The 42nd Pan-Australian Congress of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand held in Brisbane, brought together over 300 delegates, most of whom were second and third-generation Greek Australians.
Delegates from all the Australian state-based Cretan associations, including the Cretan Association of New Zealand, were present, the delegates received a message of support from the World Council of Cretans president, Nikolaos Markogiannakis.
The Queensland Cretan Brotherhood hosted the Congress under the auspices of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand, who did their best to accommodate the many delegates.
The conference proceedings began on Wednesday, January 3, with a welcome lunch for delegates. On Thursday, January 4, the official opening was followed by a reception in the Brisbane Olympic FC hall, where delegates were welcomed by the president of the Queensland Cretan Brotherhood, Antonis Katsanevas.
On Friday, January 5, at the annual general assembly, the outgoing federation president, Antonis Tsourdalakis, welcomed and thanked those present and made proposals and suggestions on agenda items.Tsourdalakis reported on the federation’s activities over the last four years, highlighting the creation of a national database with more than 2000 Cretans of Oceania on it, the publication of a history of the federation, events for the Battle of Crete across Oceania, reopening of the Cretan Association of the Northern Region, in Darwin, the participation of the Cretan Federation in the bicentenary of the Greek War of Independence, events commemorating the 100 years of the Asia Minor Catastrophe, a cultural tour of young Greek Australians to Greece and Crete, hosted by the General Secretariat for Hellenes Abroad and many other activities.
At the assembly’s closing, Tsourdalakis said that at the expiration of his term, the change of leadership, as proposed by the president of the Cretan Brotherhood of Sydney and New South Wales, Manolis Vitetzakis, will be enacted. Manolis Mountakis will be the new president, Lefteris Saviolakis treasurer and Sofia Komarkowski secretary. Mary Rissaki from Melbourne (first vice president) and Iraklis Kaselakis from Vrishvani (second vice president and youth coordinator) will join them on the national council. Kyriakos Hrepakakis from Melbourne, Manolis Vitetzakis from Sydney, George Katheklakis from Canberra, George Mamounis from the Northern Region, Manolis Gerogiannakis from Western Australia, Vicky Kalogeropoulou from Tasmania, Pantelis Friedakis from South Australia and Vassilis Giannakis from New Zealand are members of the new board.
During the conference, the Cretan Youth of Australia & New Zealand held their assembly, with 150 young people from all states attending. The subjects discussed included the maintenance of the Greek Language, preserving cultural traditions, and seminars on the Cretan diet.
The president of the Cretan Youth of Australia & New Zealand, Irini Kyriakaki, thanked the young people.
Ari Paraskakis from Sydney was nominated as youth president, Angeliki Belivani as secretary, and Christoforos Townsend as treasurer, all accepted unopposed.
Along with proceedings, forums and discussions, there were performances by artists from Crete, Miltiadis Varouhakis on lyra and vocals and Marios Makridakis on lute, accompanied by local musician Alexandros Moundakis.
At the end, a ball was held where Father Stavros Karvelas, representing Archbishop Makarios of Australia, was present. After welcoming the 450 people attending, the President of Queensland Katsanevas gave the floor to the outgoing president, Tsourdalakis, who visibly moved and thanked all the people who have contributed to the success of the federation over the four decades; he then introduced the new president, Mountakis. The new president thanked the Cretan Brotherhood of Sydney for nominating him and the outgoing president, Tsourdalakis, for his service. He then introduced the new members of the federation’s board of directors.
