Festival Hellenika has announced an exciting addition to its line-up of cultural activities. Author, Sally Jane Smith will speak at the Hamra Centre Library in Adelaide on Thursday, July 11.
This event will feature a conversation between Smith and educator, interpreter, and translator Paul Hellander, known for his work on Greece for Lonely Planet and other travel publications.
Smith’s journey to Greece began with her mother’s 1978 travel diary in her pocket, seeking to rekindle the wanderlust lost after a devastating overseas road accident. Her explorations of Greece, from its volatile landscapes to historical sites, inspired her to write “Unpacking for Greece,” published in 2023. This memoir was named a ‘Reading Greece Book of the Month’ by the Greek government website, Greek News Agenda.
“I didn’t know my mother’s journal existed until a few days before my first trip to Greece,” said Smith. “That tiny notebook with its scuffed red covers became a treasured travel companion and helped me make peace with the memory of my mum, who died when I was in my twenties.”
The cover of “Unpacking for Greece” features honey-hued stone columns against a deep blue sky and includes a family snapshot of Smith’s mother and grandmother on the steps of the Parthenon.
Erva Bakas, from Festival Hellenika was instrumental in bringing Smith from NSW to the event. “Her books bring a fresh perspective not only to philhellenes but to travellers in general.
“Her writing highlights how Greece continues to inspire pathways and new creative possibilities,” said Bakas.
Smith and Hellander share a love for Greece. Hellander’s connection to Greece spans over five decades. “Ultimately, I didn’t choose Greece, Greece chose me,” he said.
Drawn to Ancient Greek in high school and Modern Greek at university in the Britain, Hellander travelled to Ioannina on the Greek mainland in the 1970s. He later moved to Australia, teaching Greek in Melbourne and Adelaide, where he still resides.
Smith, born in South Africa, lived on four continents before moving to Australia in 2008. She credits Greece with rekindling her passion for writing, saying, “It was Greece that gave me my kefi back in 2016, ten years after my accident.”
Smith’s second travel memoir, “Repacking for Greece,” was released in April 2024. The two-book series explores sixteen unforgettable destinations across the Greek mainland and islands.
The Hamra Centre Library event will take place on Thursday, 11th July 2024, at 6:30 pm. To book free tickets, visit Festival Hellenika or phone the library on (08) 8416 6228.
