Over 110 VIPs attended the official opening of The Evzones Collection Exhibition at Hellenic Club in Canberra on Friday, 19 February. The photographic exhibition which is the work of Nick Bourdaniotis will also be shown in other parts of Australia during this year which marks the 200th Anniversary of the Greek Revolution.
The exhibition opening was the first event on the calendar of National Committee for the 200 Years of Greek Independence 1820-2021 coordinated through the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
Among those attending the event in Canberra were the Greek ambassador to Australia, George Papacostas, the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Martha Mavromatis, as well as Greek and Cypriot community leaders and church leaders in Canberra.
Mr Bourdaniotis donated one of his pictures for auction to raise funds for the Greek Language School of Canberra. Three photographs from the collection were auctioned for $15,000.
The school which has over 200 students including online adult education programmes, is run by the Greek Orthodox community of Canberra.
READ MORE: The Evzones Collection: The daily life of Evzones through a lens
“We experienced strong foot traffic throughout the exhibition over the two days and we received high praise and positive feedback from every visitor that walked through the doors,” said Mr Bourdaniotis who has also published a book that features all the photographs in the exhibition entitled The Evzones Collection.
The master of ceremonies at the opening Elia Economou told the audience: “In 2016, at the invitation and coordination of the Hellenic Club of Sydney, Nick became the official photographer of the EVZONES tour of Australia – and this became the beginning of not only a passion, but also an obsession with the illustrious and meticulous nature of the Greek Presidential Guard.
“Nick’s vision and attention to detail to capture the perfect image complements the amazing discipline and precision showcased by the members of the Presidential Guard – combining this with some of the most emotional locations and backdrops has resulted in Nick having captured the mesmerising and compelling photos as showcased this exhibition,” said Mr Economou.
The next venue for the Evzones Collection Exhibition will be the Oakleigh Grammar School Hall and the Government House of Victoria in Melbourne on Friday, 26 March to 1 April and it will be open to the public. The exhibition will also be held at later dates in Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth during the year.
♦ To find out more about the book, go to the website www.greece2021.com.au/evzones and follow the prompts, or email evzones@greece2021.com.au
