On Lonsdale Street, beneath a sea of blue-and-white flags, souvlaki smoke and bouzouki rhythms, politics took centre stage at the Antipodes Festival.
By lunchtime on Saturday, Senator Jane Hume was already on stage, sharing stories of her travels to Greece and her connection to Melbourne’s Greek community. She recounted conversations with her partner Nick, bringing a light-hearted personal touch to the proceedings.
Later that afternoon, state ministers arrived, marking a first for the festival: Labor ministers attended on Saturday, Liberals on Sunday. The Labor team, true to festival form, wandered the stalls, chatted with stallholders, and sampled the food. Premier Jacinta Allan, who came down from Bendigo with her son, paused at Oasis for a Greek coffee; the Premier choosing the traditional brew, her son opting for decaf.
“I’ve never visited Greece,” Allan told The Greek Herald, “but it’s firmly on my bucket list. For now, Antipodes is the closest I get, a living slice of Hellenism in the heart of Melbourne.”
A bold cultural statement
At the festival launch, Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) President Bill Papastergiadis acknowledged the crucial role of government and community support.
“Without the state government, we cannot do this festival,” he said. “It takes policy, partnership, and passion to make it happen.”
He told The Greek Herald, “Our festival brings out the best in Melbourne. Culture and hospitality are our main attractions, with families enjoying an experience that is largely not replicated in the global Hellenic diaspora. We are grateful for government and community support and appreciate the tireless efforts of our volunteers. Unforgettable memories are made and our festival facilitates this. Our festival represents the best of our vibrant multicultural framework.”
Papastergiadis also paid tribute to a long-time benefactor who appeared on stage and was honoured for his contribution: “We appreciate the generous contribution of Andreas Andrianopoulos over many years and we thank him. Honouring Andreas Andrianopoulos, benefactor, with the Premier of Victoria and our Board of Management at the Antipodes Festival, his contribution to our community has been significant and inspiring.”
Allan took the podium to applause, celebrating generations of Greek contribution to Victoria.
“Melbourne is Greece’s third-largest city after Athens and Thessaloniki,” she said. Drawing particular cheers, she added: “The Parthenon Marbles belong to Greece. They were taken. They are not souvenirs. They are part of Greece’s living story, and it’s time they are returned.”
Speaking Greek to the heart
Following Allan, Greek Consul-General Dimitra Georgantzoglou delivered a speech largely in Greek, emphasising the importance of language and heritage. This year’s festival coincided with UNESCO’s World Greek Language Day, and she highlighted the role of the diaspora in keeping culture alive abroad.
“The Greek community in Melbourne is a vital part of the broader Hellenic world,” she said.
“Our culture is carried with pride. This festival strengthens ties with Greece, culturally and through tourism and initiatives.”
It was her second festival as Consul-General, and her ease on stage drew warm applause and cries of “Zito!” from the crowd.
Archimandrite Kyriakos reflected on faith as the anchor of Hellenism overseas. “Culture without faith loses depth. Identity without virtue is hollow,” he said, framing the Church as the guardian of language, identity, and community.
Tourism and Major Events Minister Steve Dimopoulos opened briefly in Greek, invoking philoxenia, hospitality, as the essence of the festival. MPs including Ingrid Stitt, Kat Theophanous, Lee Tarlamis, and Nina Taylor joined the stage, sharing a moment of bipartisan presence under Melbourne’s Greek flags.
Bank of Sydney backs community at Antipodes
Earlier in the day, Nikolas Hatzistergos, Chairman of Bank of Sydney, was welcomed on stage by Papastergiadis. They were joined by Publisher of The Greek Herald, Dimitra Skalkos, who spoke warmly about the newspaper’s centenary celebrations this year.
As a Major Sponsor of the Antipodes Festival, Bank of Sydney used the moment to reaffirm its long-standing connection to the community. Mr Hatzistergos said the bank’s presence at Antipodes was about “showing up, staying connected, and supporting the community we are a part of and serve.”
“Many of our customers, staff and partners are part of the Greek Australian and broader multicultural community,” he said.
“Sponsoring the festival is our way of giving back, supporting community organisations and local businesses, and celebrating the contribution these communities make to Australia.”
Senator Hume added a lighter touch
Senator Hume appeared on stage earlier at lunchtime, recalling her first trip to Greece at 21 on a Contiki tour. “Not sure it was full cultural immersion,” she laughed, “but the second trip with my Greek partner Nick? That was real Greece.”
Her highlights included Athens, Duran Duran in 40-degree heat, and island hopping across Milos, Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos, and Paros. “I’d go back every year,” she said. “Nick wants me to go back every year!”
On policy, Humes was equally direct about the importance of the Greek community: “It’s such an important community. Until I was immersed in a Greek family, I didn’t fully understand the depth of the culture, or that you could put octopus on just about anything!”
Democracy in the streets
In a city where politics often feels combative, Antipodes offered a rare tableau: leaders from across the spectrum showing up, sharing coffee, speaking Greek, and backing the festival with both words and presence.
On Lonsdale Street, democracy felt less like debate and more like dialogue, perfectly in keeping with a festival rooted in the culture that gave the world the word.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Mary Sinanidis.
