NSW government and opposition double down on support for Greek Festival of Sydney

Sydney Greek Festival’s excellent organisation and contribution to the wider community recognised ahead of Sunday’s celebrations

The Greek Festival of Sydney at Darling Harbour will make its triumphant return from 11am on Sunday 19 February. Photo: Supplied

17 February 2023 2:33pm

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Ahead of Darling Harbour getting dressed in the colours of the Hellenic flag and dancing to the voice of Alkistis Protopsalti on Sunday, two announcements from the NSW Liberal and National Party Government come to invest $800,000 over the next four years to continue supporting the Greek Festival of Sydney.

Making the funding commitment during the Festival’s 2023 program launch, Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said the Greek Festival of Sydney is a premier cultural event and a major part of NSW’s multicultural calendar. The NSW Liberals and Nationals have also committed to bringing the main Festival back to the Grand Parade in Brighton-Le-Sands after more than 20 years for a one-off special celebration.

“In 2019, on behalf of the NSW Liberals and Nationals, I committed $400,000 over four years to help take this great event from strength to strength,” Mr Coure said, adding that both NSW Liberals and Nationals’ belief that cultural diversity should be celebrated.

“I am proud to say, we will double this investment to $800,000 in our next term of government. This is an incredibly important event that has been bringing hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life together in a fun and family-friendly environment to celebrate all things Greek.”

“The Greek community has played a special role in helping build our rich multicultural society, and I am so proud to say we will be helping to continue to take this event to even greater heights,” Mr Coure said ahead of making another surprise announcement, this time by way of a $140,000 investment over the next four years to boost the St Basil’s NSW & ACT Greek Summer Festival.

“We believe in helping celebrate our cultural diversity, and that is why we are committing $35,000 a year for four years to St Basils NSW & ACT to host its annual Greek Summer Festival. This is a great community event, one where everyone can enjoy and partake in Greek culture,” he concluded.

Speaking to Neos Kosmos, the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW Harry Danalis welcomed the commitment to provide much needed assistance to the Greek Festival of Sydney.

“The NSW Government and Mr Coure have once again demonstrated their belief and commitment to the Greek community, the Greek Festival of Sydney and to the promotion of multiculturalism in NSW,” Mr Danalis said.

Mr Danalis told Neos Kosmos that the Labor Party has committed to support the Festival with $220,000 per annum for the next four years, should they be elected.

Festival chairperson Nia Karteri, who these days is working 24 hours a day to ensure the success of Sunday’s event, also shared her excitement.