The internet might be the defining factor of our identity and shape the way we relate to our culture, said panellists of the first community dialogues on the future of the Greek community, held in Melbourne last week.
Speaking on the second panel, Professor of Joy Damousi, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, University of Melbourne, said the internet influences the way the diaspora communicates. She said that a discussion surrounding identity for second, third and even fourth generation Greek Australians can not be had without acknowledging social media.
“The internet serves a specific and unique service,” Ms Damousi told the audience. “It’s a connection with Greeks worldwide, and with their village.”
Most panellists agreed that new generations of Greek Australian’s are using social media to connect with family members and others from their ancestral village, but also use the internet as a source to discover more about their heritage.
“Internet is a huge unifying factor,” said Tass Sgardelis, President National Union of Greek-Australian Students – Victoria, who was the only member of Gen Y on the panel.
“It builds a picture for us, and immerses is in the culture,” he adds on the way next generations are using the internet.
Organised by La Trobe University’s Centre for Dialogue, the first dialogue centred around the topic, “Where will the Greek Australian community be in 10, 15, and 20 years?”. Greek Australians from different industries were chosen to take part in what was a Socratic style form of dialogue. Two circle style panels were made up – the first panel, made up of seasoned and senior members of our community, talked about the past and present for Greek Australians. The second panel was made up of the next generation who spoke about the future of the Greek community. A community that needs to be defined broadly and needs to include all people who identify as being of Greek origin, as George Papadopoulos an expert on multiculturalism and a top government official in this area in the past said, meeting the agreement of almost all the panelists.
The issue of identity and what shapes our identity – language, culture or religion, was debated on the night.
Melbourne solicitor and freelance journalist Dean Kalimniou said “we have an obsession about our identity” and it’s in a more pronounced form than any other cultures. He said there is an almost need by members of the Greek community to identify themselves as Greek and exclude others, a construct created by members in order for them to relate to each other.
Eugenia Pavlopoulou, Neos Kosmos journalist, said it’s too hard to define the Greek Australian identity presently and in the future as it “changes every single day”.
The way Greek Australian’s define themselves and view their experience is dependent on which state, physical or ideological they might reside, said Jeana Vithoulkas . She gave the example of living in Perth in the 1990s where the community was older, religious and made up of “Liberal voters”, very different to her personal experiences in Melbourne. As the president of NUGAS, Mr Sgardelis said he notices a significant difference with Greek Australians from different states.
On the issue of organisations, brotherhoods and regional community groups, Bill Papastergiadis, President, Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV) predicts if the community continues down the path it’s going, then “in ten or twenty years time you will see 70 per cent [community organisations] may not exist”.
“All of them want inter generational change, but won’t speak the language,” he said.
Many of the organisations are holding on to their buildings and assets as they are “sacred to them and they don’t want that to change” with many organisations now making change to the constitutions in the area of asset ownership should the board cease to exist.
Mr Kalimniou said the new generation is more “individualistic” than the first generations and he said that the organisations at the moment are still focused on “first generation aspirations and regionalism” to their detriment.
Yet, Mr Papastergiadis disagreed and said the next generation are volunteering and participating in events.
“Resurgence and interest in participating and volunteering has increased because of the events being offered are more relevant and interesting [to the next generation],” said Mr Papastergiadis.
“The best thing we can do as a Greek community is to allow the outsiders in.”
The moderator of the night Dr Michalis Michael from La Trobe University was happy with the outcome of the first dialogues, adding the healthy discourse underpins the need for a face-to-face communication and exchange of ideas when we are trying to address the big issues of our community.