Young girls in white dresses and young boys in tuxedos made the Greek community proud on Saturday night as they made their official debut at the Kytherian Association of Australia’s (KAA) 99th Kytherian Debutante Ball.

Held in The Ballroom at the Royal Randwick Racecourse, the ball attracted over 600 people who enjoyed a sit-down three course meal, great company and of course, dancing performances from the debutantes. An exemption was granted by the NSW Government to the KAA for dancing as the event was held at a sporting venue and not a function venue.

A number of officials and guests of honour were also in attendance at the event and this included, but is not limited to, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, Producer of TV show My Greek Odyssey, Peter Maneas, actress and author, Mary Coustas, President of the KAA, Emmanuel Alfieris, and CEO of the Bank of Sydney, Miltos Michaelas.

Following the National Anthems of Greece and Australia, Archbishop Makarios gave a resounding speech praising the KAA for organising the ‘joyous occasion’ and working to maintain strong connections with Kytherian youth.

“The same dynamic spirit among the members of the Association is… working hard to ensure that future generations remain connected with their Greek heritage and to keep this alive in their consciousness,” Archbishop Makarios said.

After this speech, Master of Ceremonies, Ms Coustas, began the debutante presentation, beginning with the Matron of Honour, followed by the flowergirls and pageboys and then the debutantes.

There was loud applause all around as the debutantes then performed to Senorita by Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes, followed by Greek music.

The dancing was then concluded with a traditional cutting of the cake by the Matron of Honour and debutantes, before lucky draw prizes were given out to a number of people who had huge smiles on their faces as they were given their donated gifts.

A main course of fish or meat was then enjoyed by all as Ms Coustas, who had transformed into her well-known TV character Effie, introduced the President of the KAA, Mr Alfieris, and then Mr Michaelas to give a short speech.

“You should be very proud that you manage to keep your traditions, but still set the benchmarks for many other Greek communities in Australia,” Mr Michaelas said proudly.

This was followed by a film clip from Guest of Honour, Peter Maneas’ My Greek Odyssey TV series, before the man himself approached the microphone and spoke about his pride in the Kytherian community.

“We are blessed to be born and living in this prosperous country. We are doubly blessed to be born as Kytherian-heritage people, with a heritage that is rich in world-changing history,” Mr Maneas said.

With the official proceedings concluded, a band began playing and people started dancing on the huge dancefloor. The debutantes then emerged again for their final outstanding performance to Greek music.

A spectacular night enjoyed by all in attendance!

The Castellorizian Association of NSW’s new home, ‘The Castellorizian’, was officially opened on Saturday with the cut of a blue ribbon from Archbishop Makarios and NSW Governor Margaret Beazley.

Master of Services John Mangos, who is of Castellorizian heritage, welcomed all attending honourable dignitaries and Greek community leaders to the private grand opening, saying how proud he was that himself and all other Kazzies “finally have a home again.”

Prior to the afternoons proceedings, NSW Governor Margaret Beazley was presented with a special Castellorizian badge from the Secretary coordinator of History and Archives, Victoria Kazaglis Gallagher. The gift was pinned on Her Excellency in the new cultural centre, where the Castellorizian Association costume exhibit was on display.

“This place, just as your island, is very much about community,” Her Excellency said in her speech.

“An island off the mainland… but whose community actually reflects its stunning beauty. Why do I say that? Because you are a stunning and a beautiful community.”

Following the NSW Governor’s speech, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios performed a formal blessing for the new building. The Archbishop expressed gratitude for being in Australia, where functions and community gatherings such as these are able to be held.

“When you are in a communion you’re not a stranger. When you’re in a society can be a stranger. We are here together as a communion,” Archbishop Makarios said.

“I believe in my experience that Australia is not only a society, but a communion.”

Along with Her Excellency and the Archbishop, other honourable dignitaries present at the event included Dr Fiona Martin, MP for Reid, Michael Daley, MP for Maroubra, Konstantinos Giannakodimos, representing the Consul General of Greece in Sydney Christos Karras, Very Rev. Steven Scoutas, Daniel Said, Randwick Council Mayor, Matt Thistlethwaite, MP for Kingsford Smith, Anthony Andrews, Harry Stavrinos and Dennis Wilson of Randwick Council.

Association President George Pizanis gave extensive thanks to all community and support members who stood by the Association’s side during the extensive process of building a new Castellorizian home.

“There was an idea to bring together a group of passionate, remarkable people, to see if we could rebuild an organisation that closed in 2010. Driven by determination, strength and a love for the Castellorizian community,” Pizanis said.

“The goal: To bring together all Castellorizian friends in NSW to a hub which we can call home. Kingsford being the optimum place as the island of Castellorizo and Randwick Council have been sister cities since the club’s inception.”

“As you can see we have built an incredible beacon for our community and for all of us to share.”

