The 84th anniversary of the Battle of Crete was commemorated with pride and reverence on Saturday, May 17, as the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW hosted its annual Dinner Dance at The Grand Vaudeville in Condell Park.
Around 300 people gathered to honour one of WWII’s most significant campaigns, in which Greek civilians and Allied troops – including Australians and New Zealanders – stood united against the Nazi invasion of Crete in May 1941.
Master of Ceremonies Hara Vamianakis opened with the official welcome and introduction of distinguished guests. In attendance were Vice Admiral Theodoros Mikropoulos, Deputy Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff; Commander Dimitrios Lekkakos of the Hellenic Navy; and Colonel Kyriakos Kyriakakos, Defence Attaché of Greece in Canberra.
They were joined by Father Panagiotis Protopsaltis representing His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia; the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis; President of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand, Emmanuel Mountakis; President of the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW, Emmanuel Vitetzakis; Chair of the Joint Committee for the Commemoration of the Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign, James Jordan; Joint Committee Secretary Nick Andriotakis; and Colonel Graham Fleeton RFD Ret’d. Members of the Greek and Cypriot community from across NSW and Australia were also present.
Guests stood for a minute’s silence in memory of all those who fought and died in the Battle of Crete, including the recently deceased 106-year-old Anzac veteran Arthur Leggett. The solemnity of the occasion was matched by the powerful speeches that followed.
President of the Cretan Association, Mr Vitetzakis, paid tribute to the brave soldiers and civilians who resisted the Nazis during the May 1941 campaign.
“Freedom is never free,” he said, “It is earned through courage, unity and sacrifice.”
He also expressed deep appreciation for the Hellenic Armed Forces delegation, as well as community volunteers, media representatives, and the Association’s dance instructors who play a vital role in preserving tradition.
In his remarks, Consul General Mr Mallikourtis reflected on the enduring significance of the Battle of Crete and the importance of passing this history on to younger generations.
“You can be both Greek and Australian,” he said, “and that dual identity is something to be proud of.”
Federation President Mr Mountakis also addressed the gathering, thanking the organising committee and Greek military officials for their continued collaboration. He shared two wartime stories to underline the human cost of the occupation of Crete — including a deeply personal anecdote about his father, who as a five-year-old child carried food to his father hiding in the mountains.
“That little boy grew up, migrated to Australia, and is here with us tonight,” he said.
The story served as a powerful reminder to younger attendees of the sacrifices that underpin their community’s freedom and legacy. Mr Mountakis also spoke of the Cretan Federation’s continued national role and announced preparations for the 2026 Cretan Convention to be hosted in Sydney.
Speeches were also given by Vice Admiral Mikropoulos, who highlighted the enduring bonds between ANZACs and Greeks thanks to the Battle of Crete, and Father Panagiotis, who expressed the well wishes of His Eminence.
A highlight of the evening was the ceremonial exchange of gifts. The Cretan Association and the Cretan Federation presented Vice Admiral Mikropoulos with commemorative glass plaques, while his wife received symbolic Aboriginal scarves from Vicky Vitetzakis and Athina Mountakis. Plaques were also presented to Commander Lekkakos and Colonel Kyriakakos.
In a touching farewell gesture, the Consul General Mr Mallikourtis was presented with a small statue of a Minoan bull to remember the Cretan community of Sydney in his future diplomatic posts.
The entertainment portion of the evening featured live Cretan music by visiting artists Giorgos Alexantonakis (lyra) and Nikos Papadogiannis (lute), joined by local musicians Alexander Mountakis and Prodromos Moysiadis.
Guests then enjoyed vibrant dance performances by the Association’s Beginner, Junior, Intermediate and Performing Groups, who impressed with their spirited and authentic displays of Cretan culture across all age levels.
Following the official program, attendees took to the dance floor and continued the celebration well into the night, honouring tradition through music, movement and community spirit.
The 2025 Battle of Crete Commemorative Dinner once again reminded all in attendance that while the heroes of 1941 may have passed, their legacy lives on in the hearts of their descendants and in the strong, united Greek Australian community they helped to inspire.
