The Gillard Government will provide a $1.9 million grant to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia to help complete the second phase of the Bribie Island Youth Campus, Federal Minister for Youth – Peter Garrett announced last week.

The announcement was made during Greek Independence Day celebrations in Sydney. Funding will be provided to the Saint Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College which has been developing the youth facility since 1997.
“The completion of a multi-purpose youth and community retreat and education centre on Bribie Island has been a long-held dream of the Greek Australian community since the first bequest for that purpose was made in 1971 by Brisbane man Tom Lemnos,” said Mr Garrett, adding that the community had worked tirelessly to turn Lemnos’ vision into reality.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese was granted a five hectare Crown lease on Bribie Island by the Queensland Government in the 1990s.

So far, the first stage of the development has been completed – a church and amenities block. The new funding provided by the Government will help the church complete Stage Two, which includes camp sites, a self-contained accommodation unit and a caretaker’s residence.
The Bribie Island Youth Campus will be used as a retreat for young members of the Orthodox Church and will include educational, physical and cultural activities. The facilities will also be available for use by the wider community.

“The Greek community has played a vital role in the development and success of Australia. The rich history and heritage of Greece has helped foster our diverse and modern society and it is very pleasing to be able to mark Greek Independence Day by providing support for such a worthy project,” said Mr Garrett.
St Andrew’s Theological College, founded in 1986, is the only civilly accredited Orthodox tertiary institution of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

Bishop Seraphim, Sub-Dean of St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College told Neos Kosmos that the funding provided an enormous catalyst to complete the Bribie Island campus and its retreat facilities but that the funding did not take away the need for fundraising efforts on the part of the community to fully realise the project.
The Bishop took the opportunity to thank the Kastellorizian Association of Queensland for their donation of the first accommodation cabin, and to express his gratitude to all smaller donors and supporters who continue to give their time and their energy to the unique Orthodox retreat.

“We envisage that over the next two years, we will be able to build the auditorium, accommodation quarters and other facilities that are needed in order to hold courses on site, amidst the beauty of the natural surrounds, as well as theological conferences,” said Bishop Seraphim.

“One needs to remember that the College is a tertiary institution, and the only one of its kind in Australia, so we would like to welcome people from around Australia who may not be in a position to study for four years full-time, but who have an interest in learning much more about the spiritual treasures of Orthodox Christianity.”