On Sunday, December 1, the Greek Australian Cultural League (GACL) held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Greek Centre in Melbourne.
The annual event took a different slant this year as it commenced with a small but special presentation to Emmanuel Kakavelakis, the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne.
Members of the GACL’s Executive Committee showed their appreciation and gratitude to the outgoing Consul General for his support, dedication and commitment over the past four years to all matters involving cultural, literary and national advancement.
Mr Kakavelakis was presented with a painting depicting the colours and landscape of outback Australia, commissioned by Mary Raphael, a GACL committee member and an artist in her own right. On a special parchment, he was also given a poem by Nikos Ninolakis, who was one of the founders of the GACL and the periodical Antipodes.
The poem, Beyond Moulamein (in Greek), was recited by Theodora Psathias and Vasilia Hatzieleftheriou with Costas Tsicaderis’ music of the same song playing in the background, echoing Greek and Aboriginal musical notes.
The AGM was a moving and intimate event which left Mr Kakavelakis emotional, full of heartfelt praise of the work of the GACL and what has been achieved in the Greek diaspora of Australia.
The AGM proceeded with the agenda as planned and concluded over socialisation and best regards for the coming well-earned Christmas break.
