The events for the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Crete, organised by the Coordinating Council for the Memory of the Battle of Crete and the Rest of Greece, were successfully completed. As in previous years Melbourne honoured the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Crete with a series of events, paying tribute to the Greek, Australian, and New Zealand soldiers, as well as to the ordinary people of Crete, who opposed the Nazi German attack with courage and bravery.
The anniversary events were organised in collaboration with the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne and the Pancretan Association of Melbourne under the auspices of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand.
The Armed Forces of Greece were represented by a high-level delegation, which arrived in Australia solely to participate in the events marking the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Crete.
The delegation was headed by Rear Admiral Christos Sasiakos, Deputy Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, accompanied by Captain Pavlos Aggelopoulos, Chief of the Directorate of International Relations of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, and Commodore Stylianos Mitsiotis, Chief of the Directorate of Public Relations of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff. The delegation was also accompanied by Colonel Ioannis Fasianos, Military Attaché of Greece in Canberra.
On Thursday, 23 May, upon arrival, an official visit was made to the state parliament at the invitation of the Parliamentary Friendship Committee of Greece – Victoria, specifically by co-chairs MPs Maria Vamvakinou and Mathew Guy. The Leader of the Opposition, John Pessuto, also attended the visit. After being guided through the impressive parliament building, the delegation visited the olive tree along with the honourary plaque dedicated to the Australian soldiers who sacrificed their lives in Greece during the First and Second World Wars.
The unveiling of the plaque took place in 2017 and has since adorned the parliament’s garden.
On Friday 24 May, the official opening of the commemorative events for the Battle of Crete took place. The event was held at the Cretan House in the suburb of Brunswick and was attended by Father Philippos Papagiannopoulos representing the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne Emmanouel Kakavelakis, Squadron Leader Adam Breetvelt from the New Zealand Armed Forces representing the High Commissioner of New Zealand, MP Katerina Theophanous representing the State Government, the leader of the State Opposition John Pesutto, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Member for Northern Metropolitan Evan Mulholland, former Minister for Multicultural Affairs Yiannis Pantazopoulos, President of the Union of Communities and Parishes of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia Tony Tsourdalakis, President of the World Council of Cretans Nikos Markogiannakis, and President of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand Manolis Montakis.
Also present at the event were officials from the Australian Armed Forces, descendants of veterans who fought in Crete, representatives from veteran and many community organisations. Fr Philippos opened the speeches and conveyed the message of Archbishop Makarios of Australia for the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Crete. This was followed by a warm welcome from the President of the Cretan Brotherhood, Miltiadis Stamatakos.
Then Kakavelakis took to the podium, as well as General Sasiakos, who emphasised, among other things, that the Armed Forces are the “Vigilant Guardian” of our homeland.
Squadron Leader David Collins, Theophanous, Pesutto, Markogiannakis also addressed the crowd followed by the President of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand Manolis Montakis, and finally the President of the Coordinating Council for the Memory of the Battle of Crete and the Rest of Greece, Natasha Spanou.
At the same event, the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand honoured the author of the book “Cretans Pioneers of Australia and New Zealand” Socrates Tsourdalakis who recorded the history of the pioneering Greek immigrants for his contribution. However, the spotlight was stolen by the little Cretan children who danced traditional Cretan dances full of enthusiasm.
Last Saturday, the official Memorial Service for the Battle of Crete was held at the Shrine of Remembrance by Father Nikolaos Georgiou, followed by the laying of wreaths in the presence of both the Greek and Australian Armed Forces.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan was represented by MP Nikos Staikos. Official speakers at the event were Rear Admiral Sasiakos, Deputy Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, and Lieutenant Colonel Lucas Guglielmi from the Infantry Corps in Australia. Greek community organisations and associations, veteran organisations, as well as schools, participated in the wreath-laying ceremony, paying tribute to the Australian, New Zealand, and Greek soldiers who fought an unequal battle to defend Crete, sacrificing their lives.
A modest ceremony took place at the Austro-Hellenic Memorial in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne, dedicated to the Second World War and the Battle of Crete.
Kakavelakis, delivered a commemorative message on the struggle that contributed to the creation of strong relations between Greece and Australia, our obligation to honuor the fallen of Crete even after 83 years.
That same afternoon, the Board of Directors of the Panhellenic Union of Retired Reservists in Australia met with the delegation of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff over a traditional Cretan feast at the Cretan Village. The President of the Pancretan Association of Melbourne, Argyro Michelaki, welcomed the attendees with Reverent Fathers Georgios Adamakis and Kyprianos Nerouppos. The entertainment for the evening was provided by artists who traveled from Greece, Yiannis Giannakakis and Stelios Papadakis. Two Cretan associations had prepared an excellent program, earning well-deserved applause.
Last Sunday the official Memorial Service for the 83rd anniversary of the Battle of Crete was held at the Holy Transfiguration of the Savior Church in the suburb of Thomastown, presided over by Bishop Evmenios. On the same day, the unveiling of the Greek-Australian Memorial of the Northern Suburbs took place, dedicated to the ANZACS, which will adorn the courtyard of the Parish. The unveiling of the monument was performed by Evmenios together with Rear Admiral Sasiakos.
A Memorial Service followed, officiated by the Vicar of the Parish, Father Ioannis Fragkos, followed immediately by the laying of wreaths. The students of the St Johns College and Oakleigh Grammar, as well as the Aetolian College sang the National Anthems of Greece and Australia.
The President of the Coordinating Council for the Memory of the Battle of Crete and the Rest of Greece, Natasa Spanou concluded the annual celebrations by extending her gratitude to “all the organisations and entities that participated in the events, paying tribute to those who sacrificed their lives, as well as to the students of the schools and youth councils, the future of the Greek community, who brightened the events with their presence”.
