The English translation of Georgia (Juliana) Charpantidou’s book “The Embodiment of a Distant Homeland” is now available in Melbourne, with readers able to explore the detailed history of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM).
The GCM is now allowing public to purchase the English version of the book from its online store and its office.
It was officially launched at a special event in Athens on Thursday 5 September at the bookstore Themelio publications, which was attended by Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan.
The GCM President, Bill Papastergiadis ΟΑΜ, commended both Charpantidou and the translator, Petro Alexiou, for their efforts in producing the book which chronicles the years of the organisation from its founding until 1972.
“It will have immense value for future generations in appreciating the early pioneers who laid the foundation for our thriving community today,” the GCM President said.
Dr. Nick Dallas, Education Chair of the GCM and the person who oversaw the project, expressed his hope that “this becomes the go-to reference for anyone studying the Hellenic diaspora”.
The GCM is working on a subsequent volume, aiming to bring its history up to date until the early 21st century.
The research for the book is based on primary sources, such as minutes and archives of the Greek Community of Melbourne, the National Archives of Australia, the Dardalis Archives of the Hellenic Diaspora at La Trobe University, and both Greek and English language newspapers from the period in Australia.
The thematic areas covered in the book reflect key issues that appeared either in official documents such as the Community’s board minutes and correspondence or in the Greek-Australian press of the time.
