2024 has been dominated by Greek community events around Australia and The Greek Herald has been there to capture every moment.
With the year coming to an end, we have selected some of our favourite community photos and share the stories behind them.
Greek communities attend Blessing of the Waters events across Australia
Greek communities turned out in huge numbers this year to attend traditional Blessing of the Waters events across Australia.
Despite the heat, thousands turned up at Carss Bush Park in Sydney’s south on Sunday, January 7 to witness as the Blessing of the Waters ceremony took place in the Georges River for the first time.
The Greek Herald Cup: A spectacle of Greek dancing, music and football rivalry
Chants of ‘O-LYM-PIC, O-LYM-PIC’ and ‘Let’s go Hellas’ echoed loudly across Netstrata Jubilee Stadium at Kogarah, Sydney on Saturday, January 13 as close to 3,000 football fans packed the stadium for the inaugural The Greek Herald Cup.
The atmosphere was electric with live music, Greek dancing performances, and a football extravaganza as two iconic Greek heritage football clubs, Sydney Olympic FC and South Melbourne FC, came face to face in the historic clash. Ultimately, Sydney Olympic came out on top.
Registrations are NOW OPEN for the 2025 Greek Herald Cup, which will be held at Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium on Saturday, January 18. Entry is free, but registration is essential.
Anais Menounos named The Greek Herald Woman of the Year
The winner of ‘The Greek Herald Woman of the Year’ Award for 2024 was 29-year-old Anais Menounos – co-founder of the St Nicholas Mission Academy in Ghana.
Ms Menounos was announced as the winner of the award at an International Women’s Day (IWD) event on Friday, March 8 hosted by the Greek Festival of Sydney in collaboration with The Greek Herald.
The announcement led to loud cheers and applause from the crowd, with everyone congratulating the young trailblazer on her recognition.
City of Melbourne acknowledges Antipodes Festival as a Tier 1 event
Once again, the 36th Antipodes Festival, organised by the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), resonated with the vibrant pulse of the Greek community.
Held in the heart of Melbourne’s historic Greek precinct on Lonsdale Street, adorned in blue and white, the Festival marked a significant milestone.
The Festival stands as the largest Hellenic festival in the global diaspora and this year, for the first time, was recognised by the City of Melbourne as a Tier 1 event alongside the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Australian Tennis Open.
Hellenism makes triumphant return to Sydney Opera House for Greek National Day
Fortunately for Sydney’s Greek community, 2024 was the year of the triumphant return of Hellenism to the Opera House on Sunday, March 24.
The event was organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW) in conjunction with the Inter-Communities Council of NSW of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA).
The historic occasion featured a wreath laying ceremony at Martin Place, followed by a parade through Sydney’s streets towards the Opera House.
Afterwards, a cultural spectacle took place including Greek dancing performances, singing and official speeches.
Hellenism takes over Brighton-Le-Sands as Greek Fest makes triumphant return
Walking down Bay Street in the Sydney suburb of Brighton-Le-Sands on any normal weekday, you would see cars calmly driving past and locals sipping their coffee at nearby cafes. But Sunday, May 26 was not any ordinary day.
On Sunday, Bay Street was packed with hundreds of thousands of people rushing to get a taste of Hellenism as the Greek Fest made its triumphant return after 21 long years.
The festival marked the end of the 42nd Greek Festival of Sydney supported by the Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales (GOCNSW) and presented by the Bank of Sydney.
Cypriot community in Australia mark 50 years since Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Members of the Cypriot and Greek communities in Australia came together in July 2024 to call for justice for Cyprus 50 years after Turkey invaded the island in 1974.
In Sydney, hundreds of people took part in a ‘peace march’ from Sydney’s Martin Place to Lane Park, chanting “Free Cyprus” and “Turkey out of Cyprus.” It was the first time in years the march was allowed to be held.
In Melbourne, more than 2,000 people flocked to Federation Square on Sunday, July 21 in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
During the event, Cypriots, Greeks and Philhellenes called for the unification and freedom of Cyprus after 50 years of ethnic division.
In South Australia, the Cyprus Community of South Australia (CCSA), in collaboration with the Justice for Cyprus Coordination Committee SA (SEKA SA), held a series of important events from July 14 – July 22 dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives in Cyprus and acknowledging the continued struggle for freedom and democracy.
Emotions high as Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Australia for historic visit
With great anticipation and enthusiasm, hundreds of members of the Greek community in Australia welcomed His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Friday, October 4 upon his arrival in Sydney.
This was his second visit to Australia, following his first visit in 1996.
The Ecumenical Patriarch participated in a series of celebratory events in Sydney and Melbourne marking the centenary of the establishment of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
The historic visit further strengthened the ties between the Orthodox Church and the Greek community of Australia, marking a new era in their relations.
