Darwin GleNTi returns with a bang as thousands enjoy Greek food and dancing

·

Thousands poured into the Darwin Esplanade over the weekend to get their filling of yiros, baklava and Mythos beer as the Darwin GleNTi returned with a bang.

The festival, which was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is organised annually by the Greek Orthodox Community of Northern Australia (GOCNA) and this year it marked 200 years of the Greek Revolution.

Local visitors and interstate travellers were definitely not disappointed as they enjoyed the best Greek food and drinks Darwin has to offer and at times were even served by the Northern Territory Chief Minister, Michael Gunner, himself, as well as his entire Cabinet.

“Everyone was impressed to see Mr Gunner behind the bar taking orders and pulling drinks. There’s no resting or shaking hands. He, and other members of the Cabinet, did exactly what other volunteers did,” Nicholas Poniris, President of GOCNA, tells The Greek Herald.

From there, attendees were also entertained by a number of Greek dancing groups, and a special ‘Greek Agora’ stall was set up for the groups to raise much needed funds to purchase the Greek costumes they use for their special dance routines.

READ MORE: Official launch of the Darwin GleNTi festival held at NT Parliament House.

“I first got my feet on the GleNTi dance floor when I was seven in 2001. I performed at the GleNTi for most of my life and then began to get involved in other ways. Every year it grows and becomes more popular,” Georgia Politis, who was an attendee and the official photographer of the GleNTi, tells The Greek Herald.

“To think twenty years ago there was just a crane holding up some lights without many tents to what it is now, is amazing.”

Whilst people were eating, mingling and enjoying themselves, they were also serenaded by the beautiful voice of Martina, as well as the music of the All Star GleNTi Band and later, international Greek singer, Dimitris Basis.

Later in the day, players from the Hellenic Football Club were also officially handed their trophy after they won against Darwin Olympic on Wednesday in the GleNTi Cup. The crowd cheered as the young men collected their well-deserved prize.

READ MORE: Hellenic AC crowned the winners of Darwin’s inaugural GleNTi Cup.

“The GleNTi lived up to the expectations of what we knew would happen. Interstate travellers were even saying that next year they’ll postpone their trip to Greece by a week so they can attend. There’s more pressure now,” Mr Poniris concludes.

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Zeibekiko Festival Australia brings dance and song to Melbourne this October

Melbourne will be at the heart of the 3rd Zeibekiko Festival Australia with a rich program of events to the city from 4–5 October.

Panathinaikos BC visit the Greek Centre in Melbourne ahead of the big game

Players and officials from EuroLeague giants Panathinaikos B.C. (PAO) toured the Greek Centre this morning.

Greek Stage Theatre revives the Golden Age of comedy with ‘A Sky with Stars’

Sydney’s Greek Stage Theatre brings the golden age of Greek comedy back to life in 'A Sky with Stars' - a tribute to cinema legends.

Beating the odds: How a young Natalie survived blood cancer

When Natalie Hunt was 21, she was given the news that shocked her. As a fit, healthy young woman, she was not expecting to be diagnosed.

Friendship, culture and discovery: Isabelle Passaris’ journey at Greek Summer Camp 2025

When I opened my emails and saw the subject line “2025 Program Dates Confirmed” from the GCM, a rush of excitement came over me.

You May Also Like

Greek Orthodox church in Kogarah receives $40,000 grant to render outside facade

Kogarah’s Greek Orthodox church will render its outside facade after receiving a $40,000 grant from the New South Wales government.

Australian government releases Multicultural Framework Review report

The Australian Government has released the report of the Multicultural Framework Review. Read more details here.

Largest ever Olympic team representing Greece heads to Paris

With the qualification of the national basketball team to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the formation of the Greek delegation was completed.