Hungarians who found fame and success in the new world

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Australia is one of the most cosmopolitan nations in the world. That might seem surprising for a country that is so far from anywhere. However, Aussies would joke that it is simply a case that once people arrive there, they never want to leave.

That’s not so far from the truth. Right now, Australia’s visa rules are quite restrictive, so it is not a case that just anyone can turn up and move in. But over the years, there have been waves of immigration from different parts of the world. In the 1950s, Australia had genuine fears that unless the population increased, it would not be able to withstand a military invasion. Thousands from Hungary answered the call, especially in the years of unrest either side of the 1956 revolution.

Today, about 100,000 Australians claim Hungarian descent, many through their parents and grandparents. Most have gone on to quietly prosper, and about 50 percent of Hungarian Australians live in the Sydney and Melbourne areas. Some, however, have risen above the masses and made a name for themselves in their areas of expertise in the new world.

Joe Bugner defined an era

Aussie Joe, as he is affectionately known, was born in Hungary and fled to Britain in 1956. During the 1970s, he was right up there with the likes of Mohamad Ali, Joe Frazier, Henry Cooper and the rest as one of the world’s leading heavyweight boxers. But that was only the beginning.

In 1986, ostensibly retired, he emigrated to Australia. There, he adopted the nickname Aussie Joe and launched one of the most extraordinary comebacks in boxing history. In 1996, at 46 years old, he won the Pacific and Australasian Heavyweight title, which he successfully defended in 1997. Still, he was not done. In 1998, he defeated former champion James “Bonecrusher” Smith to take the WBF Heavyweight crown. At 48 years and 110 days, he also entered the record books as the oldest-ever boxer to hold a championship belt.

Judy Cassab was one of Australia’s most celebrated artists