On May 20 every year, the Greek community commemorates one of the most dramatic battles of the Second World War – the Battle of Crete. Over 12 days in May 1941 a mixed force of Greek, Australian, British and New Zealand troops desperately tried to fight off a huge German airborne assault. The events that followed remain ingrained in the minds and hearts of many Greek people around the world today.
The German air attack and eventual victory:
The invasion began on the morning of May 20. Shortly after 8 am, the men of Creforce (the designated name for the Allied troops on the island) saw gliders in the sky overhead, quickly followed by the rumbling of an approaching air armada. Hundreds of planes lumbered through the sky, dropping German paratroops into the area around Maleme and Canea, as well as in the airfields at Rethymno and Heraklion.
German paratroops, part of the German airborne invasion of Crete, parachuting onto the village of Souda. Source: Australian War Memorial.
At Rethymno and Heraklion, Greek, Australian and British defenders kept the invaders off the airfields. But at Maleme, a mistaken withdrawal of a New Zealand battalion on the night of May 20 was exploited the next day by the Germans, who captured the airfield and were able to bring in the reinforcements they needed to defeat the allies.
After six days of hard fighting, parts of the Creforce pulled back to Sfakia on the south coast and from here, about 10,500 troops left the island over four nights. A separate evacuation at Heraklion rescued a further 6000 soldiers. The soldiers left behind, around 6500, formally surrendered to the Germans on June 1. The majority would spend the rest of the war in prisoner-of-war camps.
More than 1700 British and Commonwealth soldiers had been killed and 15,000 captured during the battle. From the Greek battalion, there were 426 casualties and 5225 prisoners of war.
Troops on the shore of Souda Bay awaiting evacuation, May 1941. Source: Australian War Memorial.
From
keeping company to elderly people in the community, to delivering meals, assisting
in national emergencies and keeping the country’s multicultural communities
alive, thousands of Australians are volunteering their time for the common good
and without financial gain.
Volunteering Australia estimates that in an ordinary year, volunteers contribute an estimated 743 million hours to the community.
“It is more important than ever that we thank and recognise volunteers this National Volunteer Week,” CEO of Volunteering Australia, Adrienne Picone said, highlighting that this challenging year has shone a spotlight on the power of the unpaid workforce in Australia.
On the occasion of National Volunteer Week (18-24 May)The Greek Herald, caught up with volunteers Darcy, Natasha, Nick and Hara who collectively have more than half a century of volunteering experience.
Greek Welfare Centre SA Volunteer, Darcy Patsalos with Volunteer coordinator Jenny Ladas.
Darcy Patsalos, Meals Delivery Driver, Greek Welfare Centre SA
Darcy (Anastasis) Patsalos has been volunteering for 23 years as a Delivery Driver for the Greek Meals Program, with South Australia’s Greek Welfare Centre ‘St Philothei.’
“I
love volunteering, I get to meet all kinds of people. It is a pleasure to know
that I have made that person’s day, even for a few minutes. That face-to-face
contact, they see a smiling face. I think it is good to make that person feel
important. That they matter and that someone cares,” said Darcy.
“Volunteers are vital in supporting and delivering the services of the Greek Welfare Centre. Without their commitment and passion for helping others in the community, we wouldn’t be able to assist our clients as well as we do. We love our volunteers,” said the centre’s Volunteer Coordinator, Jenny Ladas.
Victoria State Emergency Services Volunteer, Natasha Bradley (nee Kosmopoulos).
Natasha
is one of the country’s 200,000 emergency services volunteers who dedicate
their time to the community.
She
joined the Victoria State Emergency Services (VICSES) community seven years ago
wanting “to protect the local community” and this is what she has been doing
ever since.
“It’s a great way to meet people within your community. You get to spent
a bit of time together and it’s really like a massive family you never knew you
had. VICSES has also given me plenty of opportunities to learn skills such as
crew leading, using a chainsaw and steep angle rescue.
“Give it a go, put in some effort and make the most of it. I guarantee you won’t look back!” Natasha told The Greek Herald.
