and Countess Avril did not come, because of unexpected health problems. Therefore, on Saturday the main ceremony in the Castle Chapel, (by the way the chapel is simple and small but lovely, half-wooden with a white arches and wall paintings), was conduced by the Austrian Grand Prior Dame Sylvia Fritz-Anhalt and the Grand Prior of Australia and Chancellor of Australasia Chev. Russell Male, Lord of Waterstone G.C.C.St.S..
After the Postulants had become formal members of the Order, a photo session started and drinks was served in the Castle Courtyard. I would say that the character of the event was rather friendly and put the participants in a community spirit. A wonderful feeling of warmth and camaraderie prevailed throughout the stay with everyone mingling together. Conversations were diverse and enlightening. The following Gala Dinner took place in the Castle Suzani Hall. All the dishes that we were tasting had been cooked and served by the owner of the Castle, Chev. Alexander Trimbacher. The evening was full of stories, conversations, speeches, greetings and ideas exchanges. One of the interesting was the bold speech of the young Count Karl Kinsky, who was expressing ideas of freedom and historical identity and its importance for and in the name of the young generation. After the dinner, dancing started and ended with a morning fog that began surrounding the Castle, which brought a fabulous feeling. The Investiture weekend ended with a Sunday Mass in the nearby church and followed with a presentation of Dame Sylvia Fritz-Anhalt’s latest book “Tûrme-Etûdien einer Architektin”, after that everyone returned home. I hope that I have brought nearer the Order’s event that took place in that very green part of Europe, mainly in the Austrian Priory.
Best regards from Poland,
Dame Margorzata Jakubowska