The Cretan Association of Sydney and New South Wales filled Sydney with Cretan music, remembrance and celebration during its annual commemorative dance evening on Saturday, May 16, marking the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Crete.
Held in honour of the ANZAC soldiers and Cretans who fought side-by-side in 1941, the evening brought together senior Greek military representatives, clergy, community leaders, veterans and families for a colourful tribute to the enduring friendship between Greece and Australia.
Master of ceremonies Ari Paraskakis welcomed guests, opening the night with acknowledgements of distinguished guests from Greece and across the Greek Australian community.
Among the official guests was Konstantinos Bouzos, Chief of Staff of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff; Colonel Kyriakos Kyriakakos, Defence Attaché of the Embassy of Greece in Australia; Flight Lieutenant Eleni Theodorou, Head of the External Affairs Department of the Public Relations Directorate; and Lambrini Kokkori, Officer for Middle East Affairs at the Directorate of International Relations.
Also present on the night were Consul General of Greece in Sydney George Skemperis; President of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand Emmanuel Mountakis; and Chair of the Joint Committee for the Commemoration of the Battle of Crete and Greek Campaign, James Jordan.
Military historian Jim Claven also attended after travelling from Melbourne following a lecture at the Anzac Memorial.
Before celebrations commenced, guests stood for a minute’s silence in memory of those who fought and died during the Battle of Crete, as well as members of the Cretan Association who had passed away over the past year.
Speakers throughout the evening reflected on the wartime sacrifices that forged lifelong bonds between the Greek and Australian people.
Addresses were delivered by President of the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW Terry Saviolakis, Archimandrite Eirinaios Trialonakis representing His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Consul General Mr Skemperis, Mr Mountakis and Mr Bouzos.
A ceremonial exchange of gifts followed, with the Cretan Association and the Cretan Federation presenting commemorative gifts to members of the visiting Greek delegation and clergy.
The formalities soon gave way to a lively celebration of Cretan culture, with renowned musician Manolis Kontaros and fellow musicians Kyriakos Kontekas, Michalis Georgavassakis and Stelios Papadakis travelling from Crete to perform traditional music that kept the dance floor alive throughout the night.
Young dancers from the Brotherhood’s junior, intermediate and senior dance groups also took centre stage, proudly performing traditional Cretan dances in front of guests before joining dignitaries and instructors for a commemorative group photograph.
