A climate of chaos and heated discussion and disagreement were evident at the annual general meeting of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria held yesterday at the church hall at St Dimitrios in Prahran.

The proposal by GOCMV President Bill Papastergiadis for the GOCMV President to only be able to serve two terms failed to get 75 percent required to pass and the defeat of the proposals to overturn the expulsion of Mr Paikopoulos, Mr Mourikis and Mr Avgoustakis and the Tsitas proposal to establish a committee to oversee the development of Alphington Grammar and Bulleen.

The counting of the votes for the election of the electoral committee had not been completed at the time Neos Kosmos went to print.

The GOCMV President Bill Papastergiadis was positive in outlining the achievements of the committee during his term as President.

He claimed securing $2 million from the State Government for the cultural centre at the GOCMV Building in Lonsdale Street, $2 million funding from the State Government for the construction of six classrooms at Alphington Grammar. $300 000 from the Andrianakos family for the construction of the multipurpose hall and $50 000 from the Argyropoulos family to fund scholarships at Alphington Grammar as major achievements.

He also assured members that planning permission had been gained for the construction of the multipurpose hall and for the classrooms and that the construction of these facilities will commence in 2010.

Former GOCMV President George Foundas took the floor and said that the $2 million for the cultural centre had been allocated by the Bracks Government and that the construction of the multipurpose would be detrimental to the school because it would be built on the site of a number of houses adjoining the school which had recently been purchased by the GOCMV.

It was striking that there was not a Treasurers report at the meeting. The explanation for a Treasurers report was not required because the audited financial reports had been circulated to members.

The audited financial statement reveal a loss of $50 000 for the financial year 2008 – 2009. However the loss is closer to $120 000, according to a number of current Board members.

In other news, 49 people have nominated to stand for election to the GOCMV board in December.

Bill Papastergiadis has announced the 18 people who will be standing with him as part of his ticket.

The Papastergiadis team includes Bill Anevlavis, Nick Koukouvitakis, Tammy Iliou, John Mitsakos, Costa Markos, Leo Vlahakis, Kostas Tsoumbakos, Jorge Menidis, Theo Markos, George Kallianis, Dimitri Iakovakis, Paul Kounnas, Nick Parthimos, Vasso Zangalis, Theo Andrianakos, Nicole Iliopoulos, George Koletsis and Jim Bosinakis.

While Con Dikeos has not yet announced his team sources close to Dikeos have indicated that one can expect to see George Foundas, Eugenia Grammatikakis and Jenny Krasopoulakis as part of his team. The Dikeos ticket should be announced later this week.

There is also speculation that the large number of nominees will see the formation of a third ticket.

Additional reporting by Ross Karavis.