More than 250 guests from across Sydney’s Greek Australian community and business sector gathered at Business Sydney Events Centre on Tuesday, April 29 to officially welcome the Hellenic Presidential Guard, known as the Evzones, in a ceremony that combined military pride, cultural heritage and heartfelt reflection on the enduring ties between Greece and Australia.
Hosted by Business Sydney in partnership with the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, the welcome reception featured speeches, formal presentations, and a panel discussion exploring the historical bonds between the two nations.
Guests were treated to drinks, canapés and the opportunity to take photos with the Evzones before being seated for the formal proceedings.
Business Sydney’s Executive Director Paul Nicolaou opened the event by highlighting the symbolic importance of the evening. He welcomed a long list of dignitaries including His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, representing His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, the Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Chrysa Prokopaki, the Hon. Courtney Houssos MLC, NSW Minister for Finance, representing the Premier of NSW, the Hon. Chris Minns, and Colonel Kyriakos Kyriakakos, Defence Attaché of the Hellenic Republic in Canberra.
In his address, Bishop Iakovos conveyed the blessings of Archbishop Makarios and noted, “It is indeed a great honour for all of us as Greek Australians to experience the prestige and might of the Evzones who are not merely a distinguished and historical military unit of the Hellenic Army, but moreover, constitute a living symbol of the eternal ideals of faith in God, love of our Hellenic motherland, courage, determination, freedom and self-sacrifice.”
Speaking on behalf of the NSW Government, Minister Houssos reflected on the strong emotional impact of the Evzones’ visit.
“Visits like this from the iconic symbols of Greece mean so much to us as parents, to our kids, and particularly to members of the Greek diaspora who perhaps are not able to go back to Athens and visit and see them firsthand,” she said.
“We are inspired by their incredible discipline, by their beautiful and immaculate uniforms, but it’s the deep symbolism that we see — even down to the fustanella — that’s just inspiring for all of us.”
The Minister also shared a personal story of marching alongside the Evzones at Bondi Beach in 2018, calling it “something that will certainly stay with me for the rest of my life.”
In his formal welcome, Consul General Mr Mallikourtis offered a reflection on the historic and symbolic role of the Presidential Guard.
“In modern Greek history, the term Evzonos, denoting the lightly armed soldier in traditional national dress, has appeared since 1864… They were the Special Forces of the time,” he said.
“Their presence here in Australia is relevant, especially during the ANZAC Day commemorations… For Greek Australians, it maintains the connection to the ancestral homeland, and it gives us the opportunity to reflect on the relations between our two countries.”
Mr Mallikourtis added, “Australians are buried in Faliro, in Crete and elsewhere. They have shed their blood in Vevi, Thermopylae, Kalamata and in Crete. The least we can do is to remember them and to honour their legacy.”
Lieutenant Athanasios Loulas of the Presidential Guard followed with a detailed and powerful address on the Evzones’ history, selection process and ceremonial responsibilities.
“The Presidential Guard proudly continues the national tradition of the Evzones, demonstrating the nation’s gratitude, paying tribute to our fallen heroes and serving as a reminder that the greatness of a nation is not measured by land, but by the strength of their hearts and by their blood,” Lieutenant Loulas said.
The Lieutenant also explained the symbolism of the Evzones’ uniform, noting that the fustanella has “400 pleats symbolising the 400 years of Ottoman occupation” and that their heavy red shoes (tsarouchia) are “entirely handmade… weighing about 2.5 kilos.”
Following the speeches, a series of gift exchanges took place. Minister Houssos presented a gift on behalf of the NSW Government to the commander of the Presidential Guard, Michalis Tzinieris, which was reciprocated with a commemorative gift to the Minister. Mr Nicolaou also received a personal gift from the Guard and, in return, presented a photographic book of Sydney to each of the Evzones as a memento of their visit.
The evening concluded with a panel discussion on the shared history and future of Greek and Australian relations. The discussion featured the Consul General, author and former TV producer Craig Collie, and Nick Andriotakis, Secretary of the Joint Committee for the Commemoration of the Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign. It was facilitated by Theodora Minas Gianniotis, Director of Built Environment Heritage Group.
The panel explored the importance of intergenerational storytelling and preserving collective memory through both military and cultural traditions.
Special thanks were extended to former Socceroo Peter Raskopoulos from Rasko Group for supporting the event, along with coordinators Nick Bourdaniotis and Sophie Balayannis, whose efforts helped ensure the successful visit of the Evzones to Sydney.
As the crowd stood in applause to farewell the Presidential Guard, the mood in the room was one of deep pride and connection — a shared reminder of sacrifice, identity, and community.
*All photos supplied by Bourdo Photography (unless specified otherwise).
