The Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra (GOCCC) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Hellenic Club on Sunday, November 24, bringing together members to reflect on the past year and outline priorities for the future.
The meeting celebrated significant achievements, endorsed leadership, and emphasised the importance of unity and collaboration. Updates were provided on the activities of the Community’s Greek School, the church hall development, and the St Nicholas Aged Care centre. The audited financial statements for the last financial year were also approved by members.
Specifically, key updates shared during the meeting included:
- Constitution review: The committee is reviewing the GOCCC constitution to ensure compliance with current regulations and alignment with the community’s evolving vision for the future.
- Community hall redesign: Progress continues on redesigning the community hall, with plans to create a venue that accommodates current and future needs, ensuring it remains a cornerstone of community life.
- Greek School recognition: The Greek School of Canberra was acknowledged by ACT Community Languages for Greek being the fastest-growing language in the ACT, a testament to the school’s success and cultural significance.
Leadership and Committee
Near the end of the AGM, former President of the GOCCC, John Loukadellis was endorsed as President for the next 12 months, ahead of next year’s election. He is taking over from Pana Tsironis.
In a statement to The Greek Herald, Mr Loukadellis expressed his gratitude to members.
“I am extremely proud to have been endorsed by the members as President again. I am humbled and honoured in the trust and confidence they have showed in me, and I am committed to elevating the status of the Greeks of Canberra and St Nicholas Church in our community,” Mr Loukadellis said.
“I will work closely with the Hellenic Club to ensure a strong Greek language program and with our members and friends for a community hall we can all be proud of. It is great to be back.”
The GOCCC committee was also announced as follows:
- President: John Loukadellis
- Treasurer: Yvonne Varela
- Vice President: Harry Kay
- Secretary: Theo Merkoureas
- Committee Members: Leon Merkoureas, Pana Tsironis, Dimitrios Saragas, George Pertsinidis
- New Member: Petros Satsias, 18 years old, tasked with leading GOCCC Youth and Social Media initiatives
The committee thanked the community for its unwavering support and emphasised the importance of unity.
