The Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney hosted a deeply moving and meticulously researched presentation titled Greek Heroines of WWII, marking the 28th of October, OXI Day, and the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
Convened by Tina Contos and Eleni Kandylas-Mallios, the program captivated the audience with its insightful exploration of the courage and sacrifice of Greek women who defied occupation and tyranny during the war.
Adding to the occasion were speeches by Hellenic Lyceum President Liana Vertzayias, Greek Consul General in Sydney George Skemperis, and historian Costa Vertzayias AM, each offering reflections on the enduring legacy of women in wartime Greece.
The event also featured a stirring performance of the Horo tou Zalongou by the Senior Hellenic Lyceum Dancers, led by Dance Ephor Irene Tsenkas, evoking the bravery of the Souliot women who chose death over enslavement.
As is tradition, the afternoon concluded with a sumptuous afternoon tea prepared by the Lyceum’s committee ladies, who filled the hall with warmth and hospitality. Among the guests were Father Miltiades Chryssavgis and members of Sydney’s Greek community.
Honouring unsung heroines
In their presentations, Ms Contos and Ms Kandylas-Mallios introduced remarkable women whose heroism has too often been overlooked. Some heroines mentioned were:
- Lela Karayannis, a mother of seven, sheltered ANZACs and Jews while aiding British intelligence before being executed for her defiance.
- Sara Fortis (Sarika Yeshua), a Jewish teenager from Evia, formed and led her own unit of female partisans, known as the Andartisses.
- Ioulia Bimba built bombs in her kitchen and destroyed the Gestapo Headquarters in Athens before being captured and executed by guillotine in Vienna.
- Iro Konstantopoulou, only 17, was executed by firing squad after refusing to betray her comrades.
- Sofia Vembo, the “songstress of victory,” inspired soldiers through her patriotic songs and donated her fortune to the Hellenic Navy.
- Olga Stambolis (née Simos) – a Greek-Australian heroine from Ultimo – left her family to serve as a spy in Athens for the British and Greek resistance, surviving imprisonment and torture before returning to Australia.
The presentation also included excerpts of poetry by Yannis Ritsos, music by Mikis Theodorakis, and archival footage including Nana Mouskouri singing Song of Liberty at the official 80th anniversary of WWII’s end.
Reflection and remembrance
In closing, Consul General Mr Skemperis praised the presenters for bringing to light the stories of ordinary women who achieved extraordinary feats.
He reflected on the emotional toll of war on women – as mothers, daughters, and survivors – and the strength they carried in rebuilding Greece from the ashes of conflict.
The afternoon was not only a tribute to heroism but a profound reminder of women’s pivotal role in shaping both Greece’s wartime resistance and its post-war rebirth.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
