Thousands of people attended the Brunswick Greek Festival which was organised and run by the committee and volunteers of the Greek Community of Melbourne’s (GCM) St Eleftherios Albion Street Brunswick parish.
The volunteer team manned multiple stations and sold over 500kg of lamb/chicken, made over 1000 coffees and sold over 4600 honey-dripped loukoumades.
Stalls selling sweets and handicrafts alongside an animal farm and a visit by the local fire brigade – complete with their fire truck for people to climb onto – all added to a festival atmosphere that was full of song and dance curated by community musical stalwart, John Kostarakis.
The festival looked to expand on a series of events that the parish committee has run in recent times with the aim of engaging with local community and families.
Bill Papastergiadis OAM, President of the GCM, welcomed everyone and enthused that he was delighted with the work of the local committee led by Harry Korras and Fr Gary Peripetsakis and praised them for their dedication and revitalising the Brunswick parish.
“This festival is about connections and family. Coming together across many generations in one place. Enjoying time together in a family friendly environment,” Papastergiadis said.
“We want to create events and spaces where people are safe and comfortable whilst promoting the richness of aspects of our heritage and that is what the Brunswick festival has done.”
Papastergiadis then invited local Federal member and supporter of the GCM, Peter Khalil MP, to the microphone who spoke of his kinship with the Greeks of Melbourne and Brunswick and his delight at seeing so many of his constituents come together in harmony and joy.
Mr Khalil was followed by Merri-bek council Mayor Helen Davidson and Deputy Mayor Helen Polites who also praised the work of the committee and echoed the other speaker’s enthusiasm for the grassroots event that saw so many locals enjoying their Sunday afternoon.
Further, the Lord Mayor encouraged the committee to meet with her officers to look at expanding the festival next year.
Parish priest Fr Gary thanked his committee and spoke of his delight at seeing so many people at the parish which had been reinvigorated over the last couple of years.
Finally, festival principal and church Committee chair, Mr Korras insightfully said to the gathered crowd: “this is not a festival of just good people of Greek background. This festival was about engaging with everyone in the northern suburbs. We have so much to be proud of and want this festival, in its own way, to be an expression of that pride.”