Michelle Church, Chief Executive St Basil’s Homes (SA), presenting Nick Roussianos with a Volunteer Service Award.
Nick Roussianos, Driver & Coordinator of Social Support men’s group, St. Basil’s Homes SA
Nick Roussianos, 84, originally from the Greek island of Zakynthos,
migrated to Australia in the 1950’s. For the last 23 years, he has been
volunteering with St Basil’s Homes in South Australia as a Driver and
Coordinator of Social Support men’s group for the organisation’s ‘Plateia’
program.
“After my wife and I sold our farm in Riverland and came to Adelaide to be closer to our kids, I knew I had to do something. Since I’m not one who can stay at home, I thought I should help our community’s elderly. I started as a ‘Meals on Wheels’ volunteer and joined the ‘Plateia’ program later on,” said Mr. Roussianos.
“Unfortunately young people don’t volunteer their time as much as my generation does. I wonder what is going to happen when people like myself are not be able to help any more. Volunteering gives me life. Who knows, maybe I turn 120.”
“Nick is the quintessential volunteer role model. He is an integral link with our clients’ cultural identity and linguistic needs,” St. Basils Homes SA Operations Manager, Con Katsambis, said.
Multicultural Community Council SA volunteer Hara Mollas with Mrs. Vicky Drouganis.
Hara Mollas, Community Visitor, Multicultural Community Council SA
Harula (Hara) Mollas is currently doing her Honours degree in psychology and apart from being a Lifeline volunteer, she is also a Community Visitor volunteer.
Every fortnight, for the last 18 months, she has been visiting 90-year-old
Vicky Drouganis, from Sparta, in the nursing home, where she currently lives.
“I have realised that although people may physically age, psychologically people remain the same. Elderly people still have humour, worries and similar thoughts to younger people. I have also learnt to be patient when I interact with elderly people as their memories may be reduced,” Hara said.
“Volunteering is vital because it unites society together. In a multicultural place like Australia, volunteering is very useful as volunteers get exposed to a completely different group of people. It also means that people receive free help, and that volunteers gain experience. I love helping people, it makes me happy.
“Giving out a part of yourself without expecting anything in return is truly rewarding.”
Travel restrictions in Australia have halted the plans of many Greek Australians who were visiting Greece this year. Over the last few weeks, these Greek Australians have become disgruntled with Aegean Airlines as they desperately try to navigate their website looking for information on whether they can reschedule their flights or even receive a full refund.
In a statement released today by the CEO of Aegean Airlines, this confusion and inconsistency has been clarified to some degree.
“As we adapt to a new way of travelling, we are adjusting our tickets accordingly so that you can travel with more flexibility and confidence. All new tickets issued between 18th May and 15th June 2020, and regardless of flight dates, will have the benefits of the FLEX fare category, so that you can have one piece of checked luggage free of charge and also the option to change your ticket without rebooking fees,” Aegean Airlines CEO, Dimitris Gerogiannis, said in the statement.
The Greek Herald will endeavour to clarify any issues our readers have with this statement soon.
Here is the full statement:
Dear passenger,
First of all, we hope that you and your family are in good health. For all of us in the family of AEGEAN and Olympic Air, 2020 started on a high, with optimism and vision for the new year and our next steps.
Unfortunately, the unprecedented situation we have all been faced with during the last three months, has forced us to give up doing what we love most, flying with you. We have had to stop flying with you, but we never stopped flying for you, stepping in to be by your side every time we were asked to, no matter how far we had to fly, to bring back to Greece whatever was needed.
Greece has successfully tackled the first phase of the health crisis, making us all very proud of what we have achieved together.
In keeping with the successful national efforts made so far, we are working diligently to face the new challenges raised by the pandemic. Having as absolute priority the health and safety of our passengers and employees and in close cooperation with the authorities, we have already modified the procedures in place for boarding, both at the gate and for aircraft access, and our inflight service. We have also reinforced the protocols for cleaning and disinfecting our aircraft. The use of a face mask has become obligatory for both our passengers and our crews, and from now on, only one personal item will be allowed in the cabin. Furthermore, the last 3 rows of seats will be kept vacant in case we should need to isolate a passenger with potential symptoms. During the week you will receive detailed information of all the protective measures and new procedures that we will be putting in place within the framework of new protocols for safe travelling.
