The 41st Dimitria Festival was officially opened in Sydney on Sunday, September 29 with a Cocktail Party at Ramsgate RSL.
The Dimitria Festival celebrates the ancient and modern culture, history and geography of the Macedonian region in Greece. It is organised by the Pan-Macedonian Association of New South Wales.
Close to 100 people were present at the opening event, filling the Auditorium and listening intently to a number of speeches from VIP guests.
Emcee Dimitrios Kametopoulos kicked off the official program by inviting young Eleni to give a Welcome to Country.
Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis, representing Archbishop Makarios of Australia, then spoke and commended the Pan-Macedonian Association of NSW for their efforts in cultivating and safeguarding Greek traditions.
In his speech, the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis highlighted the historical ties between Macedonia and Australia. He said the Dimitria Festival was a chance to celebrate these ties and to “commemorate the sacrifices of those who lost their lives for both countries.”
The NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, Sophie Cotsis MP spoke about the importance of events such as the Dimitria Festival to preserve Greek culture and language for future generations.
The Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism, Mark Coure MP elaborated on Ms Cotsis’ idea and said language and cultural preservation was key in NSW. He also shared a personal anecdote about his grandmother and the importance of language schools.
In her speech as President of the Pan-Macedonian Association of NSW, Anastasia Karakominakis thanked everyone for attending and highlighted the significance of the Dimitria Festival, its history and its role in connecting the Macedonian community to its roots.
Keynote speaker, historian and lawyer Konstantinos Kalymnios from Melbourne was the last to speak, delivering an engaging speech which drew interest and laughter from the audience. Mr Kalymnios provided a historical context of the Dimitria Festival, its significance and its connection to Macedonia and Australia.
Mr Kalymnios also discussed the resilience and endurance of Macedonian culture, its multicultural heritage, and why it should be preserved for future generations.
“The Dimitria Festival symbolises all this rich and multifaceted historical and cultural experience but adds a unique Australian flair to create something that is truly unique, authentic, and speaks to people of all cultures – something that is definitely worth a celebration,” Mr Kalymnios said.
At the conclusion of Mr Kalymnios’ keynote speech, dancers from the Aristotelian Dance Academy, under instruction by Taki and Stavroula Papapetros, performed authentic Macedonian dances dressed in traditional costumes.
Also present at the event were the Chair of the Greek Festival of Sydney, Nia Karteris, and Bayside City Councillor Fiona Douskou.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
