The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), the oldest and largest community organisation active since 1897, envisages 2021 as a year of overcoming challenges and leaving behind works, according to the Annual General Meeting which took place on Thursday.

The AGM was held, for the first time in decades, on a weeknight rather than Sunday, and it was calmer than in previous years, with 200 participants.

For 2021, the challenges will be as follows:

Bulleen land

The government’s expropriation of the plot at Bulleen is expected in a few months.

The GCM hopes the state government will offer adequate enough compensation to allow for another investment

GCM President Bill Papastergiadis did not exclude the possibility of a legal appeal in the case that the compensation was not satisfactory.

Bicentenary

Emphasis will be given to celebrations commemorating the 200-year anniversary of the Greek War of Independence from Ottoman Turks. A special committee has been created, made up of distinguished Greeks, to be in charge of numerous events, including collaborations with other institutions.

GCM board member Michael Karamitos referred to the events, while Nick Dallas spoke of the success of seminars taking place.

READ MORE: Events galore: Your guide to the 200-year celebration of Greece’s War of Independence

Education

“We have also provided $2.5 million to support the teaching of Hellenic and Greek language studies through the University of Melbourne Hellenic Chair in Global Diasporas,” Education Minister Dan Tehan had told Neos Kosmos in response to questions concerning the Greek program at La Trobe University.

During the AGM, GCM President Bill Papastergiadis referred to the government’s pledge for the Hellenic Chair in Global Diasporas. “Essentially, it will be a research chair for the Greek diaspora,” he said.

GCM Treasurer Marinis Pirpiris said that despite the pandemic, the liabilities of the Community were limited and he also stood by the successful course of Alphington Grammar.

Theodore Markos also referred to efforts of the GCM to keep Greek in public schools as well as the efforts to keep the Greek language program at La Trobe University.

Building

Mr Papastergiadis referred to the effort for a building for Greek Youth and the Aged at the Melbourne CBD which for which $5 million has been benchmarked by the Australian federal government and the state government of Victoria.

“It is difficult because nobody is selling during the pandemic,” Mr Papastergiadis said.

Indigenous issues

Kostas Karamarkos, a longtime community member, made the following statement:

It’s official! And it’s of the outmost symbolical, political, cultural and practical importance. The largest and oldest Greek-Australian community organisation, the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV), has unanimously passed at its AGM a motion in support of:
1. Permanently raising the Australian, the Greek and the Aboriginal flags at the Greek Centre.
2. Placing as soon as possible signage that clearly identifies The Greek Centre as the HQ of the GOCMV.
3. Endorsing and adopting in its entirety the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Thank you very very much to all the members of the community and all the community organizations, as well as the
Board of the COCMV, who supported this motion moved by yours truly, seconded by Marietta Kokkas and improved by adding an addendum by Board Member Theo Markos.

READ MORE: 26 January, what it means to me as a Greek Aussie and to Aboriginal people

A successful year

Mr Papastergiadis said that, despite challenges, the GCM had an active and successful year.

He said we should not undermine Hellenism and the paroikia (community).

“We are doing well and are an example for other racial minorities in the country,” he said, while also expressing optimism that 2021 will be an even better year.

At the end of the year, elections will be held for the new board.