Schools, communities, clubs, welfare, and professional Greek Australian organisations marched at Sunday’s National Day Parade at Lakeside Stadium, the home of South Melbourne FC.
The threatening grey sky soon succumbed to the rays of freedom as a sun proclaimed the parade.
Around 5000 people, from across the generations, gathered to commemorate the 1821 Revolution when Greeks rose against the 400-year Ottoman colonial rule.
Konstantinos Vlasis, the former deputy minister of foreign affairs for the Diaspora here from Greece with a delegation, said:
“Today, we honour the memory and struggle of our ancestors who gave their lives so we can live free.
“Today, we reaffirm our faith in the principles of freedom, democracy, and justice, and in a rapidly changing world, it is very important to adhere strictly to these principles.”
A young and proud Max quickly pointed out that he was “the grandson of Max Ouzas”.
“Max Ouzas is my grandfather, and he’s from Florina, and he’s the founder of Max Ouzas Prestige Cars,” said Max.
His equally proud grandfather has played a key role in the Pan-Macedonian community.
Eva, Max’s sister, said she was happy to be here and was “full of pride” and “having fun.”
Alexi and Stelena – siblings – were with family friend Billy.
Stelena’s mother works at St. John’s College, “So, we came to see her”, she said.
Billy said that “traditions need to keep going.”
“You know, in 20 years, I still want these traditions to keep going because knowing where we come from is very important.
“I think it’s very special.”
“I agree with everything he said,” Stelena said.
Nineteen-year-old Alexi said, “We must respect our history… These marches remind us of what our ancestors went through for us to be free.”
Maria and Emily, two St. John’s College teachers, represented the school with their students.
Maria told Neos Kosmos she is there “because it’s such an important event, our background, everything it represents.”
Emily, who has been teaching at St John’s for only two years, said she was “experiencing this for the second time”.
Asked if teaching is a rewarding profession, Emily said: “I love it?”
“Just seeing the growth in the students is amazing.”
Andrew Markaris, the president of the Victorian Hellenic Police Association (VHPA), marched with his members.
“We’ve got 450 Victoria Police, Greek Australian members, 250 police, approximately 50 protective service officers (PSO), and about 150 public servants who work for the organisation, all recognised.
“We’re probably the biggest multicultural group within the organisation, which is wonderful.
Markaris said that the police have become quite proactive in dealing with diversity and that his organisation was a “true example.”
“They support us in coming and representing the Greek community.
He said that diversity in the Victorian Police is seen as a strength, and there is, for example, an “Islamic council within Victoria police and quite a few associations similar to ours.”
Neos Kosmos asked if he and his members – would be good mentors and role models for young African Australians and other new communities to join the force.
“A hundred per cent because through our capacity – through the Victorian Police Association – we do outreach and African integration courses into Victoria police and have a university program, and we go there as parents, as children of migrants, to explain that you can be what you see.”
He said Greeks faced “similar stuff back in the day 30-40 years ago, or even 50 years ago; it was difficult for Greek Australians to integrate.”
“We obviously aligned ourselves to Australian culture, but we’ve kept our heritage hence, being here today.”
The 70-section-long parade moved in front of a delegation of the Hellenic Parliament’s Inter-Parliamentary Committee on Expatriates, including Konstantinos Vlasis, member for Arcadia and former deputy minister of foreign affairs for the Diaspora; Theodora Tzakri, member of parliament for Pella from SYRIZA and first vice-president of the Diaspora Hellenism Committee; Evangelia Liakouli, member of parliament for Larissa from PASOK-KINAL and second vice-president of the Diaspora Hellenism Committee; and Asimina Skondra, member of parliament for Karditsa from New Democracy.
The Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, and the High Commissioner of Cyprus, Antonis Sammoutis, also attended the event.
State members of parliament representing the government, Nikos Staikos, Katerina Theophanous, and David Davis, from the Opposition, were also there.
The president of the Greek Community of Melbourne, Bill Papastergiadis and the president of the Cypriot Community of Melbourne were also in attendance.
This and other scheduled events coincide with 100 Years of the Archdiocese of Australia and 40 years of the sister cities’ relationship between Thessaloniki and Melbourne. His Grace Bishop Evmenios was there along with other clerics.
