The 2025 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia National Schools Event (GOAANSE Games) were recently held from 6-9 May in Perth.
Hosted by St Andrew’s Grammar School, the event brought together seven Greek Orthodox schools from across Australia to celebrate unity, Hellenic heritage, and friendly competition.
The event opened with a Doxology service at St Nektarios Orthodox Parish, bringing all participating schools together in prayer and reflection.
Throughout the week, students competed in a range of sports, including futsal, soccer, basketball, volleyball, netball, and table tennis.
The Spoken Arts Festival showcased student talents in poetry, music, and dance, proudly highlighting their cultural identity.
One of the schools who participated was Oakleigh Grammar, whose students finished second place overall in the competition.
The girls volleyball and girls basketball teams were both declared champions, while the boys volleyball team earned came second.
Oakleigh Grammar also placed third in netball, boys table tennis, and girls table tennis.
Principal Mark Robertson shared his reflections on the event.
“I am immensely proud of our students and staff for their outstanding participation and leadership during GOAANSE,” he said in a media release.
“Their commitment, sportsmanship, and teamwork truly reflect the spirit of Oakleigh Grammar and the values we uphold as a community.”
A highlight of the festival was a performance by 20 Oakleigh Grammar students, who presented a series of traditional Greek dances.
“Their vibrant, heartfelt performance beautifully reflected the essence of Greek culture and the spirit of “φιλοξενία” (filoxenia) – the Greek tradition of generous hospitality and heartfelt welcome, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.”
Students were given the opportunity to connect with peers from across the country, celebrate their cultural heritage, and strengthen essential skills in leadership, teamwork, and resilience.
Oakleigh Grammar congratulated all students on their achievements and conduct throughout the event and thanked their staff and coaches.
