The Greek National Day Parade will take place on Sunday, 19 March inside Lakeside Stadium in Albert Park, with a 1pm sharp start. All participating groups are to be ready by 12.30pm outside the Stadium at Palms Lawn.
Each participating school and/or group will have a specific number which will be emailed in due course, prior to the parade. All participating schools/groups must congregate at the number that they have been allocated and must be ready by 12.30pm at the latest. The designated bus and car drop off point, is along Aquatic Drive.
Parade marshalls will guide the groups to line up, ready to enter the stadium based on their number. The parade for each group commences the minute they step inside the Stadium, so all groups must be assembled in lines of no more than three.
All schools/groups enter the stadium from Gate 1.
The parade will continue around the running track and eventually the parade marshalls will guide each group to the grassed playing field. Please note students will remain in their spots and will not be allowed to leave. They are allowed to be seated on the grass if they feel the need. Flag bearers will be escorted to the front of the lines forming a flag guard near the VIP’s.
Once the parade is completed, the closing ceremony will commence with brief speeches and national anthems. At the completion of the closing ceremony, teachers and group leaders will escort groups to their dedicated allocated number, inside the stadium, as a meeting point, to allow parents to pick up their children. Parents will not be allowed to pick up their children before the parade has completed, and only from each school/organisation’s numbered area.
Spectators will enter the stadium from the main entry and also from Gate 3, and will be allowed to be seated at either grandstand. All printed numbers with a safety pin will be given to school/group Leaders on the day from the parade marshalls, so that the number can be pinned on the person leading each group, so please ensure your school or organisation is gathered behind the correct number on Palms Lawn.
The person with the number pinned on their lapel should be on the right hand side of the group as it marches into the stadium, as the MC and the parade officials need to see the number prominently, so that they can make the relevant announcements.
Schools should provide the appropriate uniforms/polo shirts, for their respective schools clearly labelled with the schools name, so that firstly the Parade is pleasant as a spectacle and more importantly the parade marshalls and police can identify the school should the need arise.
Please ensure that all members that are parading are properly attired (no shorts, no short skirts, no thongs, no singlets, no T-shirts) as a show of respect towards the symbolism of Greek National Day and its historic and religious significance.
Do not litter the external grounds and Palm Lawns, there will be plenty of bins in the area for patrons to treat the parade marshalls and stadium staff with respect, otherwise patrons using incorrect language or who act inappropriately will be banned from future parades.
Portable toilets will be situated at Palms Lawn, furthermore a First Aid marquee will be located at Palms Lawn on the grassed area, and a South East Water hydration water station will be located on Palms Lawn.
For further information contact the Secretary of the Committee, Ms Natasha Spanou via greeknationalday@gmail.com
When: Sunday, 19 March at 1pm
Where: Lakeside Stadium, 33 Aughtie Drive, Albert Park
