2023 marks 75 years since the unification of the Dodecanese islands with Greece.

The historic anniversary was celebrated on Sunday by the Greek Community of Dandenong with a eulogy in the church of Agios Panteleimon, accompanied by speeches, recitations and a presentation of traditional dance by the Pegasus Dance Academy.

Since antiquity the Dodecanese islands have been intertwined with the fortunes of Hellenism; their geographical position making them a strategic point of reference for the various groups who conquered them.

After these many conquests, it was only on 7 March 1947 that the isles were finally liberated, and united with the motherland.

In those last decades before their liberation, during the period of Italian rule between 1912 and 1943; the Italian establishment made attempts to Latinize the inhabitants of the region.

Italian occupation of the islands began during the Italo-Turkish was 1911-1912, they remained under the control of Italian and later German forces for a period of two years between 1943 to 1945.

With the conclusion of World War Two and the signing of the Peace Treaty of Paris between Italy and the Allies Powers, the islands briefly became a British military protectorate while gradually transitioning towards reunification with the mainland.