President Danalis defends proxies as GOCNSW votes

The Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales (GOCNSW) voted in biannual elections last weekend, returning 13 of the previous committee to the board and welcoming seven new members.

None of the ten candidates who ran on a united 'renewal and rejuvenation' ticket were able to muster enough votes to get a place on the board. Of 2547 members eligible to vote, 1843 exercised their democratic right. But as has been the case in the past, only a minority of members - 323, voted in person. The election result was largely determined by 1520 proxy votes. President Harry Danalis, who was re-elected with over 1400 votes, told Neos Kosmos that he defended the organisation's voting system.

"Every time we have an election, something that is given to us by law is criticised as unfair, the law says we're entitled to use proxies, and the fact is members take the opportunity to vote by proxy.

"It's been a long tradition that we use proxies. Previous presidents have tried to see if there's a way to stop their use, but we've had barristers' opinions, and they say you can't stop their use". With allegations by some GOCNSW members that proxies are overly influencing election results, Mr Danalis backed the organisation's ability to deal with potential abuses of the system.

"From time to time we do get complaints, and they're examined by the election committee. If the committee believes something is not right, they ring up the member in question, but obviously you can't ring up 1500 members. "Where there are suspicions, where there are complaints, checks are done." Mr Danalis, who shortly after the election was re-elected as president, appealed to all members to "work in harmony" particularly in relation to reconciliation with the Archdiocese.

"I ask everyone now to accept the decision of the July AGM regarding reconciliation so that it is implemented properly. There will be bumps along the road to iron out, but we don't want provocations and confrontation."

The GOCNSW president said that the new committee's work would include working to improve the Community's assets and relocating the organisation's office and members' facilities.

The 20 members elected to the GOCNSW committee last weekend are: Panagiota Avramidis, Christos Belerhras, Dimitris Bekris, Harry Danalis, Peter Doukas, Peter Delimitros, George Diamataris, Ula George, Chris Georgopoulos, Christos Gravanis, Nia Karteris, Glen Kotopoulos, Gerassimos Lymberatos, Nicholas Malaxos, Constantinos Papanikitas, Sam Pappas, Alexandros Samaras, Mighael Tsilimos, Peter Tsilioris and Peter Τsintilas.