Australian Ambassador to Greece Jenny Bloomfield visited Corfu this week and held discussions with local government, business and community representatives.
The city – which has been the sister city of Australia’s Gold Coast since 1988 – is one of Greece’s most popular tourist destinations, as well as home to Cricket in Greece, and these close bonds with Australia were discussed at the meeting by Ambassador Bloomfield.
In the talks, she highlighted the significant contribution to Australian society of communities of Australians with origins from Corfu and the region. She also referred to historical links with the region, and the important legacy of Zakynthos-born Diamantina Roma of Corfu, spouse of the first Governor of Queensland, Sir George Bowen. During her eight-year stay in the state (1859-1867), Lady Diamantina Roma-Bowen’s contribution to Queensland was immense. The Diamantina River, the town and Shire of Roma, and many other places and landmarks in Queensland and across Australia bear her name to honour her significant philanthropic, community and cultural contributions.
In Corfu, Ambassador Bloomfield toured the UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Citadel and Old Town; and visited the Corfu Reading Society, established in 1836, the Museum of Kapodistrias, Greece’s first Governor, and Corfu’s Asian Art Museum, the only one of its kind in Greece.
Ambassador Bloomfield also attended the Hellenic Cricket Federation’s ‘Cup of Greece’ National Cricket Final held in Corfu, marking the 25th anniversary of the Corfu-Gold Coast sister-city relationship, and presented the trophy to the winning team, ‘Kerkyraikos Gymnastikos Syllogos’.
Cricket has been played in Corfu since 1823. Corfu’s Liston Cricket Ground, established before the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), is the only working sports field within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.