The Consulate General of Greece in Sydney and the Cretan Association of Sydney & NSW co-hosted a moving ceremony on Friday, May 16, to commemorate the 84th anniversary of the Battle of Crete at the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park.
The event was held in the presence of Vice Admiral Theodoros Mikropoulos HN, Deputy Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, who is currently leading a Greek defence delegation visiting Sydney.
In a keynote address, Vice Admiral Mikropoulos reflected on the enduring bonds forged during the Battle of Crete between Australian and Greek soldiers and civilians — bonds, he said, “based on sacrifice, compassion and shared values,” which continue to unite Greece and Australia to this day.
Professor Peter Monteath of Flinders University delivered the keynote presentation, offering a powerful historical overview of the ANZACs’ involvement in the Battle of Crete and the deep friendship that developed between them and the Cretan people amid extreme adversity and mutual acts of heroism.
The ceremony also paid special tribute to descendants of ANZACs who fought in Crete and in the Greek Campaign, many of whom were present in the audience.
In his remarks, Consul General of Greece in Sydney Ioannis Mallikourtis expressed heartfelt thanks to the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW for co-hosting the event and for their continued commitment to preserving and promoting the Greek-Australian connection.
Chairman of the Joint Committee for the Commemoration of the Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign, James Jordan concluded the evening with a formal vote of thanks.
The ceremony also included a formal gift presentation to Professor Monteath by the Vice Admiral, the Consulate General, and the Cretan Association. As a token of appreciation for their support and presence, commemorative gifts were also given to Rear Admiral Chris Smith AM, CSM, representing the Commander of the Australian Fleet; Commodore Anita Williams, Director General Surface Combatants & Aviation Branch, Royal Australian Navy; and Commodore John Stavridis, Commodore Training, Royal Australian Navy.
Other distinguished VIPs in attendance at the event included Commander Dimitrios Lekkakos, Greek Navy; Colonel Kyriakos Kyriakakos, Defence Attaché of the Greek Embassy in Canberra; Emmanuel Vitetzakis, President of the Cretan Association of Sydney & NSW; and Emmanuel Mountakis, President of the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand.
The event served as a dignified and deeply symbolic tribute to a pivotal chapter in shared Greek-Australian military history — and a reminder of the ongoing friendship between the two nations.
