In memory of Mato Lovrak – From a big village to the stars

Veliki Grđevac is a small town where this great author lived and which lives throughout the year in his style.

Lovrak days of culture, the Lovrak centre, the Mato Lovrak commemorative room, the Mato Lovrak elementary school, the Mato Lovrak street and square and much more in Veliki Grđevac dedicated to our children’s author. 

Veliki Grđevac is located at the tri-border point between Slavonia, Bilogorje and Moslavina. Due to its good location, fertile land and numerous craftsmen it has long been a desired place to live. However, it was no different from other places in that part of Croatia until children’s author Mato Lovrak was born and spent a good portion of his life there. 

Generations of Croatian pupils were brought up on his “Pero Kvržica's Gang”, “A Train in the Snow”, “Anka from Brazil”, “Green island” and many more of Lovrak’s works. Film versions of the first two mentioned works made Lovrak even more popular.

“Thirty years ago we decided to capitalize on the inheritance of the popular children’s writer and outstanding teacher mato Lovrak and name the Day of Culture after him. They have since then been held each year in Veliki Grđevac, preserving the memory of Lovrak’s life and creativity”, explains the predient of the organizational committee for the 30th Lovrak Days of Culture, Drago Trošćan. Through them Lovrak’s creativity has become inspiration for children’s, who give a gift to readers through the beauty of Croatian prose. This is confirmed by numerous works that arrive each year for the best journalist, literary and art works. An award is also given for the best children’s novel. 

This year that is the novel “My Brother Lives in a Computer” by Branka Primorac. Each year the Lovrak Days of Culture last longer and last for almost an entire week. “In conjunction with the Day we also have Lovrak’s international children’s games where youngsters from Hungary also take part along with those from Croatia. The idea is to invite children from Croatian classes in the Netherlands next year.

Two theatrical performances were held, an expert forum for teachers and lecturers as well as a Creativity fair and Meeting of Mato Lovrak Fans”, said Trošćan. Veliki Grđevac has made a brand of Mato Lovrak. Lovrak’s Days of Culture were the foundation. Veliki Grđevac also received a Mato Lovrak commemorative room where the writers inheritance is preserved.

After this a Mato Lovrak cultural centre was built in which visitors can view Pero Kvržica’s mill and his gang, see scenes from A Train in the Snow and a renovated miller’s house, children’s playground as well as an educational path for friends of nature.

In order to keep students and other visitors in Veliki Grđevac as long as possible, a project was developed to build a pool and sports centre with the assistance of European Union funds. “When we began that project, they said we weren’t serious and few believed it could be done. But we succeeded and last year a pool and recreation centre complex was opened in the town which was visited by 25 000 visitors”, notes municipal commissioner Marijan Dautanac.  

The number of visitors at the peak of the Lovrak Days of Culture or the “pools of imaginations” as the locals call them, is testimony to the fact that people in Veliki Grđevac are serious.