The 80th anniversary of OXI Day yesterday was commemorated with heartfelt poems and speeches by the Greek communities of Canberra, Melbourne and New South Wales.
The October 28 holiday commemorates the day in 1940 when Greece rejected an ultimatum from fascist Italy to allow Axis troops to enter the country and occupy strategic locations. The refusal marked Greece’s entry into World War II on the Allied side.
Here’s how the commemorations went down across the three states:
Greek Orthodox Community & Church of Canberra:
On Wednesday, the Greek Orthodox Community & Church of Canberra held a special ceremony at the Greek Embassy of Australia to celebrate OXI Day.
President of the Canberra Greek Community, John Loukadellis (right) and the Ambassador of Greece in Australia, His Excellency Mr George Papacostas (left).
Children from the Greek School of Canberra.
The event had a total of 220 people in attendance, running from 6-8pm in the gardens of the embassy. 25 children from the Greek School of Canberra performed songs and poems about OXI Day, followed by the Canberra Hellenic Dancers Atalanti group performing traditional Greek dances.
“We were very blessed that we got to celebrate this historic and religious event as a community, united to remember the fallen heroes of 28 October 1940, for they sacrificed their today for our tomorrow,” President of the Greek Orthodox Community & Church of Canberra, John Loukadellis, tells The Greek Herald.
Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria:
The Greek Schools of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria commemorated OXI Day last night with a special Zoom event.
Many hundreds of children and parents took part in the digital commemoration, with some reciting poems, giving speeches and presentations.
The Greek Schools of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria commemorated OXI Day last night with a special Zoom event.
All of the activities were focused on the meaning and relevance of OXI Day.
“The Zoom event was a great success. It gave all the students a chance to continue performing and honour the heroic actions of the Greeks,” President of the Community, Bill Papastergiadis, tells The Greek Herald.
All of the activities were focused on the meaning and relevance of OXI Day.
Greek Orthodox Community of NSW:
The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW organised a cocktail “COVID-Safe” event to mark the 80th anniversary of OXI Day last night.
Students from the Community’s Greek schools gave a small play.
Photos: The Greek Herald.
Students from the Community’s Greek schools started the event with the singing of the National Anthems of Greece and Australia. This was followed by a small play, where students retold the events that occurred on OXI Day.
In attendance were the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Mr Christos Karras, Leader of the Opposition, Jodi McKay, Member for Oatley, Mark Coure, and Member for Canterbury, Sophie Cotsis, as well as a number of representatives from Greek communities across NSW.
OXI day, the 28th of October, is celebrated all around the world to commemorate the day Greece said NO to the Italian’s taking over Greece back in 1940, prior to World War 2.
On Wednesday at the Greek Embassy of Australia, the Greek Orthodox Community & Church of Canberra held a special ceremony to celebrate this day. Special guests such as the Hellenic Club of Canberra President, Mr Stef Pashalidis, the Ambassador of Greece in Australia, His Excellency Mr George Papacostas, the High Commissioner of Cyprus, Mrs Martha Mavrommatis, the Cyprus Community of Canberra President, Mrs Georgia Alexandrou, as well as other presidents of local Greek associations, were all in attendance to the event to share speeches and words of wisdom on the significance of OXI day and what it means to Greeks. The event was MC’d by President of the Greek Community & Church of Canberra Mr John Loukadellis.
John Loukadellis (left) and the High Commissioner of Cyprus, Mrs Martha Mavrommatis (right).
The event had a total of 220 people in attendance, running from 6-8pm in the gardens of the embassy. It showcased 25 children from the Greek School of Canberra performing songs and poems about Oxi Day, followed by the Canberra Hellenic Dancers Atalanti group performing traditional Greek dances to further celebrate and commemorate the occasion. Kiria Anastasia, Kiria Dora, Kiria Stella, Kiria Marilena, Kiria Eva and Kirio Sotiri were all very proud of their students for their amazing efforts today.
“We were very blessed that we got to celebrate this historic and religious event as a community, united to remember the fallen heroes of 28 October 1940, for they sacrificed their today for our tomorrow,” Mr Loukadellis shared.
The High Commissioner of Cyprus, Mrs Mavrommatis, stated “we are very proud of our kids because we know that our community has a future and ‘Hellenicism’ will never die as we continue to grow our culture, language and our religion and will forever be proud Greeks.”
