The Greek-Australian Society (GAS) celebrated a milestone achievement as it welcomed its 500th member during a sold-out networking event at the Balmain Hotel in Sydney last Friday.
The festive gathering brought together GAS members, friends, and supporters from across Australia and abroad to mark the end of an extraordinary year. The event highlighted a year of growth and success for GAS, which saw the expansion of its Mentoring Program to its largest iteration yet, the establishment of the Pharos Alliance in NSW, and the election of its first President based in Queensland.
Addressing attendees, GAS co-founder and Secretary, George Mpliokas, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support the organization has received. He emphasized the unique vision that GAS brings to the Greek-Australian community.
“Within four years, we’ve proven that GAS can offer a new way forward for the future of our Greek-Australian community, and that it doesn’t take millions of dollars to achieve,” Mpliokas said.
“The key ingredients have been filoxenia and filotimo—welcoming every new member with a smile and committing to building a new Greek-Australian community together.”
The Consul-General of Greece in Sydney, Yannis Mallikourtis, congratulated GAS on its remarkable journey and underscored the importance of young Greek-Australians embracing their cultural heritage.
“GAS is setting a new paradigm for Greek-Australians to connect with their identity and with each other,” Mallikourtis said.
A highlight of the evening was the recognition of Johanna Volos as GAS’s 500th member.
Volos shared her excitement: “Becoming GAS Member 500 was unexpected, but I’m really glad I made the decision to join. It’s been a great event, and I will definitely be back.”
The event concluded the 2024 calendar year for GAS, paving the way for more initiatives in 2025. GAS’s Annual General Meeting is scheduled for January, with memberships and renewals now open at www.gas.org.au.
This milestone seems to reinforce GAS’s commitment to fostering connections and inspiring the next generation of Greek-Australians.
