The Australian Hellenic Memorial Foundation, in cooperation with Dr Charalampos Ladopoulos, the consul for educational affairs at the consulate general of Greece, will be hosting the 2011 Australian Students Competition.
The competition is open to all Victorian students and aims to educate students by exploring Greek and Australian involvement in Greece during the World Wars. This is the second year this competition has run.
The first prize is up to $400 for someone in years 10 to 12. With over 145 schools teaching Modern Greek in Melbourne, the competition will be very high. Last year alone saw over 600 students of all ages take part.
Steve Kyritsis, president, Australian Hellenic Memorial Foundation, told Neos Kosmos that they are hoping the children “understand and know more about the purpose of why the memorial was built…the history of the second world war and the Greek campaign of 1940 – 1941”.
Kyritsis said the competition will educate the children on the reasons why bonds are shared between Australia and Greece, and of the turbulent times both countries witnessed during war years. “They will look at the friendship that exists between Australia and Greece since World War I, when the ANZACs were welcomed on the island of Lemnos.
More than 17,000 Australians served in the Greek campaign in World War II and more than 5000 were killed, captured or imprisoned. “So we want the children to learn more about the purpose of the memorial, the sacrifice of the Australians and their contribution to Greece in World War II.” There will be prizes for first, second and third. Prizes will depend on the year level of the student. Winners will be announced on Friday 28 October at 11.30 am at the Greek Australian Memorial.
If you would like to take part in the competition, contact Steve Kyritsis on 0418 571 800 or secretary of the Australian Hellenic Memorial Foundation Peter Andrinopoulos on peter.andrinopoulos@gmail.com