Brisbane historical society hosts a week-long commemoration of the Great Catastrophe

The Asia Minor Greek Historical Society of Brisbane will be holding a series of events over a week that commemorate the centenary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe and will include cultural events, commemorative lectures and a memorial service.

During the week, 12 to 18 September the Asia Minor Cultural Exhibition will take place daily at the Kafenion Brisbane in the city’s West End. The exhibition will showcase the history of the indigenous Hellenes of Asia Minor from antiquity to the forced expulsion and exchange of populations in 1923.

Classical Greece, the Byzantine Empire and its fall, the Greek communities of Smyrna, Constantinople and other regions will be highlighted, as will the destruction of these areas, followed by the resilience of the people forced to move to safer countries to rebuild their lives.

On Tuesday, 13 September, the Greek Club in South Brisbane will be the venue of the Centenary Commemorative Lecture. Doors open at 7pm. Professor Con Aroney AM will speak on the theme of Asia Minor Catastrophe – The Crime and the Courage. Despina Drakos talk is entitled: Australia’ Asia Minor Cultural Heritage. Hellenic Dancers will be the special guests to the event.

The Queensland premiere of the Greek film Smyrna My Beloved will be held at Five Star Cinema on Brunswick Street, New Farm. Doors open at 6.30pm and the film will be shown at 7pm, on Wednesday, 14 September. Tickets are $24 per person and include light refreshments at the end of the screening. Book at www.fivestarcinemas.com.au/newfarm/movie/smyrna-my-beloved

The next event takes place on Friday, 16 September with the delivery of the Annual Kalomana Lecture at the Welfare Room of the GOC Admin Building in South Brisbane. Doors open at 7pm and half an hour later, Dr Amelia Brown will deliver the lecture on the theme: Ancient Monuments and Contemporary Sorrow: Seferis’ Poetry and the Hellenic Legacy of Asia Minor.

On Sunday, 18 September, there will be a memorial service at the Greek Orthodox Church of St George at Edmondstone Street in South Brisbane. The service which will be begin at 9am, with the Divine Liturgy, the Trisagion and the placement of wreaths.

After the service, refreshments will be provided at the Greek Club with the Hellenic Dancers as special guests.

For more information about the events contact the president of the Asia Minor Greek Historical Society Brisbane on 0439 076 672.