Over 150 people gathered Adelaide’s Olympic House last Friday for the launch of the Odyssey Greek Festival, one of the largest events organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) dedicated to Greek culture and tradition.
The opening night included a display of artwork made by students from the Community’s Greek language schools, an impressive traditional dance performance by the senior group of GOCSA Dance Academy, and an art exhibition featuring works by local visual artists who took part in this year’s Odyssey art prize competition.
Addressing the attendees, GOCSA president, Peter Gardiakos said that, “this festival reminds us that no matter where we find ourselves, our Greek heritage will forever be a source of inspiration and strength” and invited members of other multicultural communities to “partake in this cultural Odyssey”.
The President, dedicated an emotional speech to the Hon. Irene Pnevmatikos MLC who recently announced her retirement from Parliament due to health issues and was in attendance at the event representing the Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas and the Minister for Tourism and Multicultural Affairs, Zoe Bettison.
“Irene, on your retirement from parliament, we want to acknowledge your outstanding contributions to our Greek community and the multicultural communities you have supported for many years, ” Mr Gardiakos said.
“Your tireless efforts in advocating for our concerns, championing diversity, and promoting cultural understanding have left an indelible mark on us all. Your work has helped bridge the gap between different communities and strengthened our communities’ bonds and unity”.
In her speech, Ms Pnevmatikos expressed her gratitude towards GOCSA and said that the organisation’s “initiatives, large and small, have helped keep Greek culture thriving in South Australia, and have created a lasting legacy for the next generation”. Ahead of the October 14 referendum, Ms Pnevmatikos elaborated on how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first peoples of this country have faced similar challenges with migrants.
Speaking at the event, federal member for Adelaide Steve Georganas, paid tribute to the state’s first Greek immigrants, to the work of GOCSA over the years and said that: “festivals like this help us connect to our roots and showcase the contribution of Greeks to the state of South Australia”.
Additionally, Georganas commended GOCSA for being an ethnic group that sets the standard for supporting the process of reconciliation with First Nations people and acknowledging historical exclusion and prejudice.
As the celebration came to an end, guests savoured Greek cuisine and wine from the area.
