A re-elected Turnbull Coalition Government has pledged to invest into supporting the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM).
Senator Arthur Sinodinos made the announcement on Monday along with Federal Member for Higgins Kelly O’Dwyer and Liberal Candidate for Chisholm Julia Banks.
Acknowledging that with over 150,000 Australians of Greek heritage living in Melbourne, the city is home to the largest Greek population outside of Greece, “the Coalition will provide $90,000 to support advanced Greek language and culture courses administered by the GCM to help support education and multiculturalism,” Senator Sinodinos said.
“Melburnians of Greek heritage have made a tremendous contribution to Australia and are a unique part of Melbourne’s warm and welcoming multicultural community.”
The GCM runs a number of language and cultural programs, including Greek Language schools for over 2,000 primary and secondary students across 14 campuses in Melbourne will which will also receive $254,000.
“We will provide $100,000 so that the Greek Community of Melbourne can engage a historian to publish two non-fiction works on the history of Melbourne’s Greek community.” Senator Sinodinos continued.
“We will also provide $300,000 to support the ‘Melbourne Greek Story’ exhibition at the Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture Gallery. Our funding will ensure the appointment of a curator, research, and the purchase of exhibition space materials, such as installation screens and computer equipment.”
The Melbourne Greek Story is an open cultural event promoting the ongoing connections between Australia and Greece.
“Understanding and researching the contribution of Greeks to Australia not only expands knowledge of our collective past, but further strengthens the relationship between our two countries,” Kelly O’Dwyer added.
The Coalition also committed to provide $100,000 for a study into the economic benefits of three key proponents of Greek Melbourne: the Lonsdale Street Festival, the Historic Lonsdale Street Greek Precinct and the Greek Community of Melbourne’s Greek Centre.
“The Greek community is an important part of Melbourne’s social fabric and its contribution, history, and opportunities should be supported and celebrated.” Julia Banks said.
The Coalition’s commitment will help support jobs, investment and education in Melbourne’s Greek community.
“It is a great day for our organisation and for the Greeks of Melbourne,” said Bill Papastergiadis, the president of GCM. “But our story does not end here and with this grant we can continue the journey of the Greeks in this country and strive to develop and further increase our rich contribution.
“The Greek Community of Melbourne wants to set an example of how a community can work coherently and constructively, and this is more important than ever, as we have so many emerging migrant communities in Australia. The Greek Community wants to work with them and help them in this journey and at the same time to learn even more about itself and its place in Australia.”