“Anastero ta Palia: I remember the past“. The opening words of a traditional Pontian song of mourning summarises the annual Greek Genocide Commemoration at the Marana Hall in Hurstville, southern Sydney, led by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia and attended by about 400 representatives of the Hellenic, Armenian, Assyrian, Jewish and Australian communities.
The Commemoration was organised by the Hellenic Genocide Commemoration Committee, the united effort of NSW’s three Pontian associations – Pontoxeniteas (President Maria Anthony), Panayia Soumela Sydney (President Peter Papoulidis) and Diogenes Wollongong (President Nick Chrissostomidis), together with the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia. Other members are Helen Macris, Helene Flame, Nena Lambousis, Dimitrios Kouklidis, Chris Klazidis and Dr Panayiotis Diamadis.