From a wreath laying ceremony at Sydney’s Martin Place to a proud display of Hellenic culture, music and dance at Town Hall – Sydney’s Greek community came out in full force to celebrate Greek Independence Day on Sunday, March 26.
At Sunday’s wreath laying ceremony, over 100 Presidents and members of local Greek community organisations stood to attention in front of the Martin Place cenotaph to pay tribute to the fallen heroes and heroines of the 1821 Greek Revolution.
The ceremony began with the Greek and Australian National Anthems, followed by a small memorial service conducted by Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
The Last Post and Rouse was then played, the Ode was read in Greek and English by NSW Greek RSL members Andrew Kitsos and Peter Tsigounis, and a minute silence was held.
Politicians, prominent members of Sydney’s Greek community and young students later laid wreaths. These included Archbishop Makarios; the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis; Steve Kamper MP; Sophie Cotsis MP; Courtney Houssos MLC; Councillors and Mayors from Randwick, Canterbury Bankstown, Georges River, Waverley, Inner West Councils; and the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW), Harry Danalis; among many others.
Following the wreath laying ceremony, people walked to Town Hall for a program of cultural activities organised by GOCNSW and the Inter-Communities Council of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.
The program of events began with the singing of the National Anthems of Greece and Australia by school students from St Euphemia College, All Saints Grammar and St Spyridon College. Two young students also gave powerful renditions of poems.
Of course, there were also a number of official speeches given by Archbishop Makarios, the Consul General, Mr Danalis, Ms Houssos and the President of the Inter-Communities Council of NSW, Kos Dimitriou.
Amongst all this, people in the packed hall were also treated to a visual display of traditional Greek dancing performances by the Paroula Greek Dancing Group, Sophia Haskas Dancers, the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney Dance Group under instruction by Dimitris Papapetros, the Cretan Association of Sydney & NSW Dance Group, the Cyprus Community of NSW Dance Group, and dancers from Pontoxeniteas NSW.
*All photos copyright: The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
