We are only two weeks away from the state election, and the Greek Orthodox Community of Oakleigh continues to be a focal point of the Napthine government. The premier joined celebrations at the annual Glendi Festival last Sunday, where he announced $200,000 worth of funding for the upgrade of the centre’s kitchen facilities to a commercial standard. State Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews also promised a $60,000 grant to the Greek Glendi Festival of Oakleigh if Labor is elected.
“The new kitchen will allow the community to continue to use the centre for major events, conferences, exhibitions and multicultural activities,” Dr Napthine said.
Dr Napthine, alongside Planning Minister Matthew Guy, said the Greek Orthodox Community of Oakleigh is intertwined with the local Greek population in the south-east.
“Victoria’s Greek community is one of our largest and most influential and is a community that has prospered and contributed to the development of our city, our state and our nation,” he said, highlighting the event’s great turnout throughout the weekend, which, in spite of the rain on Saturday, attracted thousands of people to Warrawee Park.
As part of the Liberals state election plan – for communities with easy access to parks and playgrounds, infrastructure that is appropriately maintained, state-of-the-art facilities, and roads that are in the best condition possible – Oakleigh Glendi will receive major funding in next year’s round of the Multicultural Communities Infrastructure Fund.
Another 28 organisations are to receive grants from the Victorian Coalition government. This amount includes a $20,000 Multicultural Festivals and Events grant, awarded in 2014-15 and a $100,000 Unity Through Partnerships grant for the inaugural 2013 event. It is worth mentioning that since 2013, the annual Glendi Festival has already seen $120,000 in funding.
The Oakleigh Greek Glendi – Unity Through Diversity Festival – remains a key priority for the Victorian government, which acknowledges the Greek community’s contribution to the district, in terms of entwining the different cultural heritages of its citizens.
“It’s our policy to have multiculturalism as one of our advantages regarding the economy and the growth of the state, the equality of life in Melbourne and Victoria. We as a coalition government support multiculturalism,” Premier Napthine explained.
Melbourne’s east is the home of one of the largest Greek communities, which has an important role to play in the upcoming state election.
“Theo Zografos is the new member for Oakleigh. He is a person who listens to Oakleigh, who knows Oakleigh and can strongly represent Oakleigh. The coalition will continue to work with the Greek precinct in Oakleigh, where we’ve got a strong track record of supporting the Greek heritage and history here, for over 50 years. The Greeks have been one of the great contributors to Oakleigh and district. We want to grow and maintain that,” the premier concluded.