GBLA Stamps by Ondrej Kaliňák
Peter Valdner (2024)
Engineer Ondrej Kaliňák is one of the sailors who made a notable mark in the history of the GBLA - Great Bitter Lake Association. In 1972, during a storm when the MS Ledmelaga was torn from its anchors by a gale, it was he who managed to start the long-unused engines of the MS Lednice. This allowed Captain Čertezni to maneuver the ship and avert an imminent collision between the MS Ledmelaga and the Muwinikies. Given that the MS Ledmelaga carried 400 tons of hidden ammunition, a collision could have been catastrophic.
In the following photo, Engineer Kaliňák sits alongside Captain Čertezni. If his face looks familiar to you, you’re not mistaken—he resembles his son, the media-famous Slovak Deputy Prime Minister, JUDr. Robert Kaliňák.
In their free time, the sailors engaged in sports. In 1968, while the ships still had sizable crews, they even organized the GBLA Olympics. Weekly football league matches were held, along with a monthly football cup. The Lednice team even won it once; see the GBLA Encyclopedia. By 1972, only four reduced crews remained on the lake, and only individual sports continued. The Germans dominated sailing, while Engineer Kaliňák excelled in chess.
He was also the most prominent Czechoslovak stamp creator. Although Captain Kudrna produced more stamps, Engineer Kaliňák’s designs were unique. His technical background as a marine engineer was evident—he drew the designs, and they were printed by Polish sailors.
His first stamps, although named "Neptune in a Boat" by Captain Hill, were actually a caricature of Captain Hamšík.
He also commemorated the anniversary of the ČSPD and Bratislava.
But the highlight of his work was a set of stamps celebrating Czechoslovakia's victory over the Soviet Union at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Prague on April 20, 1972. Those celebrations are unforgettable. If you're younger, picture the Czech Republic's celebrations after Nagano Olympics 1998 or Slovakia's after Gothenburg 2002. Got it? Now multiply that by ten…
His stamp designs were later continued by Captains Benda and Fojtu.
Sources: GBLA Ecyclopaedia and Stamp Catalogue
Contact: valdpete@yahoo.com