Dimosthenis Manasis has been honoured by Mazenod College with its prestigious “Leave to Serve Award,” recognising his longstanding contribution to culture, community service and the preservation of Hellenic traditions in Australia.
Mr Manasis, Director and Instructor of the MANASIS School of Greek Dance and Culture, returned to his former school during National Reconciliation Week to receive the award in front of students, staff, the College leadership and Indigenous Elder Uncle Glen Loughrey.
The “Leave to Serve Award” is presented to distinguished former students who embody the values of a Mazenod education through leadership, professional achievement and meaningful service to the wider community.
Reflecting on the recognition, Mr Manasis described the experience as “profoundly emotional and unexpectedly overwhelming.”
“It was far more than a return to a former school; it was a return to the very foundation of some of the most formative and impressionable years of our lives,” he said.
“It was an opportunity to reflect not only on how far we have come, but on where it all began.”
Mr Manasis graduated as part of the Class of 2002 and said the values instilled during his years at Mazenod continued to shape both his personal life and his work promoting Greek culture through MANASIS.
“The principles instilled within us, the enduring challenge of the school’s emblematic motto, ‘Leave Nothing Undared,’ and the contemporary mantra, ‘Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve,’ have resonated deeply throughout my lifelong commitment to preserving and promoting Hellenic culture,” he said.
Founded by the Manasis family, MANASIS School of Greek Dance and Culture has become widely recognised within the Greek Australian community for its dedication to traditional Greek dance, cultural education and intergenerational community engagement.
Mr Manasis also paid tribute to his parents, acknowledging the role they played in building the organisation and shaping its ethos.
“As I always acknowledge, I owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to both of my parents for placing MANASIS in the position it was when I assumed its directorship,” he said.
He described his father as his “dance teacher, role model and inspiration,” while praising his mother’s “masterful craftsmanship and tireless dedication” as the organisation’s costume designer and producer.
During his speech, Mr Manasis reflected on the transformative role educators played in shaping generations of students, describing Mazenod staff as mentors who taught students the importance of perseverance, humility, compassion and service to others.
He also praised the ongoing work of the Mazenod Old Collegians Association in maintaining strong lifelong connections between former students and the College community.
“Witnessing the College’s monumental growth, development, and relentless pursuit of excellence in education filled me with immense pride,” he said.
“There is something deeply special about knowing we were once part of that story, and that in some small way, we continue to belong to its ongoing success.”
Mr Manasis said receiving an award inspired by St Eugene de Mazenod’s legacy was a powerful recognition of the collective effort of family, mentors, volunteers and supporters who contribute to community life and cultural preservation.
“To receive an award bearing his name, and inspired by his vision, stands as a powerful testament to everything we have built, everything we have contributed, and every effort we will continue to make in service of others and our community,” he said.
