The third volume of Professor Anastasios Tamis’ book The History of Hellenes in Australia (1974 – 2016) was officially launched on Tuesday, November 15 at the West Torrens City Library in South Australia.
There were a number of official guests in attendance at the book launch including the Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, George Psiachas; Federal Member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas MP; City of West Torrens Mayor Michael Coxon; City of West Torrens Councillor Zoi Papafilopoulos; City of Charles Sturt Councillor, Peter Ppiros; Peter Gardiakos representing the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA); and St George parish priest Father Diogenis Patsouris; among many others.
The book was presented by emcee, Peter Photakis, who made introductory remarks about Greek migration to Australia and shared his personal immigration journey.
Mayor Coxon then took to the stage and praised the contribution of the local Greek community to multiculturalism in South Australia. Mr Coxon also underlined the importance of Professor Tamis’ book in uncovering the history of Hellenes in Australia.
Mr Psiachas also gave a speech and spoke about how it took him two months to finish reading Professor Tamis’ “rigorously documented work… to understand the evolution of Hellenism” in Australia.
After thanking Professor Tamis for his contribution to academia and the history of Hellenism in Australia, Mr Psiachas then invited guests to purchase the book and offer it to their family members.
In his speech, Federal Member for Adelaide, Steve Georganas spoke about his own migration experience and praised the Greek community for their enormous contribution to modern-day Australia.
“It’s not just their story, a story of a group of immigrants who came and settled in Australia, integrated and of course, contributed,” Mr Georganas said about the book.
“The presence of the Greeks here is part of the history of Australia itself – their history is an integral part of Australia’s national history. This story is described by Professor Tamis.
“I feel the need to express my gratitude to Professor Tamis because with his work, our history, your history, the history of our fathers, is saved.”
Professor Tamis was last to speak and thanked everyone for attending his book launch. Tamis spoke about Philhellenism and the Philhellenes; the basic components of the Greek identity in the diaspora; the importance of the Greek language; and today’s modern-day Greece.
*Thank you to Mrs Tina Photakis for the photos
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