Members of the Presidential Hellenic Guard are set to visit Perth, Western Australia for the first time, from November 1 to November 6 to commemorate Greece’s National Day (OXI Day).
The schedule, announced by the Consulate of Greece in Perth on Tuesday, is as follows.
On Wednesday, November 2 at 9.30 am, the Presidential Guards will participate in a school assembly at St Andrew’s Grammar.
Two days later, on Friday, November 4 at 12pm, there will be a procession of the Evzones on St Georges Terrace, from the Consulate of Greece in Perth, followed by a flag-raising ceremony in front of the Council House.
On Saturday, November 5 at 6pm, there will be a welcome reception by the Hellenic Community of Western Australia and the Greek Australian RSL at Alexander the Great Club. Attendees wishing to attend must RSVP at info@hcwa.org.
The following day at 10.30am, there will be a doxology for OXI Day at the Greek Orthodox Church of Evangelismos, 57 Carr St, West Perth.
At 12.30pm, the Evzones will then take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the State War Memorial, Kings Park, which will also feature a change of guard and tribute to the Cenotaph at around 1.30pm.
This will be followed by a dinner in honour of the Evzones at 6pm at Floreat Athena. For those seeking more information and to RSVP to the dinner, contact admin@floreatathenafc.com.au.
Everyone is welcome to attend but please ensure you register your participation with the organisers, wherever registration is required.
Apart from the events that are open to the public, the Premier of WA, the Honourable Mark McGowan MLA, will host a private function to welcome the Presidential Guard. The Lord Mayor of Perth, Basil Zempilas, will also hold a lunchtime reception for the Evzones, following the flag-raising ceremony at the Council House on the Friday.
The Evzones will also visit: the Aged Care Facility of the Hellenic Community of WA, St Basil’s Aged Care Day Centre of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, The Greek Language and Culture Institute of Evangelismos, the Offices of the Archdiocesan District of Perth where they will meet with his Grace Bishop Elpidios of Kyanea, and the Consulate of Greece in Perth.