Following approval of a $4.9 million expense in the Federal budget, a delegation from Australia’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs has visited Lemnos to finalise the technical details and kick off the implementation of the Remembrance Trail in recognition of the Australian doctors, nurses and other service personnel who served there during WWI.
The Australian delegation met with Greece’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Nikos Hardalias as well as local authorities, Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, Arthur Spyrou, said.
Wonderful news! Following approval of a $4.9m expense in the federal budget, a @DVAAus delegation visited #Lemnos to kick off the implementation of the Lemnos Remembrance Trail honouring the ANZACS, together with the 🇬🇷 Deputy Minister of Defence @nhardalias & local authorities. pic.twitter.com/V9Np4Jn323
— Arthur Spyrou (@AusAmbAthens) November 14, 2022
The creation of the Remembrance Trail was first announced back in April 2018 by Melbourne’s Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee and the Prefecture of the Northern Aegean, with hopes that it will commemorate and immortalise the service and sacrifice of those who came to Lemnos in the Gallipoli campaign, which included an estimated 50,000 Australians.
Whilst visiting Australia last month, Hardalias said he was hopeful the trail would be completed by 2025.
The project, which will further enhance the close ties between Australia and Greece will be delivered by the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs and maintained by the Greek Government upon its completion, as agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two countries.
Speaking with The Greek Herald earlier in the year, the then Australian Veterans’ Affairs Minister, Andrew Gee said: “Lemnos played a key role in the Gallipoli campaign for Australia and New Zealand, and our allies.”
“It was a staging and support base, as well as a place of care for our sick and wounded. An estimated 50,000 Anzacs passed through Lemnos over the course of the campaign. It’s a story of friendship between Greece and Australia that needs to be told,” he said.
The Remembrance Trail will help visitors tour the sites of the island where their Australian ancestors went, while at the same time explaining in detail the historical significance of specific areas of the island.
READ MORE: ‘A story of friendship that needs to be told’: Minister Gee on Lemnos Remembrance Trail
