On Thursday night, Neos Kosmos announced the launch of it’s archive digitisation project, to preserve and present its 61 years of continuous publishing.

In a special event, held at the Mezzanine level of the Greek Centre on Lonsdale Street, the people behind Neos Kosmos and esteemed members of the Greek Community gathered to mark the beginning of the ambitious project.

Among the many guests were Victoria’s Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis, Member for Northern Metropolitan and Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos, Victorian Multicultural Commissioner Helen Kapalos, President of the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria Bill Papastergiadis, MP for Oakleigh Steve Dimopoulos, Judge Emilios Kyrou, Chair of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria and Mayor of Whittlesea Kris Pavlidis, and city of Monash Mayor Paul Klissaris.

Neos Kosmos’ managing director Christopher Gogos, in a heartfelt speech announced the digitisation of the Neos Kosmos Archives which will become accessible via the Neos Kosmos website and via a freely accessible portal at the new library at the Greek Centre in Melbourne.

Sharing iconic photos and historic moments, Mr Gogos took us through Neos Kosmos’ journey and how he wishes to continue and evolve his father’s legacy even further.

Helen Kapalos

Christopher Gogos

Jenny Mikakos

Sotiris Hatzimanolis

Dimitrios Michalopoulos

Bill Papastergiadis

Neos Kosmos’ editor-in-chief Sotiris Hatzimanolis also took to the stage to express his gratitude and love for the newspaper that has been his “home and family” for 40 years and how intertwined his life in Australia is to the publication.

GCM President Mr Papastergiadis also addressed the guests, stating his excitement for this long awaited collaboration between Neos Kosmos and the GCM, that for 121 years has also been in the business of creating stories.

“Because not only is it unearthing our history but it’s posting a thread between the past and the present,” Mr Papastegiadis enthused.

“It’s an investment by NK in our history, the present and the future. Scholars, students and the public will now be able to write, interpret and continue this story.”

Stressing the importance of the NK Archives, by allowing these stories to be also told out of the GCM Centre, “the oldest in Australia and the second oldest in global diaspora” Mr Papastegiadis said that the link between Greece and the Greek diaspora in Victoria will be complete.

“When combined with the library being established on level 12 and our exclusive agreement with National Library of Greece, the link between the GCM and NK will complete this resource hub.

“Today’s announcement brings together an enormous body of work produced by NK, to the public linked via the diaspora’s largest Greek Community. Congratulations!,” he concluded.

Greek Consul in Melbourne Dimitrios Michalopoulos also welcomed the news, acknowledging Neos Kosmos’ legacy as the largest Greek newspaper in diaspora and how it has managed to connect the Greek Australian community with Greece.

“I read Neos Kosmos twice a week and I can safely say, most of the telegrams I send back home are based on what is reported by Neos Kosmos.”

Mike Zafriropulos, Jenny Mikakos, Christopher Gogos, Helen Kapalos, Dimitris Michalopoulos.

Christopher Gogos with Helen Kapalos.

Dimitris Michalopoulos and Jenny Mikakos.

Christopher Gogos, Jenny Mikakos and Sotiris Hatzimanolis.

Dimitris Michalopoulos, Christopher Gogos, Jenny Mikakos, Sotiris Hatzimanolis, Kris Pavlidis and Paul Klissaris.

Philip Dalidakis, Bill Papastergiadis and Mike Zafiropoulos.

Christopher Gogos, Nelly Skoufatoglou, Anatsasia Tsirtsakis and Bill Papastergiadis.

Meanwhile, Ms Mikakos announced a further $90,000 in funding at Neos Kosmos’ archive digitisation launch during her speech, provided by a re-elected Andrews Labor Government.

This announcement builds on the existing $60,000 provided to the digitisation project provided by the government as the project is expected to preserve Melbourne’s Greek heritage for the ages.

“Of the new funding, $45,000 will support the completion of phase one, scanning microfilm and bound books dating back to 1957 when the paper was first founded,” Ms Mikakos said, adding that an extra $45,000 will go towards the second stage of the project, digitising archival footage and print dating back to 1988.

“With Melbourne home to the largest population of Greek people outside of Greece and more than 110,000 Victorians speaking Greek at home, this investment will help keep the voices of our proud Greek communities strong.

“One of the best ways to share our culture is through preserving and sharing our stories. For 61 years Neos Kosmos has told the story of Greek Victorians. It’s a pivotal part of our state’s history and it deserves to be kept and handed down to future generations.”

Ms Kapalos also gave a speech welcoming the news of the Neos Kosmos digitised archives.

“In order to move forward we need to look back,” she said praising the brand of Neos Kosmos’ journalism and its ethic that “has withstood time”.

“The continued success of that means that newsrooms will need to adapt to what is happening around the world,” she said comparing the Greek Australian newspaper’s work to that of the New York Times.

“Neos Kosmos speaks to the audience of now, this audience that cherishes the past but looks into the future. I’m so pleased to see this project not just going ahead not just successfully but also in such a forward thinking way.”