Greek Community of Melbourne’s AGM reflects on challenging 2020 while setting sights on brighter 2021

·

The Greek Community of Melbourne on Thursday night held their Annual General Meeting via zoom and Facebook, giving the board an opportunity to present and discuss the new projects being undertaken for 2021.

GCM President Bill Papastergiadis noted that while 2020 was no doubt a challenging year, it was still a year of some achievement of the Greek Community of Melbourne. 

“Despite the pandemic our organisation continued to play a pivotal role in community and educational matters both in Australia and abroad,” Papastergiadis said.

In amongst other activity, the GCM:

  • Managed to continue our education programs and achieved outstanding VCE results with our students achieving on the whole excellent results
  • In association with a broad coalition of community groups we secured the continuation of the Greek Program at La Trobe University
  • Continued to hold and stream to a wide audience our Language and Cultural Seminars
  • Ran a successful covid 19 referral service
  • Were successful in our lobbying of the Federal Government in taking a pro Greece stance on the Turkish incursions in the Mediterranean and with Aghia Sofia
  • I met on a number of occasions with the Prime Minister and Ministers Coleman, Tudge and Wood on visa issues of Greeks in Australia and on a variety of multicultural matters/initiatives
  • Corresponded with the Greek prime Minister on the Greek Government’s dealing with the Secretariat for Greeks Abroad
  • Participated in numerous international forums including the Delphi Economic Forum and the recent University Forum
  • Expanded the theatre units of our schools program so that performances were undertaken on line and on radio stations

In terms of the GCM’s program for 2021, Bill Papastergiadis advised as follows:

“We are hopeful of making an announcement on the establishment of a Greek Community of Melbourne Chair at Melbourne University on the Hellenic Diaspora and Cosmopolitanism. This Global Chair will be jointly funded by the Federal Government and Melbourne University and has arisen as a result of our discussions with the Prime Minister.”

“We expect to finalise the development of a new Centre for the Youth and the elderly in the city close to our Greek Centre. This will be a hub and meeting space for all Greek Australians and will act as a catalyst for future projects.”

“We are developing a program so as to integrate the universities in Australia with those in Greece so that our students can do part of their course work overseas an have that work recognised in their degrees here.”

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Two new climate resilient parks to be constructed in Athens

Aiming to help with the current climate crisis, Athens will begin construction on two new parks in the Votanikos area.

Talia Kapetanellis exits Western Sydney Wanderers in team overhaul

Western Sydney Wanderers have confirmed the departure of nine players from their women’s team following the end of their A-League contracts.

Greek Prime Minister to meet US President Biden at the White House in May

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, will visit the White House on May 16 to meet US President, Joe Biden.