A large number of members of the Cypriot and Greek communities, businessmen, dignitaries, artists and academics attended the launch of Professor Anastasios Tamis’ book The Children of Aphrodite: Cypriots in Australia presented last Sunday at Alphington Grammar. The book was sponsored and published by the Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria.
The presentation of the book was co-organised by the Cypriot Community, the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies, the Greek Community of Melbourne, Alphington Grammar and the Dance School Pegasus.
The event kicked off with the recitation of the national anthems by students of Alphington Grammar. Lambrini Lambrou-Christopher, presenter of the Cypriot program on radio station 3XY, welcomed the guests, prologuing a short documentary on contemporary Cyprus, before the salutations.
Alphington Grammar School principal, Dr. Vivianne Nikou welcomed the guests to the school premises, congratulated the protagonists and thanked the author of the book for their long and good cooperation before introducing the evening’s MC Andrea Demetriades to the audience.
The popular actress took to the stage and after a short ode to her Cypriot origin she went on to present the speakers and dignitaries.
Philhellene politician, former Victorian Premier and Labor party leader John Brumby, AO presented the book that analyses and depicts the presence and contribution of Cypriot Hellenism in Australia with a heartfelt speech.
“I had the pleasure of presenting another book of Tassos, ten years ago. The history of the Greeks in the Far Orient, in China, in Japan, in the Philippines as well as in the countries of southeast Asia. I am always impressed by the meticulousness of his writing, the objectivity, and the impeccable documentation of what he writes. I personally felt very moved by the content of this book; I was impressed by the sacrifices of their settlements, the torments suffered by the pioneers. Tassos Tamis rightly documents that the settlement of Cypriots and other Greeks has similarities but also differences. In the difficult economic conditions, it was the Cypriots, as British nationals, who accompanied the unemployed Greeks to find work,” Mr Brumby stated.
Greetings were also extended from the Presidential Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus, Fotios Fotiou; the President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, Annita Demetriou; the President of the Republic of Cyprus conveyed his wishes by the High Commissioner of Cyprus to Australia, Antonis Sammoutis; followed by the president of the Greek Community of Melbourne, Bill Papastergiadis, OAM and the President of the Cyprus Community of Melbourne, Theo Theophanous.
Former President, Stelios Angelodemou, the initiator of the publication of the book travelled from Nicosia to attend the event alongside the oldest president of the Cyprus Community, SEKA and PASEKA, Panagiotis Yiannoudis, OAM.
The audience included benefactors, businessmen and philhellenes such as Harry Stamoulis, Kostas Sarristavrou, Giorgos Stamatas, Dimitris Karalakis, Stelios Angelodimou, Ken Skoullos to mention a few, who continued their role as sponsors and in their own way strengthened the progress of Hellenism.
Many of them were present with their wives at the presentation of Dr. Tamis’ book, supporting the author’s work and contribution to expatriate Hellenism and his input in recording the contemporary national history of the Hellenic Diaspora
“We are here to show that the Greek business world, as in the antiquity, are the sponsors, the protectors of letters, who support theatre, literature, studies, research and charity. The businessperson is not only a trader or an industrialist. He/She is also interested in social progress, strengthens the efforts in preserving our ethnolinguistic identity, honours patriotism and support all those who fight for Greek values, said Costas Sarristavros.
“The business world also affirms the importance of the unity of Hellenism. With their sponsorships they wish to unite Hellenism, to forge paths of unity and to organise alliances. We have several enemies around us, as Greeks. Amongst ourselves at least, and if we still can’t be friends, we don’t have to be enemies”, Dr Tamis added after presenting the book.
Finally, Dr Tamis expressed his gratitude to Panagiotis Zapris, director of Ellikon Fine Printers and Maria Sakellaridis for her undivided contribution in editing the photographs, typesetting the entire book and the artwork of the book cover.
To obtain a copy of the book, entitled The Children of Aphrodite: Cypriots in Australia, can contact:
– cyprustime.com.au
– CCMV Committee via Evros Evripidou 0419 516 323
– CCMV Committee via Harry Neokleous 0411 186 018
– Community of Apostolos Andreas (Western suburbs) Eleni Koliou 0421 488 400
– Community of Northern Suburbs via John Christou 0420 983 597
– PANCYPRIOS (Southern suburbs) via Tony Antoniou 0409 858 958
