MHSS General Committee Member Anthea Digiaris Photo: Supplied
I have always been proud to be a member of the Greek-Australian community, a vibrant community with a strong sense of identity and sense of pride in its origin, rich history and migrant experience.
As for many readers I’m sure, my heritage and community have been sources of strength, support and motivation and have been integral in sculpting my identity. I note, however, that the desire in both younger and older members of our community to actively engage with their community has somewhat waned in the last 30 to 40 years.
The many ‘syllogoi’ (associations) and organisations which were once very active are now facing a decrease in membership and participation, much to the dismay of community leaders and more active members. I would therefore like to witness a shift in at least younger Greek-Australians towards investing time in reconnecting with their community.
Janna Trifon Photo: Supplied
Like many not-for-profit organisations we were extremely excited for the new term to commence with vibrant new ideas for our community; however we found ourselves diverting our ideas through virtual platforms. To encourage everyone’s love for cooking, our introduction of Sintagi Sunday’s showcased our committee members’ favorite recipes passed down from their loved ones, with the intention of spreading traditional family-favourite Greek foods to the community.
In partnership with Fronditha Care, our members documented their methods and shared these much loved traditions with Fronditha. Alongside this, we recommenced our podcast
Ta Leme. Ta Leme focuses on a variety of topics that target the Greek diaspora, ranging from discussions of the promised prides, Greek dancing, art and identity and many more.