Recently the new Albanese Government Minister for Veterans’, the Hon Matt Keogh MP, paid a visit to Melbourne’s iconic Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial and enjoyed a guide tour and presentation by Lee Tarlamis OAM MP, the President of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee. Matt Keogh is the MP for the electorate of Burt in Western Australia.

Minister Keogh had come to the Lemnos Gallpoli Memorial on the invitation of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee, to learn more about the work of the Committee and in particular to view the Memorial at Lemnos Square in Albert Park.

Mr Tarlamis met the Minister at the Memorial and explained its creation. He pointed out how the Committee had come together in 2011 response to the then Federal Government’s planning for the coming Anzac Centenary in 2015, with the aim of including the Greek Island of Lemnos in the Centenary celebrations.

While the Committee also worked with the authorities on Lemnos to enhance the Centenary commemorations held on the Island – providing a new photographic exhibition, a historical presentation on Lemnos and in Athens by myself and promoting the re-creation of the Anzac football match of 1915-16 – the Committee was also working to ensure that Lemnos (and Greece’s) role in Gallipoli would not continue to be overlooked in Australia.

This led to the decision to create a permanent legacy for the commemorative work of the Committee with the erection of the first major memorial dedicated to honouring the role of Lemnos in the campaign. Commissioned by the Committee, supported by all levels of government, various community organizations and individuals, the Memorial was designed by Australia’s leading commemorative sculptor Peter Corlett OAM. To inform his creative design, Peter was taken through the story of Lemnos and its part in the campaign, especially the photographic record of the campaign by myself as Committee historian. The Memorial was unveiled to much commendation in August 2015, the centenary of the landing of Australia’s nurses on Lemnos.

The Memorial was complemented by the commissioning of the first major historical and photographic study of the role of Lemnos in the Gallipoli campaign, published in 2019, entitled Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed: A Pictorial History of the Anzacs in the Aegean, 1915-16. Mr Tarlamis has presented the Minister with a complimentary copy of the book.

Mr Tarlamis pointed out to the Minister that these are only two of the most significant outcomes of the Committee’s activities since its founding in 2011. Other activities have including putting together our touring Lemnos Gallipoli photographic exhibition, the sister-schools program linking a number of Melbourne and Lemnos schools through Anzac, the installation of the Lemnos Tree and plaque at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, the creation of the annual Armistice of Mudros commemoration at the Shrine and much more.

He also pointed out that we have continued to work with the authorities on Lemnos (and in Greece) to promote awareness of the Hellenic link to Anzac. Most importantly, the Committee promoted and organized the installation of the Australian Pier Memorial on Lemnos in 2018, the unveiling event providing the opportunity for the joint announcement by the Committee and Lemnos’ authorities to the creation of an Anzac or Gallipoli commemorative trail on Lemnos. The Committee has continued this work with their funding of two new commemorative plaques to be installed on Lemnos – the Sapper Basil Demetri Passa Memorial at Kontopouli and the Royal Australian Navy Memorial on the Turks Head Peninsula – both having been created and being readied for installation.

Mr Tarlamis pointed out that in this regard the Committee had welcomed the previous Federal Government’s commitment for the creation of a Lemnos Remembrance Trail. He explained how the Committee’s historian – myself – had been engaged as a historian to assist in the planning for this innovative new project. Mr Tarlamis stressed how important the creation of the Trail would be to both honouring the service of all who served there during the campaign but also to enhancing the commemorative experience of future visitors to Lemnos. He stressed the Committee’s commitment to work with the incoming government to assist in bringing the Lemnos Remembrance Trail to a reality in any way the Committee could.

Mr Tarlamis also informed the Minister that the Committee was currently working with Mayor of Lemnos, Mr Dimitiris Marinakis, on his planned visit to Melbourne early next year, the first such visit to Australia by a representative of Lemnos’ authorities. The Minister looked forward to hopefully meeting the Mayor during his visit.

Minister Keogh thanked Mr Tarlamis for his presentation and explanation of the both the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial and the work of the Melbourne Committee. He stated that he was aware of some of the work of the Committee and looked forward to reading Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed. He looked forward to the realization of the Lemnos Remembrance Trail and encouraged the Committee to continue its excellent work in promoting awareness of the Hellenic link to Anzac across both world wars, including that of Lemnos.

Jim Claven is a trained historian, freelance writer, published author and Secretary of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee. He has been researching the Hellenic link to Australia’s Anzac story across both world wars for many years. His most recent publications include Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed and Grecian Adventure. These can be purchased by contacting him via email at jimclaven@yahoo.com.au.