About 170 Greek Australian primary school students couldn’t have asked for a cooler day at school, as they journeyed to Victoria’s Red Hill region for a Greek packed day last weekend.
The special excursion, organised by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development in cooperation with the Modern Greek Teachers’ Association, had both celebrity pulling power and local appeal. Hosted at the grounds of the local Greek Orthodox church of Panagia Kamariani, the event had TV journalist Helen Kapalos and chef George Calombaris on hand to make sure the students learned as much as they could about Greek culture and the theme of the day – olives and olive oil.
Students were able to participate in workshops and play some outdoor games, while local priest Eleftherios Tatsis hosted the kids in the small church for a theology lesson.
While most were happy playing with their olive tree branch wreaths, the students were also presented with their own bottles of olive oil to use at home and carry on the Greek food tradition.