The President of the Hellenic Medical Society of Australia (HMSA) Assoc Professor Marinis Pirpiris
24 July 2021 12:17pm
In the wake of the latest lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders of Melbourne’s Greek community have come together to encourage people to get vaccinated.
A collective of community organisations have come together to call and encourage our community to step up and get vaccinated.
The President of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) Bill Papastergiadis OAM called not only for the support of other organisations but of all Greek Australians: “Whilst I appreciate people’s apprehension, there is simply no doubt that the only way out of this pandemic mess is through vaccination. Our borders will only open when we are vaccinated. Our lives will only return to resemble something like the ones we enjoyed once we are vaccinated. This is the message of all of our scientific experts and political leaders.”
24 May 2021 12:06pm
On May 19, the youth of the Pontic Educational and Cultural Association of Victoria (Akrites to Pontou) held a Candlelight Commemoration entitled “Keeping the Flame of Memory Alive” in remembrance of the Greek Pontic Genocide.
The evening began with a performance of a Makrin Kaite by Alex Moisin on the lyra. Stephanie Basdekis then recited a poem in Greek and then explained its meaning to the audience.
Peter Stefanidis, the president of the Federation of Pontian Associations Australia called on the youth to continue to be innovators and leaders within the Greek community in Australia.
The association welcomed its sister group to the event, the Assyrian Australian Social Development Club which was attended by senior member Sargon Marano. The relationship between the two communities has been strong in recent years.
An audience exceeding 400 people attended an event commemorating the 19 May Genocide Remembrance day in Sydney, co-hosted by the Greek Genocide Commemoration Committee of NSW together with the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia and its NSW members
And while Archbishop Makarios was the event’s keynote speaker, the highlight of the evening was arguably the honour bestowed to Kostantinos Antoniadis, former President of the Coordinating Committee of the Greek Genocide Victoria.
He also served as President of the Australian Federation of Pontian Associations, and President of the Pontian Community of Melbourne and Victoria.
In their media announcement, the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia points out that Mr Antoniadis was never a member of the Federation nor a board member.
“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.
Closer to home, Saturday 24 April was of particular importance too. It was the first time the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek communities marched in complete unison for recognition of the genocides of their people in Sydney and Melbourne.
Community groups have always attended each other’s events in solidarity, but the demonstrations of Saturday 24 April were a testament to the common vision of the Australian Hellenic Council, The Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia, the Armenian National Committee and the Assyrian National Council of Australia.
Organised clubs that took part in the rallies include: Australian Hellenic Council NSW, Federation of Pontian Association of Australia,Pan Macedonian Association of NSW, Ahepa NSW Inc, Pan-Epirotic Federation of Australia, UNSW Hellenic Studies Foundation, Mytilenian Brotherhood of Society, Cretan Association of Sydney, Pontian Society of Sydney, Panagia Soumela, Pontoxeniteas NSW, Pontic Educational and Cultural Association of Vi