Greeks across Australia and Greece commemorated ANZAC Day on Monday with a number of dawn services, marches and wreath laying ceremonies.
The Greek Herald has the lowdown on all the events:
Greece:
Australian Ambassador to Greece, Arthur Spyrou, payed tribute to the Anzacs and Greek soldiers who fought side-by-side during WWII with a special wreath laying ceremony on Monday.
Ambassador Spyrou visited Phaleron War Cemetery, where 172 Australians and 215 New Zealanders are buried, to lay a wreath and honour the memory of these original ANZACs.
He was accompanied by the Honorary Consul of New Zealand in Greece, Anthony Simpson.
In a post on Twitter and Facebook, Ambassador Spyrou said he was “deeply moved” to lay a wreath to mark one of Australia’s most important national days.
“Courage, mateship and sacrifice are part of Australia’s national identity and reflect the spirit of the ANZACs,” the Ambassador said.
“ANZAC Day is… a time for Australians to remember the fallen, a time to demonstrate our respect to those who served, and those who continue to serve in our nation.”
New South Wales:
*Words by George Chiotis / Photos by B. Stratilas.
In NSW, the Greek Returned Servicemen League (Greek RSL) represented the Greek community of Sydney in the march for the 107th anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign.
READ MORE: ‘Very proud’: Thousands turn out to admire Evzones in Melbourne’s Anzac Day march.
During this Campaign, ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) forces arrived in Gallipoli on April 25, 1915 and met with fierce resistance from the Ottoman Army under Mustafa Kemal, better known as Ataturk. Allied casualties included 21,255 from the United Kingdom, about 10,000 French, 8,709 Australians, 2,721 New Zealanders and 1,358 from then-British occupied India.
Anzac Day remains one of the most important national anniversaries for Australia and New Zealand.
Leading the Greek RSL contingent in the march was the President Peter Tsigounis, accompanied by members of the Board, members of the Cretan and Pontian Brotherhood, the Greek Australian Association, and OFSE.
At the end of the march, the Consul General of Greece, Christos Karras, met with and congratulated all those who took part in the parade in front of the War Museum in Hyde Park.
Tasmania:
Greek youth dressed in the traditional costumes of Crete and proudly marched in Tasmania’s ANZAC Day parade on Monday.
The President of the Greek Community of Tasmania, Nick Theodoropoulos, also laid a wreath on the day.
