By Takis Triadafillou and Andriana Simos
The Samian community in Sydney celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Samos and the 112th anniversary of the island’s union with Greece on Sunday, November 17, with distinguished guests, members, and friends in attendance.
The Samian Brotherhood of Sydney & New South Wales ‘Lykourgos’ celebrated the historic events with their annual festival luncheon at the Grand Roxy in Brighton-Le-Sands.
The event was emceed by Takis Triadafillou, Vice Secretary of the Samian Brotherhood, who warmly welcomed the guests before introducing President Emanuel Valageorgiou.
In his address, Mr Valageorgiou thanked the distinguished guests, members, and friends, including several presidents from Greek associations and organisations, for their presence. He delivered a moving historical overview of the two significant events, evoking deep emotion among those present.
Vice President Soula Gerasimou extended her gratitude to the attendees, acknowledging Bill Mougios and his team at the Grand Roxy for their impeccable service. She also expressed appreciation for the unwavering support of Dimitra Skalkos, owner and publisher of The Greek Herald.
Athanassios Lambrou, First Counsellor for Public Diplomacy at the Consulate of Greece in Sydney, provided a captivating historical recount of the unification of Samos with Greece. He also highlighted the recent generosity of the Samian Brotherhood in supporting the Samos Hospital and the Health Centre of Karlovasi by donating much-needed medical equipment.
The Hon. Mark Buttigieg MLC, who addressed the gathering partly in Greek, acknowledged the strength of Greek migrants and expressed his gratitude for the invitation to the event, noting that his wife is of Greek heritage.
The Hon. Mark Coure MP, NSW Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism, spoke about the beauty of Greek traditions across the nation, emphasising how such events uplift the morale of Greek migrants and preserve their cultural heritage. He thanked Mr Valageorgiou and the entire organising team, as well as supporters and media partners.
Reflecting on the milestone celebrations, Mr Coure remarked, “Ladies and gentlemen, today we celebrate 200 years since the Battle of Samos. Next year, we also celebrate the 70th anniversary of this Association, which truly deserves a round of applause.”
The Kalymnian Dance Group, led by Amalia, energised the room with traditional dances that had everyone joining in.
The festive luncheon was further enriched by live music from Chara Dimitriou, Michalis Naxakis, and Panagiotis Kokkinis, who kept the dance floor alive with a diverse musical repertoire.
