The Greek Community of Melbourne’s 2nd annual Grecian Ball took place last night, 24 March, with the who’s who in attendance and a special performance from acclaimed performer Eleftheria Arvanitaki and her band.
The reinvigorated ball, which had gone into hibernation for decades, was enjoyed by some 280 guests who gathered at Melbourne’s Park Hyatt for a night of celebration and entertainment.
Local band Cats and the Canary opened the night with covers of well-known Greek songs in their signature jazzy style.
The gathering was also a celebration of Greece’s independence ahead of today’s Greek National Day marking the beginning of the war of independence against the Ottoman Empire.
Amongst the guests were many distinguished politicians, representatives of the media as well as the Consulate of Greece to Victoria Emmanuel Kakavelakis.
In his address, The Consul General delivered a message from the President of Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakelaropoulou, stating “Dear fellow-Greeks I address to you today under the shadow of the tragedy at Tempi. Young people lost their lives full of hopes and dreams. A tragedy which shocked Greece as many families mourned their loss”.
“Today, we celebrate Greek Independence Day. The Revolution of 1821 succeeded because of the passion, selflessness, and self-sacrifice of the many. It managed to transform this land from a province of the Ottoman Empire to a Western, democratic, free nation – to turn Greece into a modern state of law, in the core of a united Europe, a guarantor power of stability in the Southeast Mediterranean and the Balkans. I wish to each and every one health, success and prosperity.”
Mr Kakavelakis continued, “Please allow me to say a few words as well. I would like to congratulate the Greek Community of Melbourne and all the Greeks who participated in the parade, because of you this event was a great success. You can remove a Greek from Greece but you can’t remove the idea of Greece from Greeks.”
Labor MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, Nick Staikos who was representing the premier said “Starting with that wonderful Antipodes Festival recently and culminating in tomorrow’s commemoration of Greek National Day, it is a time when we as Greeks in in Melbourne where the heart of the Greek diaspora beats loudest and proudest remember those who gave their lives for the freedom of the Greek people but also for the birth of the modern Hellenic Nation.”
Over 280 guests made their way to the Park Hyatt for the 2nd annual Grecian Ball. Photos: Con Deves
Over 280 guests made their way to the Park Hyatt for the 2nd annual Grecian Ball. Photos: Con Deves
Over 280 guests made their way to the Park Hyatt for the 2nd annual Grecian Ball. Photos: Con Deves
Over 280 guests made their way to the Park Hyatt for the 2nd annual Grecian Ball. Photos: Con Deves
Over 280 guests made their way to the Park Hyatt for the 2nd annual Grecian Ball. Photos: Con Deves
Over 280 guests made their way to the Park Hyatt for the 2nd annual Grecian Ball. Photos: Con Deves
The president of the GCM Bill Papastergiadis OAM, said in his speech, “Celebration of the Greek National Day is symbolic beyond the events that took place at a comparatively small European country 200 years ago. Its symbolism is one triumph and hope that is manifested in so many different ways in our everyday lives. Just the other day, its relevance was emphasised by way of correspondence I personally received from the President of the Ukrainian Greek Communities. It was a message of hope and struggle which acknowledged the heroic efforts of Greeks 200 years ago. I was fortunate being invited to speak at the Federation room at the Victorian parliament at a delegation of Ukrainian Members of Parliament and this message of hope from Ukraine formed the essential tenet of my address about Democratic Freedom being relevant in 1821, now and relevant across our Globe.”
The GCM president also referred to the tragic events at Tempi, saying, “May we also send our thoughts out to Greece to the 57 souls who were lost at Tempi and we stand beside to all these families who lost their loved ones”.
To cap off the night Eleftheria Arvanitaki then took the stage with her accomplished and talented band to perform popular and classic songs from her repertoire.
Arvanitaki will also be performing tonight, 25 March at 8pm, at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre.