The Battle of Crete and Greece Commemorative Council actively participated in this year’s events for Anzac Day as they honoured the memory of the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fell during the First World War.
The events were held with respect and emotion, reflecting the deep ties between the Greek and Australian people.
Members of the Battle of Crete and Greece Commemorative Council honoured the ANZACs by taking part in the events, the first of which began on Thursday 24 April with a special ceremony at the Heidelberg Repatriation Veterans’ Hospital.
Tony Tsourdalakis represented the Council, laying a wreath on the plaque in the Hospital’s garden in memory of the Australian soldiers who participated in the Battle of Crete.
The event was moderated by the Veteran Liaison Officer of the Hospital, Robert Winther, who has worked with the Council since its inception.
On Anzac Day, the Council’s members paid tribute to the soldiers by participating in the Dawn ceremony held in various suburbs of Melbourne.
President Natasha Spanos and Secretary Anna Psarakis laid a wreath at the RSL Branches in Oakleigh and Clayton respectively.
Milton Stamatakos and Kyriakos Cherekakis, President and Vice President of the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne, attended the ceremonies at the RSLs in Darebin and Camberwell respectively.
Mary Rissakis and Maria Maniou, the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer of the Pancretan Association of Melbourne, attended the RSL events at Ringwood and Boronia respectively.
Tsourdalakis, President of the Intercommunities Council of Victoria, took part in the wreath laying ceremony at the Epping RSL, while Panagiotis Andrinopoulos, Secretary of the Australian Hellenic Memorial, attended the Mount Waverley RSL service.
Peter Ford attended the ceremony at the Caulfield RSL Branch while Shirley Devery attended the events at the Coburg RSL Branch.
Finally, Nikolaos Makridis, President of the Greek Returned Servicemen’s League, represented the Council by laying a wreath at the Shepparton RSL service.
The highlight of the commemorations was the Council’s participation in the Anzac Day Parade in Melbourne’s CBD.
Spanos officially represented the Council, marching with a six-student delegation from Oakleigh Grammar, with them marching alongside the 2/2 Field Regiment Association (with whom the Council has developed close links and a strong working relationship).
In her message for Anzac Day, Spanos stated:
“These events are a strong link in the preservation of the historical consciousness and friendship between Greece and Australia, a friendship that was built on the battlefield but has stood the test of time, inspiring younger generations.”
She added that “it is important to recognise that the ideals that represent us as a people cannot be won without sacrifice and hard struggle. Let us emulate the example of the heroes who sacrificed themselves for humanity and let us never allow anyone to underestimate our two homelands, Greece and Australia. Eternal be their memory!”
