Melbourne’s Panarcadian association ‘O Kolokotronis’ recently held their annual dance, where they celebrated the liberation of Tripoli.
Master of ceremonies Emilia Kazakou welcomed the guests, most of them being second and third generation Greek Australians, and the board of directors, including President George Kotsirilos.
Young people seems to be a new focus for the association, with its members all second generation individuals.
Kazakou made reference to the efforts of the board of directors in opening the doors to future generations of Arcadians and asked all to welcome and support the new era of the Panarcadian association.
With classical folk sounds echoing in the background, she looked back on the celebrated history of the liberation of Tripolis that had marked the ‘resurrection of the nation’.
President Kotsirilos formally introduced the new members of the board and called on the Arcadians to join in a “common path towards tomorrow.”
“I understand the difficulties, I am aware of the misgivings, but it is our supreme duty united to continue with pride and consistency, all that the previous leaders, the previous councils, bequeathed to us. Each council simply adds to a historical puzzle that has no end,” he said.
Also, in attendance was the President of the Australian Federation of Arcadian Associations Dimitrios Alexopoulos OAM, who delivered a speech about the ancestors, the Arcadians of Kolokotronis and the diaspora of Arcadians.
“Today we honour all those who had been sacrificed, we call their memory and their loss, we honour the fathers who founded the Arcadian associations, all those who worked with time and sacrifices, and we call on the future generations of Arcadians, united, to honour the contract of assuming their own responsibility for a difficult future that is dawning,” Alexopoulos said.
Traditional dances were performed by the dance group of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne, who went around the tables inviting all to the dance floor, while an orchestra of traditional instruments played, conducted by Andreas Koikas.
The association is pleased that multiple generations took part in and enjoyed the night, with Vice President Betty Dimitropoulos telling Neos Kosmos the first generation as particularly impressed with this year, more than ever.
“It was a great success and we were very happy that so many people of all generations were there. Our first generation really enjoyed it and thought it was one of the best dances that we’ve had and our second generation was there in some numbers and we had a lot of the young people there which was really promising.”