From today, as travel restrictions to the mainland and the island of Crete have been lifted and from next week, to all the Greek islands, we are ready to fly together on our domestic network.
We are getting ready to gradually restore international operations in the coming weeks and months. Initially we plan to restart operations with a limited schedule from Athens to Munich, Frankfurt, Geneva, and Zurich. At the same time, we shall increase flights operating to Brussels, which is the only international destination that we didn’t suspend. Soon, more destinations will be added.
As we adapt to a new way of travelling, we are adjusting our tickets accordingly so that you can travel with more flexibility and confidence. All new tickets issued between 18th May and 15th June 2020, and regardless of flight dates, will have the benefits of the FLEX fare category, so that you can have one piece of checked luggage free of charge and also the option to change your ticket without rebooking fees.
In conclusion, please be assured that we shall be constantly monitoring developments and learning step by step how to successfully and carefully progress to the next one. After all, this is what we have been doing for more than 20 years at AEGEAN, always guided by our values and having you, our passengers, as our main focus.
We look forward to travelling together again. Thank you for your support.
The first episode of a new documentary titled ‘WWII: Battle of Crete’ will air on Foxtel’s History Channel tonight at 7.30pm, just in time for the commemoration of the Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign on May 20.
The three-part series, produced by Pilot Productions, tells the story of the famous WWII battle and details the four year German occupation of Crete that followed.
“As the huge wave of German aircraft approached, the island of Crete was defended by a poorly equipped Allied force. Such a huge airborne invasion had never been attempted before or since in war. This is the story of that unique battle and it’s aftermath,” a statement about the documentary reads.
One of the few surviving Anzacs of Greece, 103-year-old Alf Carpenter, appears in the documentary, as well as the Chief Historian of the NSW Anzac Memorial, Mr Brad Manera.
“It seemed like a slaughter to me,” says Carpenter in a trailer for the documentary.
Trailer for new documentary ‘WWI: Battle of Crete.’
The Joint Committee for the Commemoration of the Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign in Australia assisted with the documentary by connecting the director, Ian Cross, with numerous Anzacs, institutions and historians around the world.
“We thank Ian and his team for creating a great opportunity to learn, commemorate and pay our respects to the legacy of the Anzacs of Greece,” Nick Andriotakis, Secretary of the Joint Committee for the Commemoration of the Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign, told The Greek Herald.
A European Commissioner has recently revealed that the European Union has purchased equipment for the Turkish armed forces, which is now being used to make repeated provocative moves against Greece.
Oliver Varhelyi, the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, has confirmed that the bloc purchased four vessels for the Turkish Coast Guard as part of the EU and Turkey’s Joint Declaration on the Refugee Crisis.
According to a report by Proto Thema, the vessel purchases were made last year as part of an EU initiative to “ensure proper border management with the aim of securing and protecting refugees, the local population, and ultimately, Turks and European citizens.”
European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, confirms funding was provided to Turkey for military vessels. Source: MNA.
In addition to the vessels, Varhelyi confirmed that the EU has also funded the purchase of armoured vehicles and surveillance equipment for Turkey to be used as part of its border security efforts.
“Flying border surveillance equipment, surveillance radars and thermal cameras were also purchased, with most of this equipment already delivered,” Varhelyi said.
“The Commission will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that all previous commitments are honoured.”
Nikos Androulakis, an MEP from Greece, responded to these comments overnight, expressing his concern that the European Union will continue to fund purchases for the Turkish Armed Forces and security forces.
“While it is unacceptable for (Turkish President) Erdogan to use refugees and migrants as a means to blackmail Europe, the Commission continues to fund purchases for the Turkish Armed Forces and security forces,” Androulakis said in a statement concerning the issue.
