An Andrews Labor government will provide $100,000 each year during its first term towards the iconic annual celebration of Hellenic culture.
The Greek Community of Melbourne’s two day Glendi in Lonsdale Street at the heart of Melbourne’s Greek precinct is one of the most prominent multicultural events in Victoria.
Abundant performances, activities and food make the Glendi a weekend carnival for all Victorians, attracting over 150,000 people in 2014.
Known as the biggest event of its kind outside of Greece, the Lonsdale Street Glendi showcases the enormous success of Victoria’s multiculturalism.
Mr Andrews says Melbourne has the largest Greek population of any city outside of Greece in the world and the Lonsdale Street Glendi gives all Victorians a great opportunity to appreciate Hellenic culture.
Labor MP Jenny Mikakos added that the Greek Community of Melbourne’s Lonsdale Street Glendi showcases the strength of Victoria’s Greek Australian community.
She said that Labor also recognises this community is changing and that newly arrived migrants from Greece need support to settle here.
Ms Mikakos stressed that Labor made a $360,000 commitment earlier this year to the Australian Greek Welfare Society for social workers to assist newly arrived migrants from Greece.
She said the social workers will be based at Australian Greek Welfare Society offices in Brunswick and out-posted to the Greek Community of Melbourne offices in Lonsdale Street.
She added that Labor promised a $60,000 grant to the Oakleigh Greek Glendi on 2 November. That brings Labor’s election commitments to the Greek community to $820,000 so far.