By Ilias Karagiannis
The importance Australia places on Kythera, as the birthplace of a dynamic part of the diaspora, was confirmed during the recent visit of the Deputy Head of Mission of the Australian Embassy in Greece, Lachlan Scully, to the island’s Mayor, Efstratios Charchalakis.
The meeting highlighted the island’s special role as a bridge of friendship between Greece and the large Kytherian community of Australia, which numbers almost 80,000 people with direct or indirect origins from the island, as the Mayor noted in a post on social media.
The relationship between Kythera and Australia has deep social roots. It began with the mass migration of Kytherians to Australia during the 1950s and 1960s, when many sought better life opportunities.
As the Mayor pointed out, it was agreed that this relationship would be further strengthened through cultural exchanges and joint initiatives showcasing the long-standing historical connection between Kythera and Australia.
“I was very pleased to meet in my office the Deputy Head of Mission of the Australian Embassy in Greece, Lachlan Scully. We had an in-depth discussion about the whole network of strong ties between Kythera and Australia… and agreed to further strengthen these bonds through events and cultural exchanges,” Mr Charchalakis noted in his post.
