The President of the Legislative Council Bruce Atkinson and the members of the Parliamentary Friends of Greece hosted a celebratory event at the Parliament of Victoria last week. The event commemorated the 71st anniversary of the Battles of Greece and Crete that 35,000 Australians participated in, which killed 560 soldiers and captured over 5000 soldiers.
The event was a photo exhibition that consisted of photos from the 70th anniversary event in Greece last year, photos taken by the Australian Cretan community in Greece last year, historic photos from the Hellenic RSL and military and Cretan memorabilia.
The event was supported by RSL Victoria, the Hellenic RSL and the Cretan Federation and opened by the Greek Consul General.
Veterans in attendance included Norm Maddock who made a dramatic escape from Crete in a small boat and landed in Libya. Basil Hayler and Gordon White of the HMAS Perth who took troops to Greece and Crete, was involved in the Battle of Matapan off the southern coast of Messinia wiping out the Italian fleet and also undertook dramatic evacuations from Greece, Crete and rescuing troops in the Aegean whose ships had been attacked, and Harry New who travelled to the north as rear guard forces (the last to leave) fought at Vevi, Servia Pass and Brallos.