The Region of Western Macedonia will hold a ceremony of honorary recognition next week to pay tribute to two towering figures of the Greek diaspora: the late Zisis Dardalis and Professor Anastasios Tamis.
The event, to take place in the Regional Council Hall of Western Macedonia, was unanimously approved by the Regional Council during its 14th session on 27 August 2025.
Honouring Zisis Dardalis
Originally from Siatista, Zisis Dardalis migrated to Australia, where he became a successful businessman and a generous benefactor of Greek learning abroad. He was the principal sponsor of the National Centre for Hellenic Studies and Research (EKEME) and the Archives of the Greek Diaspora, institutions that have provided lasting foundations for the study and documentation of Greek migration worldwide.
Regional Governor Giorgos Amanatidis described Dardalis as a man whose “life and work stand as a model of social contribution, cultural action and national consciousness.”
Recognising Professor Anastasios Tamis
Professor Anastasios Tamis, an academic of international renown, is being recognised for his extensive contribution to sociolinguistics and diaspora history. Founder and director of EKEME, the Dardalis Archives, and the Australian Institute for Macedonian Studies, Tamis has advanced global understanding of Greek language, history, and identity through both research and digital infrastructure.
The Regional Council highlighted that the dual recognition underscores “the invaluable role of personalities who honoured our homeland and Hellenism internationally” and reinforces Western Macedonia’s outward-looking commitment to history, research, and cultural preservation.
Ceremony details
The ceremony will be attended by Professor Tamis and family members of Mr Dardalis, who are travelling from Australia, alongside academics, regional officials, and community representatives. The recognition will take the form of commemorative plaques.
The Region of Western Macedonia described the honour as both “an act of gratitude and historical vindication,” affirming its duty to keep alive the memory of individuals who strengthened national identity and left a lasting imprint on global Hellenism.
