The book presentation of ‘Cretan Pioneers of Australia from 1829’ by Socrates Tsourdalakis took place in an emotional atmosphere last week. The event, organised by the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand, was attended by the Archbishop of Australia Makarios, who officially presented the special book to the Cretan community of Oceania.
The event included a welcome speech by Derek Sherwood, the Deputy Director of St John’s College, and national anthems sung by the students of the college.
A recorded message from the Secretary-General of Hellenes Abroad and Public Diplomacy, Ioannis Chrysoulakis, welcomed the attendees and congratulated the author for creating a historical document that highlights the deep Greek roots of the Cretan community.
The President of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand, Tony Tsourdalakis, expressed gratitude to the descendants and families of the first Cretan immigrants, emphasising the importance of preserving their heritage. He praised the author for his dedication in writing this significant book, which is a testament to the Cretan community in Oceania.
Presenting the book, Archbishop Makarios who spoke warmly about the notable work of the author, Mr Tsourdalakis, emphasising that the book is an unwavering effort to preserve the candle of historical memory and capture an important part of the historical past of the Greek diaspora, particularly the establishment of the first Cretans in the vast and boundless Australian continent almost two centuries ago. He also highlighted how the struggles, achievements, and progress of the Cretan pioneers carried values and ideals of the nation to these distant lands, preserving language and faith, and establishing Greek Orthodox communities and churches with numerous priests and bishops of Cretan origin who have served and continue to serve in Australia. The Archbishop concluded by expressing warm wishes and congratulations from the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the author, Socrates Tsourdalakis, for his contribution to the diaspora.
Additionally, the official speaker was Dr Anastasios Tamis, a university professor of Greek and the history of the Greek diaspora. He commended the author for his qualitative character and outstanding career, stating that through his life, he demonstrated to his children and the thousands of students who were fortunate to have him as a Greek teacher the path of contribution, participation, and involvement in the community. Dr Tamis emphasised that Socrates, through his work, leaves a legacy of Cretan patriotism to future generations, reminding us to remember this contribution as written works endure and provide an everlasting memory for all those who truly sacrificed for their children’s better future in this country.
The presentation of the book was emotionally enhanced by the presence of Cretan descendants who shared the history of their ancestors with the audience, adding a unique and distinctive tone to the book’s presentation. Christos Notsis personally spoke about his late grandfather, Theodoros Manousakis, while Ioanna Argyri from Brisbane sent a recorded message along with her ninety-six-year-old mother about her late grandfather, Konstantinos Chatzantonakis.
Lastly, the author himself, Mr Tsourdalakis, spoke, expressing his deep commitment and great enthusiasm for the challenging work he began in 2017 and completed in 2022. He mentioned the people who helped him trace all the Cretan pioneers, despite more than 190 years having passed, and most of them having completely changed their surnames.
In summary, the book provides a historical journey into the past, specifically 200 years ago when the first Cretans arrived in the previously unknown Australia, bringing to light the history of the Cretan homeland on the fifth continent. The first chapter focuses on the lives of the first Cretans who settled in Australia from the early 18th century. The following chapter discusses their descendants, who served in the Australian army in all the wars in which Australia participated, starting from World War I until the present day.
