In a heartfelt message Federal Minister for Immigration, Alex Hawke MP, has expressed his appreciation for and acknowledged the contribution of Australia’s Hellenes to the multicultural fabric of the country’s society, ahead of the anniversary of Greek Independence Day.
Minister Hawke, who himself is of Greek heritage, is well acquainted with Greece’s history as well as the strength and resilience of its people.
Specifically he wrote:
I join with the more than 400,000 Australians of Greek heritage in celebrating Greece’s victory against the Ottoman Empire and, its achievement of Independence.
Like myself, many Greek Australians have grown up learning the history of the Greek struggle for independence, now two centuries ago. These stories and those of the generations since, are a testament to the resilience and strength of the Greek people and their culture.
Greek Australians have a long and proud tradition of contributing to the success and vibrancy of Australia’s multicultural society. As home to one of the largest Greek communities outside of Greece, Australia’s ties to Greece are deep and strong, as are the ties that unite Greek Australians to their homeland, history and culture across generations.
As you take the time to celebrate today with family and community, I especially wish to extend my thanks for the role that Greek Australians have played in Australia’s resilient and united effort to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I extend my best wishes as you celebrate the many achievements of Greece as both the birthplace of democracy and as a modern democratic nation.
In a previous interview with Neos Kosmos, Minister Hawke had said that even though he is a proud Australian, in his soul he feels Greek and has a deep understanding of what it means to be an immigrant and fight for freedom. Especially in a time of war, as a similar narrative it formed part of his family’s trauma.
Perhaps it came from the stories of his pappou’s efforts in the Resistance from the village of Chortiatis, where the World War II mass murder of 146 civilians, 109 of them were women and girls, took place on 2 September 1944. A week later, the Nazis returned, burning 300 houses down. Few escaped, including Mr Hawke’s family from his mother’s side.
“My mother was born there, in a little village called Chortiatis outside of Thessaloniki, up in the north. And you know my pappou left after WWII, [though he] died before I was born,” Mr Hawke told Neos Kosmos. “He was in the Resistance. They fled after WWII. There was a Nazi massacre in the village… I think many people from Greece understand this story and the horrors of WWII and the aftermath of WWII. For my family it’s quite psychological about going back. My grandparents went back a few times. Yiayia has been back a few times but it was a new life and it was very difficult for them to travel back to some of those regions.”
Mr Hawke has also said he would like to visit Greece, his yiayia’s homeland, “as soon as possible” with his wife, from Croatia, and their four children.
Also read: The Greek side of Immigration Minister Alex Hawke
