“I think I was in love with Greece before I even went there” David Hill tells Neos Kosmos.

The Inaugural Chair of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, former chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), architect of the National Soccer League (NSL) – a precursor to the A-League, is also prolific author having penned 11 books ]on history and culture.

Hill has gained global recognition for his push to have the Parthenon Sculptures returned to Athens.

Hill has been invited by the Greek Australian Cultural League to present the 50th anniversary edition of the Antipodes periodical this Sunday, which is dedicated to Philhellenes of Australia like himself, and their passionate commitment to Greek culture and causes.

David Hill as a young man was enthused with the victory of the reformist Gough Whitlam government of 1972, he had an enduring admiration for the former prime minister who was himself a scholar of Classical Greek and Roman literature, history and art. His relationship with Gough was maintained up to the great statesman’s passing.

Before he set foot in Greece in June 1973, David Hill had already read novels by Nikos Kazantzakis. He had also discovered Mikis Theodorakis and his music, after his curiosity about Greece was awakened when he saw Costa Garva’s 1969 visceral political thriller’ ‘Z’ about the Greek military Junta of 1967-1974.

“Mikis Theodorakis, became my hero. Not just for the music, which captured my soul. He was one of the greatest figures in history. He was a man with a huge social conscience. He suffered a great deal for the strength of his convictions, his service to humanity, his belief in humanity.”

Hill’s first trip to Greece came about by accident when a friend, on his way to the London Bureau of ABC, where he was appointed, had discovered Poros, and a year later would invite his friends to “the perfect spot” he had found there.

“So I went in June 1973 and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of a love affair with Greece.”

David Hill returns to Poros every year, to his small beach house, ten steps from the sea, situated in a garden of olive trees which he shares with a number of Greek and English friends.

Though the first years was an “endless party”, he says. His relationship with Greece evolved into something much deeper as he grew older. He even went back to University, graduating in classical Greek archaeology, in 2006, and since then, with a German professor of archaeology from Heidelberg, they have been studying the ancient city of Troezen, the legendary birthplace of Theseus, which is just opposite Poros on the Peloponnese.

Hill’s unwavering advocacy for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures to Athens, is rooted in that first trip to Greece, when he visited the Parthenon.

“In those days, you could actually walk through the Parthenon.”

Travelling to London a few days later, he saw the sculptures that were taken from Athens, in the British Museum, and that sparked in him a feeling of anger and injustice. This was later fuelled by Melina Mercouri, another huge influence in his life, who would kick-start a campaign for their return. A campaign which he will also head years later, from his position as the first chairman of the International Association for the Return of the Parthenon Sculptures, from 2005 to 2016.

Delighted to be invited to speak at the launch of the 50th Anniversary of the Antipodes periodical, Hill adds that he also feels somewhat humbled to be among the 25 extraordinary Australian philhellenes who are being honoured in this year’s milestone issue.

“Among them is my favourite, Gough Whitlam, with whom I had a very good relationship. I even managed to persuade him, after his time as Prime Minister, to become patron of the Australians for the return of the Parthenon sculptures”

He was with him on his last overseas trip during which he arranged for him to be the keynote speaker at the British Institute of Art and Law in London where he argued for the return of the Parthenon sculptures, in 2001.

“He was a very proud Classicist.”

Joice NanKivell Loch, is another name he is delighted to see among those honoured by the GACL.

He goes on to describe the life of this little known, remarkable Australian who found herself working with displaced children in Europe after World War I.

“She was on a camping holiday in Ouranopolis (Halkidiki) with her husband, when the Greek refugees started arriving from Smyrna, during the Catastrophe. Hundreds of thousands came into Greece walking, through Thrace, and they had nothing. Joice went on to convert a medieval tower in the village into an embroidery workshop, and over many years, she employed hundreds, if not thousands of Greek women to embroider the rugs that she designed, which she sold to friends in Melbourne, and London.”

“I think more than half of the philhellenes, listed in the Antipodean periodical have passed.”

“There’s the great author, Patrick White. I remember reading his short stories ‘Burnt ones’ which are mainly based in Greece, during my first summer there. Professor Appleyard and Charmian Clift who have also died are on the list too.”

“What does it mean to be a philhellene? And what is unique about Greece? What is so special?” He ponders as he starts to describe his understanding of Greeks and Greek Australians as well, being very much part of this community since marrying Stergitsa Zamagias with whom they have a son, Damianos.

“There is a zest for life in Greece, a carefree element, whereas the Greek migrants tend to be more industrious. But they share that same Greekness.

“I went recently to a Greek Australian reception that The Hellenic Initiative had organised. There is something vibrant about Greek identity. I don’t want to use the word pride because that implies hubris, and I don’t mean that at all.

“There’s something about Greeks that is special and that is common to the Greek Diaspora and the Greeks in Greece – the attachment and affinity to Greece, even though, ironically, they are one of the most migratory people in history. They never lose their Greekness.”

Looking back at his incredible career, and also his own attachment and affinity to Greece, we ask him, what is he most proud of.

“Just in terms of the time that I’ve spent on it, I would have to say it is the work I have done for the Parthenon sculptures.”

“I think that my proudest moment will be when they return to Greece and I want to be in Athens when that happens.”

“There aren’t many opportunities in life, where you can right a great wrong. But here we have the chance. The return of the marbles, will be righting a great wrong, and it’d be fantastic to be part of that. But it’s going to happen anyway. If not in my lifetime.”

“I am not an ambitious person. But I am an enthusiast. And if you look at my career, it’s a very eclectic range of things that I’ve done. I haven’t been able to resist when there’s been an exciting idea put to me. I can’t help but say ‘Yes, I’ll try that.'”

The launch will be hosted by Neos Kosmos journalist Fotis Kapetopoulos and will feature an exhibition of works by leading photographer Effy Alexakis, graphic and visual artists Michael Winters, and Dimitris Antonopoulos.

Additionally, there will be live music performances by local talented musicians Wayne Simmons, Kat Stevens, and Stavroula Thomopoulos

The 50th Anniversary edition of Antipodes launch and exhibition starts at 3 p.m., Sunday, 22 October at the Panarcadian Association of Melbourne and Victoria, O Kolokotronis, 570 Victoria Street, North Melbourne

For more information contact GACL by email: infogaclm@gmail.com