Embraced by the Corinthian columns of Queen’s Hall in Victoria’s Parliament building – politicians, dignitaries, eminent church leaders along with a cross-section of high-achieving Greek Australians came together on Monday to celebrate Greek National Day.
The evening reception began with a passionate address from state Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras.
Now with his added portfolio of Energy and Resources, the minister told the audience that commemoration of Greece’s independence not only marked the sacrifice of the Greek people at the birth of the nation, but was an anniversary that helped ensure new generations of Greek Australians understood the culture of their ancestry.
“It’s important that you know who you are,” said Mr Kotsiras, who added that marking the significance of 25 March 1821 also helped “educate the wider community about what it means to be a multicultural society”.
Mr Kotsiras, who was recently promoted in a major cabinet reshuffle under Premier Denis Napthine, expressed warm thanks in particular to one member of the audience – former Premier Ted Baillieu.
To the loudest applause of the evening, Mr Kotsiras praised his former boss for supporting Victoria’s Greek community during his Premiership and reflected on Mr Baillieu’s staunch advocacy of multiculturalism.
In a powerful and poignant speech, Mr Kotsiras related one occasion when the two former cabinet colleagues undertook a parliamentary tour to Athens.
“For Ted Baillieu, meeting ministers wasn’t enough,” said Mr Kotsiras, “he wanted to walk through Plaka and talk to Greeks to find out first hand what it means to be Greek”.
Ms Eleni Lianidou, Greek Consul General for Victoria told the audience the celebration of Greece’s national day and remembering those who fought the Greek War of Independence “fell in the field of honour for freedom, national dignity and respect for human rights”, and that a belief in the same values united Victoria and Greece today.
Ms Lianidou described the Greek Australian community as a strong bridge which bound two cultures together, and that she was “blessed” to be working with the community.
“Greece and Victoria are standing united today and our friendship and partnership are solid, because they are built on our common shared values and aspirations for democracy, equality, freedom and human dignity.”
Alluding to Greece’s ongoing economic problems, Ms Lianidou was upbeat, saying that Greece’s tripartite government has contributed to “solid solutions” and that in 2013 the country would begin to emerge from crisis. Links with Victoria would aid that process, she said.
“Through its robust and booming economy, [Victoria] can constitute a reliable partner in taking advantages of investment opportunities offered in the energy sector, in port operations, in trade, tourism and cultural exchanges.”
Jenny Mikakos MP, deputising for Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews, reminded the audience that Greece experienced more than 400 years of continual foreign occupation until its independence, and that since, its modern history had been one of struggle and sacrifice.
“All these events are remembered on the 25th of March. All in their own way have shaped the modern Greek state,” she said, before adding: “I am so proud of the Greek community’s contribution to Victoria and Australia.
“With our values of hard work, respect for family and the importance of education, our community is making its mark in every field and occupation and contributing to this state’s society, culture and economy.”
With each speaker making generous references to Ted Baillieu – each warmly received by an appreciative audience – if the former Premier has lost his support in the ranks of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, no such sentiment was present in Queens Hall.
As attendees mingled after the formal speeches, when asked his reaction to the glowing tributes made to him from the podium, Mr Baillieu told Neos Kosmos:
“They’re generous remarks and I have to say I’ve enjoyed very much my relationship with the multicultural community. I think it’s so important to this state, so important to everything that’s good about Victoria.
“No one does it better than the Greek community. with its history, its traditions and that engagement and it’s a pleasure to be here.”