In 1989, New Zealand filmmaker John Irwin travelled to Athens and Crete to visit former Greek classmates from the London International Film School. The visit ‘to see a couple of these mates’ changed his life. On Crete, he encountered two fellow countrymen. One was a veteran of the Battle of Crete who had escaped to Egypt on a small boat while the other was the author of the book ‘Vasili, Lion of Crete’. This is about the New Zealander Dudley Perkins who fought and died while operating with Cretan partisans during the German occupation. The Battle of Crete itself lasted from 20 May to June 1 1941. It was largely a massive assault by German elite airborne forces. They were nearly defeated by an under-armed allied force comprising Greeks, Australian, New Zealand and British soldiers. Cretan civilians were also directly involved fighting the invaders.
4 May 2021 1:56pm
In a joint event, the Pontiaki Estia and the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCOMV) are teaming up to present a lecture entitled Pontian Genocide Memorial Seminar: William Lloyd and the Liberation of Pontus.
Dean Kalimniou will present the seminar on Thursday 13 May, at 7:00pm, at the Greek Centre as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the GCOMV.
While there was little pre-War engagement with Pontus in Australia, one man, William Lloyd, did his utmost to draw attention to the plight of the Greeks of Pontus and call for their independence. His story is as fascinating as is the process of verifying the astonishing events that colour it.
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The Organisational Council for Greek National Day is made up of representatives from all of Victoria’s major Greek Organisations and has been busy planning and programming the events to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the 1821 Greek Revolution.
The 25 March 1821 commemoration is of religious and national importance for Hellenism. Greeks around the globe celebrate the Annunciation of Our Lady (Evangelismos) as well as the proclamation of the Modern Hellenic State 200 years ago – a very important milestone.
This Commemoration of the Bicentenary of Modern Greece gives the Greek Australian community of Victoria, the Paroikia, the opportunity to promote, educate and enhance the knowledge and understanding of what happened in 1821 to our third, fourth and subsequent generations of Greek Australians. In this way, we can ensure the significance of the important historical event is not lost.