The political campaign trail ahead of the Victorian state elections has brought good news this week for Greek senior citizens groups.

On Tuesday Premier Daniel Andrews together with Minister for Families and Children, Early Childhood Education and Youth Affairs Jenny Mikakos met with senior Greek Australians in Port Melbourne, where the Premier pledged $3.4 million to go towards the state’s multicultural senior citizens groups under a re-elected Labor Government.

If successfully voted in, every one of Victoria’s 862 groups will receive a $4,000 grant in 2019.

The funds will be allocated with the intention that they been put towards holding activities for members, including excursions, dancing, singing, and religious feast day celebrations. The grants can also be used for equipment upgrades to assist groups to hold future events that benefit the social well-being of older culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians, including commercial kitchen appliances, fridges, and barbecues.

The Premier acknowledged the sacrifices made by older migrants in venturing to Australia and building a life for themselves and their families in Victoria, as did many Greeks, and that this is a way of helping to repay them.

“Older migrants came to Australia and worked hard all of their life to build a better future for their children. In doing so they helped to build this nation – as Premier of Victoria, I say thank you,” he said.

“Like Labor, Prime Ministers Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke, and Labor Premier Steve Bracks before me, I will always stand with our multicultural communities.”

The President of the Federation of Greek Elderly Citizens Clubs of Melbourne and Victoria John Kostoulias welcomed the announcement.

“All senior citizen clubs are run by volunteers and the Government’s $4000 will provide ongoing support to ensure that activities and cultural festivals can continue so elderly can maintain connections with their local communities,” he said.

Eligibility for the grants will be open to all multicultural senior citizen groups funded as part of the Victorian Budget’s 2018/19 Senior Citizens Organisational Support Grants program.