The Kalymnian Brotherhood of Melbourne celebrated its 60th anniversary with 250 attendees on Saturday, October 19, at the Normanby House Reception Centre in Thornbury.
The sold-out event was held in an atmosphere described as both “pleasant” and “emotionally charged,” according to the Brotherhood’s President, Dimitris Tseros, in an interview with Neos Kosmos.
During the evening, honourary gifts were presented to all the former presidents of the Brotherhood, with the families of those no longer alive accepting the awards on their behalf.
The theme of the Brotherhood’s dance troupe performances this year focused on the migration journey of Kalymnians from Greece to Melbourne, starting from the 1960s.
Young members of the group aimed to showcase this experience, which is familiar to many in the Greek diaspora, by incorporating both dance and theatrical elements.
“As part of the performance, some young dancers found and used authentic suitcases from the 1960s, ensuring that the names of their owners were inscribed on them to replicate an old tradition,” Tseros explained.
A text with historical information about the Kalymnian migration experience was also read during the performance, and, at the conclusion of the reading, the sound of ship horns echoed through the venue.
Among the guests were presidents of other associations, as well as Father Ioannis from the parish of St. Dimitrios in Moonee Ponds.
The event also featured a raffle draw, which added to the “joy and entertainment” of the night, and commemorative keychains were distributed to all attendees.
