The Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia recently held its Annual General Meeting in Sydney, where a new President and executive board were elected. Esta Paschalidis-Chilas was chosen to lead the Federation as President, with the support of Vice-President Harry Tavlaridis, Secretary and outgoing President Peter Stefanidis, and Treasurer Peter Papoulidis. Additionally, Maria Anthony was appointed as the new Events & Fundraising Coordinator.
Representatives from various member-associations across Australia attended the AGM, which kicked off with an informal party at Pontoxeniteas House. During the meeting, the attendees reviewed the Federation’s activities over the past few years. In his final address as President, Stefanidis highlighted some of the accomplishments during his term, such as the successful Synapantema in Melbourne in February 2023, the inaugural International Pontian Film Festival, the formation of the Federation Youth interim committee, and the Federation’s involvement in the Joint Justice Initiative.
Stefanidis also called on delegates and members to join the annual March for Justice on April 23. The march is part of the ongoing campaign by the Australian Hellenic, Australian Armenian, and Australian Assyrian communities of NSW to urge the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader of Australia to acknowledge the destruction of the indigenous Hellenes, Armenians, and Assyrians as genocide. According to Stefanidis, “This is another opportunity for our community, the descendants of survivors of the Genocide, to show that the Federation and its members will continue to honor the memory of our ancestors, the lives of so many of whom were so cruelly cut short.”
During her first speech as President, Paschalidis-Chilas expressed her desire to focus on “harnessing relationships external to the Pontian community” while ensuring that the Federation and its members remain strong and dynamic. She also paid tribute to her father, Christos Paschalidis, who served as the Federation’s Founding Treasurer 34 years ago, saying that he would be proud of her at that moment.
