The President of the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA), Peter Gardiakos, had an introductory meeting with the newly appointed Australian Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan, on July 20 in Athens.
During the meeting, Mr Gardiakos introduced GOCSA’s priorities to the diplomat, shared the story of George Tramountanas (anglicised as George North), who was the first settler of Greek origin in South Australia, and talked about the strong ties of Greece and SA.
The Ambassador expressed her passion for the Greek culture, language, and the arts and said she has started learning the Greek language.
Speaking about the future, Ms Duncan said she can see great opportunities between Australia and Greece that will further expand the relationship between the two countries.
“It was great to meet Ambassador Alison Duncan in Athens and discuss the importance of working to maintain and strengthen the existing bilateral cooperation,” GOCSA President Peter Gardiakos said.
“It is also exciting to know that Australia and the EU are working closely to meet shared global responsibilities such as promoting sustainable development, tackling climate change, and respecting international law.”
The Ambassador was aware of the push for a sister-city relationship between Adelaide and Athens and encouraged Australian travelers to keep their passports secure during their travels.