More than 300 Cretan diaspora visitors, representing associations from around Australia and New Zealand, have arrived in Melbourne for the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand 37th National Convention of the Oceania Region.
Hosted by the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne and Victoria, in conjunction with the Pancretan Association of Melbourne, the six-day event features meetings, talks, tours, participation to the Epiphany celebration – and a series of joyous parties.
The annual convention is an opportunity for members of the Cretan community to meet, discuss and collaborate on a range of important issues, but also to form new friendships and renew old ones.
Hosted in rotating venues in Australia and New Zealand, it offers participants the opportunity to see many cities and landscapes around the two countries. With its vast Cretan population, Melbourne is one of the most popular destinations, and this year’s event has attracted visitors not only from Australia and New Zealand, but from other countries; not least among them is the current president of the World Council of Cretans, Mr Emmanuel Velivasakis, from New York.
A celebration of Cretan culture would not be complete without food, dance and music; a ‘Cretan Glendi’ is taking place tonight at the Cretan Village (90 Cathies lane, Wantirna South), with a performance by Giorgos & Nikos Stratakis, featuring Dimitris Zografakis.
Anyone interested in participating to this or other events of the annual meeting (which will conclude on Tuesday 12 January) can refer to the president of the Cretan Bortherhood of Melbourne and Victoria, Jim Papadimitriou on 0411 224 532 and the president of the Pancretan Association, John Nikolakakis, on 0413 440 033.