“Especially after the events in Evros, where the entire European leadership visited the Greek border and saw the magnitude of the threat to European security from Turkey’s actions, the Hungarian Commissioner cannot be indifferent and continue such programs normally.
“Turkey must stop receiving money from the Pre-Accession Assistance Fund, especially for projects related to the purchase of equipment for the Turkish security forces. Immediate explanations are needed from the European Commission regarding this policy.”
Greek MEP, Nikos Androulakis, has responded to reports coming out of the EU. Source: News Beezer.
Greece reopened the Acropolis in Athens and all open-air archaeological sites in the country to the public on Monday, after a two-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, accompanied by Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, led the opening as one of the first to visit the ancient Greek monumental complex that sits on a rocky outcrop overlooking the capital.
“The Acropolis, a world monument, will now be able to continue inspiring with its marbles shining under the sun,” Sakellaropoulou said after her visit to the ancient ruins.
Greek President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni, marked the reopening of archaeological sites with a visit to the Acropolis. Source: MNA.
Archaeological sites are the first category of cultural sites in Greece to return to normal operations, followed by open-air summer cinemas on June 1, museums on June 15 and art events on July 15.
They will operate from 8 am to 8 pm and follow all the necessary safety measures, according to the instructions of the National Public Health Organisation (EODY).
These include keeping a distance of 1.5 metres between visitors, ensuring the maximum number of visitors per archaeological site, marking safe routes, separating entries and exits, and putting in place plexiglass divider panels where needed.
Visitors to archaeological sites need to adhere to the 1.5 metre social distance rules. Source: Apostolos Makris.
There will also be special rules for all restroom facilities at these sites, and the use of protective masks and alchohol-based antiseptic gels for disinfecting hands is recommended.
The move to reopen archaeological sites comes as Greek authorities want to kickstart Greece’s vital tourism sector to lessen the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
May 19 marks a particularly significant anniversary for the Greek community. It is the official anniversary of the systematic extermination of the native Greek subjects of the Ottoman Empire before, during and after World War I (1914-1923).
This genocide, carried out against Greeks in the regions of Pontos, Thrace and Asia Minor, as well as the Armenians and Assyrians, remains widely contested to this day. Successive Turkish governments have all denied the horrific actions and in Australia, South Australia and NSW remain the only two states to have recognised the genocide.
However, it remains clear that approximately 1.5 million Greeks were killed by the Ottomans during this period. Various measures were used to carry out the persecutions including but not limited to: massacres, forced deportations and death marches, forced conversion to Islam, conscription into labor battalions, and the destruction of Christian Orthodox cultural, historical and religious monuments.
Millions of Greek people were forcibly expelled from their homes in the Ottoman Empire.
In the region of Izmit alone, Kemalist forces burned over 30 Greek villages and massacred over 12,000 Greeks. While in September 1922, at the completion of the Greco-Turkish War, the Kemalists marked their victory by burning the city of Smyrna (today Izmir) to the ground and committing a large scale massacre of the city’s Greek and Armenian population.
Commemorating those who lost their lives:
To pay tribute to those who lost their lives, the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia and its Youth Committee will live stream a special commemoration on Facebook and YouTube on Tuesday, 19 May 2020, from 7:30 pm.
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios will also hold a special Holy Liturgy for those who lost their lives during the genocide on Sunday, 24 May 2020. This can be viewed on the Archdiocese of Australia’s Facebook page and YouTube from 7am- 10am.
The Pontian Brotherhood of South Australia will also hold a commemoration service with Father Christos Tsoraklidis. Held at the Genocide Monument in Salisbury, Adelaide, the event will be streamed live on Facebook.
Message from Archbishop Makarios on the occasion of the Commemoration of the Greek Genocide:
Αγαπητοί εν Χριστώ αδελφοί,
Χριστός Ανέστη!
Με περισσή συγκίνηση σάς απευθύνω το παρόν μήνυμα επ᾽ ευκαιρία των εκδηλώσεων μνήμης της Γενοκτονίας των Ελλήνων του Πόντου, της Μικράς Ασίας και της Ανατολικής Θράκης.
