Melbourne’s third halloumi festival had a great turnout over the weekend. But this year’s event was fraught with solemn undertones in the aftermath of Greece’s fatal rail crash.
At the festival launch on Saturday, organisers and attendees held one minute silence to remember the victims of the incident that cost the lives to dozens of young Greeks this week.
President of the Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria, Theo Theophanous, like all speakers at the event, started his speech by acknowledging the tragic events in Greece and expressing solidarity to the suffering of those who lost loved ones.
Among the points raised by Mr Theophanous, was the imminent building of the Community’s Cultural Centre, and a collaboration underway with Darebin United Apollo Soccer Club.
Attendees were treated to live entertainment by Aetos band, traditional dance performances, reenactments, kids activities and needless to say plenty of halloumi.
From cooking demonstrations, to tastings and a range of stall offerings, halloumi was the king of the show; and difficult to resist savouring for Cypriots and non-Greek alike.
Federal Labor MP Peter Khalil did not hide being a fan of the ‘white gold from Cyprus’, when in addressing the crowd he revealed what he planned to say to Anthony Albanese on Monday:
“Albo, I brought you some halloumi!”
Deputy Head of Mission at the Cyprus High Commission, Stavros Nikolaou, Greek Consulate representative Dimitris Tsilikis, Bishop Evmenios and President of the Greek Community of Melbourne Bill Papastergiadis were also among the speakers.
Mr Papastergiadis’ speech attracted a warm applause at the time of a pledge to bring Mihali Hatzigiannis to Australia.
Mr Papastergiadis said the Greek and Cypriot communities of Melbourne will join powers to secure a performance by acclaimed Cypriot singer, who was just recently appointed to the position of Deputy Minister of Culture in Cyprus.
