The Hellenic Returned and Services League (RSL) sub-branch commemorated its 40th anniversary last Sunday, inviting members and supporters to join in the celebrations. The secretary of the Hellenic RSL, Major Terry Kanellos, and the president Steve Kyritsis OAM welcomed all who came to celebrate the organisation’s 40 years of being part of the Returned and Services League of Australia.
Among those present was the Greek Consul General, Dimitrios Michalopoulos, who congratulated the Hellenic RSL on its 40th anniversary. In his speech, Mr Michalopoulos said that although he has been in Melbourne only a short time, he knows of the contribution the Hellenic RSL provides not only to the Greek community, but also to the Australian-wide veteran community.
This sentiment was echoed by Victoria RSL Melbourne representative Ian Goldie, who spoke of the success of the Hellenic RSL, as well as of the great work and support the organisation provides to the broader veteran community.
The Hellenic RSL sub-Branch of Victoria entered the national returned services of Australia in April 1978. At the time, it was named the Greek RSL – it had been established in August 1976, by a group of Greek servicemen who had served in the Greek armed forces, and Greek Australian servicemen who served in the Australian forces. Their application to join the Returned and Services League of Australia had been approved in 1977 by the National RSL in Canberra, and in 1980, two years after the Greek RSL was registered as a sub-branch of Victoria, it formed a committee and adopted its current name.
Today, the Hellenic RSL of Melbourne is the largest Hellenic RSL sub-branch in Australia with over 200 members.
It commemorates all the Greek and Australian national days each year and it is the only Greek organisation that proudly marches on Anzac Day in Melbourne, alongside veterans from the wars of Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan and earlier wars.
The Hellenic RSL is also the only one to commemorate Greek national days with wreath-laying ceremonies inside the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, where two of the organisation’s members volunteer each week, with a combined service of over 30 years.