Οι Έλληνες του Πόντου αποτελούν ένα παλαίφατο κομμάτι της ελληνικής διαχρονίας και ένα πολυτίμητο ζωντανό μέλος του Μείζονος Ελληνισμού και, συνεπώς, η τραγωδία της Γενοκτονίας που υπέστησαν από κοινού με τους χριστιανικούς πληθυσμούς των Αρμενίων και Ασσυρίων στις αρχές του 20ου αιώνος δεν μπορεί παρά να σηματοδοτεί για τις συνειδήσεις των απανταχού Ελλήνων Ορθοδόξων ένα ανείπωτο τραύμα. Ένα τραύμα, όμως, που πρωτίστως οι ίδιοι οι Έλληνες του Πόντου μεταποίησαν μέσω της πίστεώς τους και των στερρών εκκλησιαστικών καταβολών τους σε πρόκληση για εκ νέου κατάφαση της ζωής και της δημιουργικότητας ως δώρων του Τριαδικού Θεού. Μέσα από τις αδυσώπητες συμπληγάδες της νεώτερης ιστορίας οι εκ Πόντου αδελφοί μας προσέφεραν στο Πανελλήνιο μερικές από τις πιο λαμπρές σελίδες του δυναμισμού και της αντοχής της ελληνικής ψυχής.
Οι παρατηρήσεις αυτές έχουν ως σκοπό να καταστήσουν την ευθύνη της τραγωδίας της Γενοκτονίας υπόθεση ακόμα πιο επιτακτική, αφ᾽ ενός μεν ως απαίτηση αναγνώρισης, αφ᾽ ετέρου δε ως εκζήτηση ειλικρινούς συμφιλιώσεως. Ωστόσο, τόσο η μία όσο και η άλλη είναι εφικτές μονάχα μέσω της υπέρβασης της μισαλλοδοξίας, της εμπέδωσης του αμοιβαίου σεβασμού και της καλλιέργειας της ιστορικής μνήμης. Γι᾽ αυτό και δράσεις όπως αυτές, τις οποίες επί σειρά ετών διοργανώνει και πραγματοποιεί η Ομοσπονδία Ποντιακών Σωματείων Αυστραλίας όχι μόνο προσανατολίζονται προς τη σωστή κατεύθυνση, αλλά επίσης αποτελούν παράδειγμα προς μίμηση για όλους, εφόσον υπηρετούν, με τον καλύτερο δυνατό τρόπο, τη διατήρηση της ιστορικής μνήμης και την τιμή προς τους νεκρούς που άδικα χάθηκαν κατά τη Γενοκτονία.
Approximately 1.5 million Greeks from the regions of Pontus, Thrace and Asia Minor were killed.
Είναι σημαντικό να μην ξεχνάμε τίποτα· να μην ξεχνάμε τις λευκές πορείες θανάτου, τα στρατόπεδα καταναγκαστικών έργων, την Καταστροφή της Σμύρνης, τους εκτοπισμούς και τους εξανδραποδισμούς, τους μάρτυρες επισκόπους Χρυσόστομο Σμύρνης, Γρηγόριο Κυδωνιών, Αμβρόσιο Μοσχονησίων, Προκόπιο Ικονίου και Ευθύμιο Ζήλων, το αίμα των χιλιάδων που έρρευσε υπέρ πίστεως και πατρίδος. Όταν δεν ξεχνάμε, γνωρίζουμε ποιοι είμαστε· όταν δεν ξεχνάμε, έχουμε τη δύναμη που χρειαζόμαστε να συνεχίσουμε το ταξίδι μας μέσα στην ιστορία προς την Βασιλεία του Θεού· όταν δεν ξεχνάμε γινόμαστε τύπος και υπογραμμός για όλα τα έθνη.
Είμαι πεπεισμένος ότι και φέτος θα ανανεώσετε το σθένος της ψυχής σας και θα επαναβεβαιώσετε το χρέος σας απέναντι στους νεκρούς προγόνους και τους αγέννητους που μέλλει να αναζητήσουν σε εσάς, σε όλους μας, λόγον ζωής και λόγον ελπίδος.
