The Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place on Saturday, April 6 from 3pm at St Basil’s Conference Room in Randwick in front of more than 60 members.
In attendance were representatives from the Castellorizian Association of NSW, the Kytherian Association of Australia, the Laconian Association of NSW, Arcadian ELKA, Vice President of AHEPA NSW, Nia Gitsas, photographer Effy Alexakis and Dr Panagioti Diamadis.
Guest speaker Vivian Spanos spoke on the day about her involvement with teaching refugee children and teenagers from war torn countries such as Ukraine and Syria and the trauma that these children faced.
Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney President Liana Vertzayias gave a detailed report of the Lyceum’s recent activities including:
- The usual Mother’s Day and Melbourne Cup events.
- An exhibition of Hellenic Lyceum costumes, jewellery, embroideries and artifacts coupled with a three-day Greek Paniyiri at Chau Chak Museum at Sydney University.
- The unboxing of the Greek Government’s donation of three costumes to the Hellenic Lyceum which took place at the Greek Consulate in Sydney, followed by afternoon tea.
- Book club on Maria Callas to pay tribute to the 100th anniversary since her birth.
Mrs Vertzayias mentioned how throughout the year, the young women and men of the Hellenic Lyceum dressed in national costume, figured prominently as guards of honour and performed at various community events.
The President also stressed that she had meetings with the Greek Foreign Ministry and the Australian Ambassador in Greece, Alison Duncan. She also visited the Lyceum’s of Athens, Kos and Castellorizo and met up with the respective presidents.
Mrs Vertzayias thanked the St Basils management for supplying them with an office to house their costumes. She also thanked her members for supporting the Lyceum’s functions, and thanked her committee and subcommittee for their support. She said it was an honour and privilege to lead the Hellenic Lyceum despite the burden and responsibility that goes with the job.
Mrs Vertzayias then turned to future events including:
- Book club commemorating the bicentenary of the death of Lord Byron on April 20 at The Grove, St Basil’s in Randwick.
- Mother’s Day Luncheon at Le Montage on May 14.
- The Lyceum World Conference in Kavala in September.
- The Melbourne Cup in November.
She said the highlight of the year will be the Hellenic Lyceum’s own artistic production of “Women of Byzantium” on November 24. This will be held for the Centenary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia (GOAA), in collaboration with the universities and under the auspices of the Greek government and the Australian Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan.
