Melbourne becomes the focal point of the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Crete commemorations this week in a series of events organised by the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand, attended by high-ranking delegation from the Hellenic Armed Forces.
Leading the delegation is Vice Admiral Christos Sasiakos (Deputy Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff), accompanied by Captain Pavlos Angelopoulos (Staff Officer of the Bilateral Relations Directorate of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff), Captain Pavlos Angelopoulos (Staff Officer of the International Relations Directorate of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff), and Lieutenant Commander Stylianos Mitsiotis (Staff Officer of the Public Relations Directorate of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff).
Greek Defense Attaché in Canberra, Colonel Ioannis Fasianos will also be present.
The events taking place in Melbourne are as follows:
- Friday, 24 May
The Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne and the Pancretan Association of Melbourne are co-hosting a memorial cocktail party at the Cretan House (148 – 150 Nicholson Street, Brunswick East) at 7pm.
- Saturday, 25 May
The Battle of Crete and Greece Memorial Committee is organising a wreath-laying ceremony at 11.30am at the Shrine of Remembrance and at the Hellenic-Australian Memorial at 12. 30pm.
In the evening, the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne and the Pancretan Association of Melbourne are co-hosting an official memorial dinner at the Cretan Village (90 Cathies Lane, Wantirna South) at 7pm.
- Sunday, 26 May
The Battle of Crete and Greece Memorial Committee, in collaboration with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia – Melbourne Region, is organising a Divine Liturgy – Doxology at the Holy Transfiguration Church (45 Poplar Street, Thomastown) at 9am.
At 11.30am, the Battle of Crete and Greece Memorial Committee, in collaboration with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, will jointly inaugurate the Hellenic ANZAC Memorial of the Northern Suburbs in the churchyard.
