Greek Australian students are busy setting up stalls, spruking their wares during O-Week across Australia as part of a drive to build membership for National Union of Greek-Australian Students (NUGAS).

The organisation was established in the 1950s to promote the Greek culture within Australia.

The first Greek student organisations were a response to an increase in the number of Greek-Australian students at tertiary level.

“Recently NUGAS has experienced a revival that has put the organisation in a position on par with the golden years,” said one of the Victorian representatives, Sophia Floudiotis, speaking to Neos Kosmos.

Last year was a “brilliant year for NUGAS Victoria,” said Ms Floudiotis.

“This year will be no different as NUGAS Victoria seeks to build upon this and further expand membership and its contribution to the Greek Community,” she added.

“University orientation approaching, we in NUGAS and its affiliated clubs have been working to increase the presence of the Greek Australian culture and social scene” Ms Floudiotis said.

A range of activities have been planned and each affiliated club will be “offering an opportunity to experience a taste of Greek Australian culture as part of university life,” the NUGAS representative said.

Affiliated clubs from Deakin, La Trobe, Melbourne, Monash, RMIT and Swinburne universities will be setting up stalls in their respective Orientation Week festivals and offering new and returning members an introduction into the Greek Australian social scene.

Greek music will be the anthem as the clubs offer, “a taste of Greek culture ranging from ouzo shots to traditional Greek sweets like baclava,” said Phillip Vassiliadis another NUGAS student representative.

For those universities offering Modern Greek language programs, Orientation Week will “also be an opportunity to find information on how this may be incorporated into a student’s studies,” said Mr Vassiliadis.

Many of the clubs will also be holding their Annual General Meetings shortly after Orientation Week giving new members the opportunity to get involved with their respective university Greek club committee.

“We are excited to announce the annual Boat Cruise that will be held on March 17,” said Ms Floudiotis.

“This event has always been a great opportunity for new members to be introduced to the Greek scene and meet Greek Australian students from other universities,” she added.

Tickets will be made available through the respective university clubs during Orientation Week. Numbers are limited, NUGAS encourages students to organise tickets as soon as possible.