The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), will go into its Annual General Meeting (AGM) with its coffers full but legal action is already in motion against the state government over the level of compensation for the organisations Bulleen property.
The GCM has reported a profit for the financial year ending June 2022 of $12,864,597. The Community’s accounts reflect a surge of income from $3,913,426 in 2021, to $17,042,367 in 2022.
The increase in revenue was gained primarily from the compensation of the North East Link Project acquisition for the Bulleen property, totalling $11,480,000.
The GCM however, is not satisfied with the compensation amount and has proceeded with legal action to prove that the property was worth significantly more.
The annual report also shows that the GCM received $917,479 in compensation for the Yarra Bike Trail acquisition at the same property and that it purchased a property at 272 Russell Street, Melbourne, a stone’s throw from the Greek Centre, for $6,481,114 which it proposed to be used as a Community Hub.
A grant from the state government of $2.5 million has already been received for the project, with a separate grant from the federal government expected in this financial year.
The growth may buffet the organisation’s programs from the economic uncertainty that analysts are predicting. It will come in handy in the face of rising inflation, reduced economic growth and a cutback in government spending – after large Covid expenditures in 2020 and 2021.
According to Bill Papastergiadis, the GCM’s president, the organisation aims to increase its share of funding from federal and state government programs.
Finances will be a key topic of the 2022 AGM as will the upcoming elections in Greece, with Greek citizens able to vote in Australia for the first time.
Members are expected to draft a list of questions, targeted to Greek political parties regarding issues of the diaspora but especially for Greek Australians.
Speaking to Neos Kosmos Papastergiadis said he spent 2022 “deepening relations with the Greek government” including a meeting with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The GCM president added that “we, the Greek Australian diaspora, need to be fully considered by all Greek governments.”
Papastergiadis said he will inform the members at the AGM, that due to Greece’s upcoming elections it’s likely that the political parties in the Hellenic parliament will make statements regarding their positions on issues concerning the diaspora, and particularly Australia’s Greeks. He told Neos Kosmos that he will ask members to raise any issues they have pertaining to the Greek government and he would advocate for them with the Greek government and opposition parties.
The president’s report will also highlight the Community’s 2022 projects. Like the recent announcement from the Greek government that they will open a Greek tourism office in the Community’s centre.
Papastergiadis said that his report will talk on the “innovative program of community engagements, and the delivery of a range of services.”
“The Community’s programs in 2022 were consistent with the focus on delivering the best we can for the Greek Australian community of Victoria.”
The president was enthusiastic about the recommencement of the Antipodes Festival and Film Festival, “after the long and difficult Covid lockdowns.”
“We did much in culture and education, and I am very proud of our schools, which celebrated Greek and First Nations’ cultures.”
Papastergiadis also talked about “the Greek summer camp for students, which saw young Greek Australians immerse themselves in Ancient and Byzantine Hellenic culture.”
He said another major highlight was the “collaboration with the Melbourne Museum and the National Archaeological Museum in Athens for the ‘Open Horizons’ exhibition which opened at the Melbourne Museum.
“That project linked migration – our elders and us – with our ancient past, and it had an amazing response from the broader Victorian community,” Papastergiadis said.
He touched on the work the GCM did in securing support from the Commonwealth and Victorian governments and pointed to “the GCM’s engagement with Greek communities in rural Victoria.”
Papastergiadis will also report on the new agreements signed between Greek and Australian universities, which he said “will result in student and academic exchanges, and research collaborations in the field of medicine.”
However, some Community members are expected to raise questions at the AGM.
Neos Kosmos understands that Elias Diakolambrianos may request more details on the finances of churches, language schools, Alphington Grammar and the Antipodes Festival.
Costas Karamarkos is expected to propose a review of the GCM constitution. However, any proposed amendment though would need to be put to a vote at an extraordinary General Meeting to be held prior to the next AGM which is in a year’s time.
If Karamarkos’ motion is passed then a statute revision working committee would need to be formed which would consist of members, to be elected at this Sunday’s Annual General Meeting, who will then convene meetings of their own to hear from members and and consider any proposed amendments.
Theo Markos, a former member of the board executive, is expected to ask for more information on the Community’s purchase of a property at 272, Russel Street, Melbourne.
Asked about the questions, if they are raised, Papastergiadis said that the GCM is “a democratic and transparent community organisation, so I invite members to raise any issue they want.”
Papastergiadis then said that “the board’s focus is on delivering for Greek Australians in Victoria – for our elders, for our young people and for our next generations.”
The AGM will be held this Sunday February 12, at 6pm in the Andrianakos Centre hall at Alphington Grammar School on Old Heidelberg Road, Alphington. The meeting is open to all GCM members, however, only those who have been paid up members for at least six months can vote on motions.