Επί δε τούτοις συγχαίρων και πάλιν τους διοργανωτές και τους μετέχοντες διατελώ μετά πολλής εν Χριστώ Αναστάντι αγάπης και διαπύρων ευχών,
Hundreds of Greek Australian parishioners flocked to church on Sunday after weeks of staying away, as a ban on mass gatherings to curb the spread of coronavirus was eased.
Whilst only ten people at a time were allowed inside churches, it was still a special moment for many as they heard the melodious chants of the Sunday liturgy in person for the first time in eight weeks.
“I was moved when I came to church today because it’s something we couldn’t do for a while. But I hope the pandemic will disappear and we will be able to return to normal,” said Margarita Kapetanaki with tears in her eyes, after attending a service at St Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in Burwood.
DOORS RE-OPEN FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP TODAY | For the first time in 8 weeks our doors reopened today for the Divine Liturgy – an uplifting development. Whilst we could only allow ten worshippers in at one time, those who attended were filled with emotion and joy. Everyone was very understanding about the necessary health and safety procedures. We asked some of those present today to tell us how they were feeling…
Another parishioner from St Nectarios, Stella, also expressed how happy she was to be able to attend church for her mother’s 17 year memorial.
“It’s a pleasure to be here for my mother’s 17 year memorial and to see everyone at church today,” she said.
However, the reopening of Greek Orthodox churches across Australia was no easy feat. Parishioners were asked to sit in designated seats and those who weren’t lucky enough to get inside, had to adhere to social distancing measures in outdoor courtyards.
Disposable gloves and antiseptic were also available at the entrance, and worshippers had their temperature taken on arrival.
People’s temperatures were checked outside of churches on Sunday. Source: St Nectarios Burwood Facebook
Father George Liangas from St Nectarios Burwood. Source: Facebook.
Father George Liangas from St Nectarios Burwood said these preparations to reopen the church were worth it as it was good to see parishioners attend services again.
“It was difficult to have holy services with no parishioners, so I’m very happy that we are now able to open our churches again. It was moving to interact with everyone, which is what the church is about,” Father Liangas said.
The possibility that Greece could develop its own version of Silicon Valley has grown more likely, as the state has recovered ownership of a 760,000 square metre plot at Peraia in Thessaloniki, where a fourth-generation technology park is to be developed.
The seaside property, which has a 750 metre frontage onto the Thermaikos Gulf, used to belong to state broadcaster ERT and was transferred to state privatisation fund TAIPED in 2013.
However a few years ago, the strategy for the utilisation of the plot changed. It was decided that the property should return to the state so that it could be conceded to the administrative entity, Alexander Innovation Zone in Thessaloniki, for the development of a technology park.
The new entity will have to complete the necessary studies and secure the financial resources by the end of 2021, otherwise the property will be returned to TAIPED.
The project constitutes an investment of 50 million euros to come from private parties, loans and donations.
Some €250,000 has already been spent on studies and the business plan, according to the President of the Alexander Innovation Zone, Kyriakos Loufakis.
Authorities in the seaside resort of Loutraki are investigating the circumstances that led to the deaths of four men in a cave in the area of Ano Karbounari on Saturday.
According to local reports, the rescue unit found a power generator and explosive mechanism inside the cave, and speculation is rife the four victims, aged between 34 and 65, died from asphyxiation from the fumes of the machine.
“The most likely scenario investigated by the authorities is that the four men were searching for treasure and tragically died while attempting to blow some kind of an explosive device. Some of them had wires in their hands,” Loutraki Mayor, Giorgos Gionis, told SKAI TV.
A team of 21 firefighters were dispatched to the scene when the wife of one of the men reported her husband missing. She is believed to have driven them to the spot as no vehicle was found nearby by police.
The bodies were retrieved from the cave early in the morning and carried to Corinth Hospital for the cause of death to be identified.
