The Samian community in Sydney united in honour of their ancestral island’s proud history, recognising the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Samos and the 112th anniversary of its union with Greece in their annual lunch.
The Samian Brotherhood of Sydney and NSW ‘O Lykourgos’ held their annual commemorative lunch this past Sunday at the Grand Roxy in Brighton-Le-Sands.
The event pays tribute to two of the island’s most historical events: the Greek naval victory in the Battle of Samos on 6 August 1824 and the union of Samos with Greece on 11 November 1912.
Emanuel Valageorgiou, President of the Brotherhood, expressed his pleasure with the lunch which left a positive impression on the members and guests in attendance.
“(The lunch) is not only an opportunity for our regular members to get together and celebrate these traditional events but for our younger generations to gain a better understanding of their rich Samian heritage and history,” Valageorgiou told Neos Kosmos.
The lunch saw numerous notable attendees, who all spoke warmly about the Brotherhood and its role in keeping our community together and celebrating our traditions since its inception in 1956.
These included: the Head of Public Diplomacy for the Greek Consulate of Greece in Sydney, Athanasios Lambrou, representing the Consul General, Mark Buttigieg, representing NSW Minister Steve Kamper, Sophie Cotsis, NSW Minister for Work Health Safety and Industrial Relations, and Mark Coure, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism.
The Kalimnian Association’s dancing group entertained the guests with an engaging performance that encouraged others to join in, which Valageorgiou cited as a particular highlight of the day.
“We are very proud to maintain our traditions and to celebrate these historical events, especially as we pass on the legacy to newer generations of Samian descendants,” the Brotherhood’s President said.
Valageorgiou stated that Samos is one of many islands that celebrated liberation and union with Greece at essentially the same time, a fact recognised at the lunch.
He also highlighted his excitement as the Brotherhood edges closer towards celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2026.
