The annual Cypriot Halloumi Festival drew hundreds of attendees to the Brunswick Cypriot Community venue this past weekend to celebrate iconic Cypriot food, music and dances.
Delivered by the Cypriot Community of Melbourne and Victoria (CCMV), the festival was a chance for community members, young and old, to strengthen their cultural ties and for those with no connection to Cypriot culture to partake in the traditions.
Children attending the event enjoyed a range of fun activities planned especially for them, CCMV’s own dance group was among the traditional performances at the festival, and attendees were treated to free halloumi tastings and halloumi-making demonstrations. Local and imported Cypriot products available at the festival showcased the intricacies of Greek-Cypriot culture.
Former Victorian Government Minister and current CCMV President Theo Theophanous, launched the event, saying, “The celebration is not only of halloumi, but of the enduring spirit, friendship and contribution of the Cypriot community to Victoria.”
Halloumi is internationally recognised as a Protected Designation of Origin product and is the binding force to bring together the attendees of the festival “as Cypriots, as Greeks, and as Australians.”
Mr Theophanous praised the festival organisers for delivering an impeccable event, despite earlier uncertainty about whether the festival would proceed. Australia’s biosecurity officials had considered restricting imports of Cypriot cheese due to a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in the region.
Mr Theophanous acknowledged guests in attendance including Federal Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil, representing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese; Victorian Labor MP for Pascoe Vale Anthony Cianflone; Liberal MP for Northern Metropolitan Region Evan Mulholland; State Member for Northcote and Parliamentary Secretary for Women’s Health, Kat Theophanous; Mayor of Darebin Emily Dimitriadis; former commonwealth parliamentarian Maria Vamvakinou, and Cr Oscar Yildiz from Merri-bek City Council.
Mr Khalil also addressed the crowd and acknowledged the longtime positive connection between Cyprus and Australia.
“It’s been 53 years, and it’s been a great relationship, and we have benefited here in Australia from Cypriots like you who’ve come to Australia and made such an enormous contribution to this country,” Mr Khalil said.
Mr Khalil continued to recognise that “it is a very difficult time” with the current geopolitical tensions.
“There is real anger from the Cypriot government because they weren’t given a full warning of it [the drone attack on a UK base on the island],” he said. “The British are sending more forces there, the French are, and the Greek Air Force as well, to help protect Cyprus.”
Greek Community of Melbourne’s President Bill Papastergiadis was also in attendance and commented that “the Halloumi Festival once again unites all of us.”
Community pride remained at the heart of the festival with attendees appreciating the food, music and dancing well into the night with the Halloumi Festival After Party.
