This year’s Greek-Australian Writers’ Festival is set to feature a new development as it acts as the official launch of a special publication by the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW and Dr Helen Vatsikopoulos depicting Greek Australian stories: ‘Hellenic Dreaming’.
The new book is an anthology piece that blends the contributions of 37 prominent Greek Australians (ranging from roughly 20-80 years old) as they each share their own tales to explore the complexities of our unique identity.
It is the product of a strong collaboration between the GOC of NSW and Dr Vatsikopoulos (the editor of this book), representing of three years of work, research, collaboration and coordination with authors, journalists, academics, poets, artists, and other highly regarded professionals of Hellenic and Cypriot descent.
Dr Vatsikopoulos, who is also the Director of the Writers’ Festival in which this book will be launched, stated the idea for the publication was first proposed in 2021 while reflecting on the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence Day.
“It was a good time to reflect on our identity. I thought first to third generations had something to say and I wanted to see what would emerge,” Dr Vatsikopoulos told Neos Kosmos.
She expressed that she was inspired to begin work on this after finding similar literature on other identities of Australia.
“There is a series already published by Black Inc books called Growing up – Asian, Indian, African, Aboriginal, Disabled, Queer, in Country but nothing about the Greeks,” the Professional Fellow at UTS said.
“So, as a journalist and academic, I thought we could do our own.”
Dr Vatsikopoulos explained that they then put the word out to find contributors, deciding to expand into visual storytelling, meaning photography and art.
“This volume seeks the joy to be found in stories of Greek culture and what sustains us; whether it be community, food, gardening, education, housing or song,” the journalist said.
“This is not a trauma anthology, thought it does access trauma. You will find intergenerational trauma surfacing whether it be from the children of migrants or through examination of historical events.”
She highlighted that this book does not censor any political taboos nor is it an academic publication (though it does feature contributions from academics).
“We wanted to make it accessible to everyone. Our identity is complex and here we explore the hybridity that makes us unique,” Dr Vatsikopoulos said.
The book will also be the subject of a 2pm session for this year’s Greek Australian Writers’ Festival on Sunday 19 May at the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building of UTS, with the publication itself to be available for purchase throughout the event.
