On Saturday, September 30, at the Marrickville Pavilion, a forum on the historic referendum of October 14 is spearheaded by Theodora Gianniotis Minas, a Marrickville local and a solicitor with expertise in Cultural Heritage.
Knowing as much as possible about the significance of Constitutional recognition for Australia’s First Nations people is essential when deciding how to vote.
Minas, the Development Officer of the Australian Archaeological Institute of Athens, has a notable track record in advocating for historical preservation and giving a voice to marginalised communities, notably through her work on the Marbles campaign.
Joining Minas is Esta Paschalidis-Chilas, the CEO of Canterbury Community Centre and the President of the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia. Paschalidis-Chilas, known for her dedication to Greek causes, will lend her insights to the conversation.
The panel will also include the Honourable Mark Buttigieg, a Member of the NSW Legislative Council and a supporter of Greek culture.
“We have a historic opportunity to finally unite with our First Nations people with love and respect or remain divided and incomplete as a nation. It has to be YES!” Buttigieg said.
Adding to the discussion is Associate Dean Nareen Young, a prominent figure in workplace diversity and Indigenous policy. Young oversees Indigenous Policy at the UTS Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research and leads the Indigenous People and Work Research and Practice Hub.
The panel will hear the perspectives of Cypriot-Australian filmmaker Kay Pavlou, whose award-winning work covers countries worldwide, including Cyprus and Australia.
Efthymios Kallos, MC and SBS Greek Radio producer, will guide the event. Kallos has been a bridge for the Greek community to access the Greek language and discuss relevant issues for nearly 30 years.
For those interested in how Greek diaspora communities in other countries have benefited from similar initiatives, writer and documentary maker Billy Cotsis will share his extensive experiences, having travelled to nearly 70 countries and connected with Greek communities worldwide.
Marrickville is known as one of the homes of the Greek diaspora in Australia and has a history of supporting the Greek community through various means, including a significant Greek book collection, the designation of a “Greek Precinct” in the CBD, Greek murals, tile murals, decorations, and support for Greek events and organisations.
When & Where: Saturday, 30 September, 2 pm, Marrickville Pavilion, next to Marrickville Library.
