On Wednesday night the halls of Parliament House in Canberra pulsed with the passion of Greek freedom and culture as the Greek National Day was celebrated.
The Australian Parliamentary Friends of Greece paid homage to Greek Independence Day marking the historic event of March 25, 1821.
Among those present were Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, Greece’s Ambassador to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, Greek Deputy Minister of the Interior Theodoros Livanios, and Archbishop Makarios of Australia, alongside esteemed industry and community leaders.
Clare O’Neil the Minister for Home Affairs co-hosted the event along with the chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Greece Steve Georganas, the Member for Adelaide.
Multicultural affairs minister Andrew Giles and Linda Burney the Minister for Indigenous Australians, both staunch friends of the Greeks, were also there.
Prime minister Albanese and the leader of the opposition Peter Dutton, as well as, Archbishop Makarios, the chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Greece Steve Georganas and Clare O’Neil all spoke to the gathering.
Albanese stressed the importance of relations with Greece, the role of the Revolution of Independence as a ‘beacon for hope and freedom of all peoples’ and the importance of the Greek community of Australia.
Ministers O’Neil, Burney, Giles and others could not help themselves and began to join in the dancing.
Sophie Cotsis the Minister for Industrial Relations of New South Wales was also in attendance as were Greek community leaders, their committees, and representatives from Greek Australian media outlets.
Community leaders such as Bill Papastergiadis from Victoria, Peter Gardiakos from South Australia, and John Loukadellis from the ACT gathered to partake in the festivities.
Albanese underscored the deep bonds between Greece and Australia, rooted in shared values and forged in various battles for freedom such as World War II.
The celebration was a moving reaffirmation of the enduring connections between Greece and Australia and offered a platform to laud the contributions of the Greek Australian community. Their accomplishments and ongoing influence across diverse sectors of society were spotlighted and celebrated.
Guests were treated to traditional Greek music and dance, and soon, everyone, including the politicians were dancing.
The presence of Greek officials, community leaders, and parliamentary representatives underscored the occasion’s significance, reaffirming the mutual commitment to nurturing robust bilateral relations and cultural exchanges between Greece and Australia.
After the event ended echoes of Greek National Day lingered in the corridors of Parliament House serving as a poignant reminder of the legacy of Greece’s struggle for independence and its resonance in people’s hearts worldwide.