Pizanis continued by recognising a number of community members present in the audience, as well as all the current board members: Nicholas Anastasas (Vice President), Peter Salakas (Treasurer), George Mavrocordatos, John M Barbouttis, Angelo Elliott, Victoria Kazaglis Gallagher and James Mavros.

Konstantinos Giannakodimos, representing the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, said since the arrival of the first Castellorizian migrant in the 19th century, they have become one of the wealthiest and most prosperous Greek communities.

John Barbouttis, a former President and current board director of the Association, also spoke about their strong, ever-lasting connection with the Greek island.

Official proceedings concluded with the unveiling of a plaque by the Archbishop and Her Excellency, as well as a separate plaque by the Castellorizian Association board members.

The Antissian Association of New South Wales held a special Mother’s Day luncheon at Yiamas Greek Taverna in St Peters, Sydney, on Sunday in the presence of a number of Greek community leaders.

Ambassador of Greece to Australia, George Papacostas, along with the High Commissioner of Cyprus in Australia, Martha Mavrommatis, arrived from Canberra to attend the luncheon. It was Mr Papacostas’ first time in Sydney.

A number of speeches were given during the luncheon, which was attended by about 100 people including, but not limited to, the President of the Greek Orthodox Community & Church of Canberra, John Loukadellis, and the President of the Mytilenian Brotherhood of Sydney & NSW, Peter Psomas.

Co-President of the Antissian Association of NSW, Maria Iatrou, spoke first and welcomed everyone to the event, before introducing Mr Papacostas to say a few words.

In his speech, the Ambassador thanked everyone for welcoming him to his first-ever event in Sydney and went on to speak about his love of the Greek island of Lesvos.

For her part, Ms Mavrommatis congratulated all the mothers and grandmothers in the audience for their hard work and dedication to their families, before giving her own personal story of Mother’s Day on May 9 where she was given a huge bouquet of flowers from Mr Loukadellis, as she spent the day separated from her husband and children.

“That is the Greek philotimo!” Ms Mavrommatis said to wild applause.

After the official proceedings, attendees enjoyed a Greek feast as Tassos Bouzouki played his well-known Greek tunes in the background.

A solemn Divine Liturgy and wreath laying ceremony was held on Sunday at St Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church in Liverpool to remember the Pontian Greeks who lost their lives during the Greek Genocide committed by the Ottoman Turks.

The Liturgy, which was coordinated by Pontoxeniteas NSW, Panagia Soumela Sydney and Diogenes Wollongong, was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, with the help of His Grace Bishop Emilianos, His Grace Bishop Elpidios and parish priest Father Asterios, among many other clergy.

About 270 people filled the church pews and watched on as youths dressed in traditional Greek costumes from the region of Pontus stood proudly at the front of the church and became an integral part of the service.

The Liturgy marked the first time Archbishop Makarios had attended the Liverpool parish since it reopened following the resignation of the old Administrative Committee. During the ceremony, the first-ever Parish priest, Father Christos, was ordained an Elder and Archbishop Makarios hailed a new era for the community.

This was followed by a speech from Archbishop Makarios on the Greek Genocide, where he described the massacre of 353,000 Pontian Greeks, the violent Islamisation of the population, as well as the destruction of historical and Christian monuments in the area.

His Eminence also strongly called for the international community, including the Australian Government, to recognise the Greek Genocide.

“We wait for the just recognition of this historical reality throughout the Parliaments of Australia and amongst the international community. Not out of spiteful retribution and hate, but because such recognition is a way of ensuring that similar crimes perpetrated against humanity are prevented from recurring in the future,” Archbishop Makarios said in his powerful speech.

After this speech, attendees moved outside to a monument on the parish grounds for a solemn wreath laying ceremony and memorial.

Following a small prayer from His Eminence, the reciting of the Ode in Greek and English by Peter Tsigounis and Lambros Papadopoulos from the Greek Returned Servicemen League of NSW, and a minute silence, a number of prominent members of the Greek community laid wreaths.

This included, but is not limited to, Costas Yiannakodimos, representing the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, the Member for Canterbury, Sophie Cotsis MP, the Vice President of the Pontian Federation of Australia, Esta Paschalidis-Chilas, the President of Pontoxeniteas NSW, Maria Anthony, the President of Panagia Soumela Sydney, Peter Papoulidis, representing Diogenes Wollongong, Nikolaos Chrissostomidis, and representing the Youth Committee of Pontoxeniteas NSW, Kostas Papoulidis.

The wreath laying concluded with a traditional photo in front of the cenotaph with members of the Greek community and the youth dressed in their traditional costumes.

Commemorations will continue on Greek Genocide Commemoration Day on Wednesday, May 19, with an event being organised by the three Pontian associations of NSW at Marana Hall, McMahon Street, Hurstville at 7pm.