Rowville’s The Polish House ‘Syrena’ defends decision to host a right-wing ‘traditionalist’ gathering

A suburban multicultural hub has defended its decision to host a controversial, right-wing traditionalist event previously attended by outspoken neo-Nazis.

A “multicultural” hub in Melbourne’s southeast has defended its decision to allow a right-wing traditionalist organisation to host a gathering at their venue despite an outpour of community outrage.

The Polish House ‘Syrena’ in Rowville is set to host the National Workers Alliance for the second time this year as part of a conference discussing how to secure the existence of “European identity.”

The NWA group has drawn criticism in recent months for hosting an event attended by outspoken neo-Nazis Thomas Sewell, Joel Davis and Blair Cotrell at Urban Restaurant in McKinnon.

Under the cover of blacked-out windows, the gathering of close to 100 people sparked a local campaign to boycott the restaurant, ultimately leading to the owners closing their doors indefinitely back in September.

The NWA are set to host another conference on December 13, returning to Polish House, where they hosted their first event earlier this year.

Posters at the front of Polish House 'Syrena' protesting the National Workers Alliance gathering. Picture: Facebook

Former Neighbours star turned free speech advocate Damien Richardson and NWA founder Matthew Trihey are scheduled to speak at the conference.

News of the event has sparked community outrage once again, with posters calling for the gathering to be abandoned posted on the front door and windows of the venue.

The posters allege hierarchy at the Polish Club had previously “refused” to cancel the NWA’s event despite voicing their concerns regarding the content being shared at these gatherings.

Polish House, officially registered as the Eastern Districts Polish Association, promotes itself as a multicultural club, open to anyone from any background.

“It’s a place where members and other ethnic communities can hire the venue for all sort of functions,” their website reads.

Vice president Zygmunt Bielinski told the Herald Sun he saw “no issue” with the NWA and their event next week, adding that they were not concerned about the content shared by the group.

Polish House 'Syrena' has defended their decision to host the National Workers Alliance at a gathering next week. Picture: Facebook

“We don’t segregate people,” Mr Bielinski said.

“We are open for everybody.”

He distanced Polish House from the event by confirming they were not the organisers and they were simply hiring out their venue.

Eastern Districts Polish Association president Paul Rozpara said there were concerns shared by some members regarding any alleged association with neo-Nazis in relation to next week’s event.

“The Polish House ‘Syrena’ in Rowville is distancing itself from any and all pro-Nazi sentiment,” Mr Rozpara said.

“We do hire our venue to multicultural people, this time around it is the National Workers Alliance.”

It is understood the club had previously entered into a contract with the NWA under the leadership of their former president Dr Andrzej Markiewicz.

Urban Street restaurant in McKinnon hosted a gathering of right-leaning ‘traditionalists’ including neo-Nazis in September. Photo: Facebook

Mr Trihey confirmed the NWA and the Polish Club in Rowville had no connection and the event next week was merely a commercial arrangement for venue hire.

“The National Workers Alliance would like to thank the Polish Club in Rowville for their strong support of free speech and allowing us to hold our event on 13th December,” he said.

Mr Trihey added he believed that people of European descent had the right to “discuss the importance of preserving our heritage, culture and identity.”

“We are not a hateful group and are acting out of a love of the societies our forebears built and a desire to provide a safe future for our children,” he continued.

Shocking video from their event back in September captured Mr Trihey answering questions regarding who the NWA was and who they were “fighting” against.

“My organisation is definitely catered for the whites, for the rights of European descent … the genotype of the European is who I’m advocating for,” he said.

“I see the enemy, I think we have four enemies … I see Islam as the enemy, I see the Han people as the potential enemy, I see Judaism as the enemy.”

Mr Trihey, who describes himself as a right-leaning traditionalist, previously said the gathering was organised to discuss issues of “mass immigration” and refused to label the event a far-right meeting.

Victoria Police confirmed they were still investigating the event in McKinnon and were making inquiries regarding the gathering in Rowville.