Greek youth and community leaders in Sydney reflect on the Athens Polytechnic Uprising

On Sunday, November 17, the Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales (GOCNSW) held a solemn event to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic Uprising, honouring the lives lost in the fight for democracy in Greece. 

The ceremony took place with a strong sense of community and remembrance, reflecting the significance of this pivotal moment in Greek history.

Emcee Dimitri Kallos commenced the event with a minute of silence, paying respects to the fallen heroes of 17 November 1973. Students from the Greek Orthodox Community’s Afternoon and Saturday schools, along with university students, sang the Greek and Australian national anthems, reinforcing the connection between younger generations and their heritage.

The programme included several heartfelt contributions. A video message highlighted the significance of the historic events of 1973, while students delivered poignant poetry recitations. These included ‘1050 Kilometres’ by Angeliki Aifantis, ‘Remember’ by Maria Kakkalis, ‘The People’ by Theodora Koutzoumis, ‘The Polytechnic Generation’ by Vasili Georgas, and poems by students of the GOCNSW Saturday School at Clemton Park.

Additional literary readings were presented in both English and Greek, including a piece by Elle Tamvakolos, and a journal excerpt by renowned poet Yiannis Ritsos. 

The Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Yannis Mallikourtis, and the President of the GOCNSW, Harry Danalis, also gave speeches on the day which served as a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made for freedom and democracy back in 1973.

The ceremony concluded with the laying of wreaths by Mr Danalis, Consul General Mr Mallikourtis, Canterbury Bankstown City Councillor Harry Stavrinos, and representatives of various Greek Australian associations, including the Sydney University Greek Society (SUGS), Macquarie University Greek Association (MUGA), UTS Hellenic Society, and Hellenic Society of UNSW (Hellsoc).

This collaborative effort highlighted the strong bonds within the Greek Australian community and their commitment to preserving historical memory.