The Australian Hellenic Memorial in Melbourne’s Domain Gardens has been built with the support of the Australian, Hellenic and Victorian governments to symbolise the respect and love towards the 841 Anzac children who remain forever under Greek soil.

They shall grow not old
as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn;
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.

“It stands beside the Shrine of Remembrance for the mutual faith and dedication of Greeks and Australians to the ideals of democracy and freedom, as well as the bonds of blood and friendship developed on the battle fields,” Steve Kyritsis OAM, president of the Australian Hellenic Memorial Committee in Melbourne tells Neos Kosmos.

“The artefact aims to teach future generations the importance of cooperation and mutual respect of the two countries as it acknowledges the sacrifice of Greek servicemen that served and died, and those civilians who risked their lives helping Australian, British and New Zealand soldiers to safety at the time.
“Hence, the result of the Australian Hellenic Memorial Foundation committee’s hard work and dedication since 1992 stands beside the Shrine of Remembrance,” Mr Kyritsis emphasises.

The Memorial Committee is holding its seventh student competition, open to all 126 schools in Victoria where the Greek language is taught. The competition, which is supported by the Melbourne Greek Consul for Educational Affairs, is for all school age groups, and prizes range from $50 to $250 cash. All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation and a badge commemorating the bonds between Australia and Greece.

“Participants are to reflect on the history of the Greek campaign of World War II, on the ongoing efforts of Australian Hellenes to honour the two countries’ connections.
“Students can submit drawings or paintings, poems, essays or even interviews with veterans focusing on what went down in Crete, Macedonia and Lemnos,” Mr Kyritsis explains.

Submissions should be based on the following:
– What does the Australian Hellenic Memorial represent?
– Names of Australian heroes who were killed in Greece and/or the leaders of the Greek campaign
– The memories of eyewitnesses
– The role of Australian forces in Greece
– Significant battle sites in Greece
– The role of Lemnos in World War One

There are four categories, each having two alternative presentation methods per student entry according to year level.
– Years 1-3: students can submit a drawing or a painting
– Years 4-6: drawing or poem
– Years 7-9: essay or poem
– Years 10-12: essay or interview with a veteran

No group entries are permitted, while each student may submit only one entry in one of the above categories. A cover sheet must be attached to all entries providing the information requested. Entries without a cover sheet will not be assessed.

Assessment criteria:
– Student’s age
– Originality of work. Credit will be given to innovative work and means of expression. Any student entries showing evidence of plagiarism or that someone else other than the student created the work will be disqualified. Before disqualifying a particular student entry there will be an investigation of the possibility of the student having a highly-developed artistic talent
– The assessment panel is looking for initiative, accuracy, sources with references, relevance, and where possible involvement of the 39ers and other Greek campaign veterans
– If the student entry is an essay, poem or interview it will be assessed according to its content, comprehension of the topic, presentation and coherence of the work, as well as its articulation, expression, punctuation and structure. Where the entry incorporates writing it can be in either English or Greek
– All entries will be marked out of 100

The competition is now open and will close on Friday 19 August. Winners will be announced and awards will take place on Sunday 11 September 2016 at the Memorial.

For further information contact Mr Peter Andrinopoulos 0416 020 865 or Mr Manny Karvelas 0400 629 597.