The event was a hit with the younger generation as well.
CMS radio’s Greek radio programme host, Mr Dimitris Saragas, further stated: “I am very proud to be a Greek” after seeing the kids today do an “amazing job” in keeping the traditions and culture alive in Canberra.
Theodore Leonidas Merkoureas, senior teacher of the Atalanti Canberra Hellenic Dancers group, also shared “oxi day is an extremely important day in Greek and world History and we’re always excited to support and promote our national culture.”
Mr Loukadellis stated: “I am extremely proud of the efforts of our teachers and our amazing students and Hellenic Dancers performance at this evenings events. We would also like to thank the Ambassador of Greece, H.E Mr George Papacostas, for his continued support of our community and for opening the doors to the embassy for our community to celebrate OXI Day in such a beautiful residence” and further thanked everyone who came and supported the event.
Nearly two months after Turkey’s President Erdogan issued an order converting the historic church from a museum into a mosque, Islamic prayers are finally scheduled to occur on October 30th.
In preparation, Turkish authorities have gone to great lengths to cover priceless Byzantine frescoes and iconography at the former church, considered one of the most significant collections of such art in the world.
Photos show that the centuries old Christian frescoes and mosaics have been completely covered by white screens, raising concerns about how these fixtures were installed and how it will impact the integrity of these historical artifacts.
Dünya sanat tarihinin baş yapıtlarından Kariye fresk ve mozaiklerinin kapatılması ne yazık ki yapının karakterini ve sanatsal değerini öldürecek vasıfısızlıkta.
Solda eski hali, sağda yeni hali. Proje Türkiye kültür mirası yöneten ve koruyan bakanlık ve kurumları. pic.twitter.com/ijItpmLxCz
Mahir Polat, the director of the Cultural Heritage Department of the City of Istanbul, was critical of the work being done by religious officials.
In a tweet, he called the Byzantine iconography in the church “one of the masterpieces of world art history,” adding that the renovation was “incompetent” and the work that was done to conceal the Christian iconography will “kill the character and artistic value of the building.”
The Chora church is a UNESCO World Heritage site but it was converted into a mosque in August. The scheduled prayers will complete the church’s transformation into a mosque.
Greek tennis player, Stefanos Tsitsipas, had to switch his shoe in the third set of his first-round match against Jan-Lennard Struff at the Erste Bank Open on Wednesday, but that didn’t stop the third seed from rallying past the German.
The reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion raised his level as the match wore on to oust Struff 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 52 minutes. Tsitsipas will next play former World No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov, who also has triumphed at The O2 in London (2017).
“I’m happy that I was relaxed and in that kind of state of mind and mood. I think it helped overall my performance today,” Tsitsipas said in his on-court interview.
“For sure there are a lot of benefits you can take when you’re playing relaxed and when you’re not panicked.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas ousted Struff 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 52 minutes.
Tsitsipas and Struff entered this match tied at two wins apiece in their ATP Head2Head series, with three of their clashes going to a deciding set. The pivotal moment in Vienna came at 1-1 in the third set. Just before Struff served to begin the game, Tsitsipas realised he needed to switch his left shoe.
When play resumed, the Greek broke serve and he never looked back. Tsitsipas only lost three service points in the decider, landing 83 per cent of his first serves in the set to put pressure on the German.
The World No. 5 clinched his victory with a forehand winner, advancing to the second round on his debut at the ATP 500.
“I think Jan played good today and we were both serving well, [playing well] from the baseline. I wouldn’t say there were many rallies,” Tsitsipas said.
“It was a demonstration of serves and I managed to overcome the difficulties that were presented in his service games.”
For much of the early part of the match, Struff controlled play with his big serving and powerful groundstrokes. But he relinquished a pivotal break at the end of the second set by missing a high forehand volley into the net. That proved the opening Tsitsipas needed. He takes a 1-0 ATP Head2Head series advantage into his meeting against Dimitrov.
During his speech to mark OXI Day in Crete on Wednesday, Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said “we are facing the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic” as Greece recorded 1,547 cases overnight.
“As we are facing the second wave of the pandemic, let’s remember the words of George Theotokas, who 80 years ago, writing about October 28, said he was impressed by the activation of the Greek philotimos and this unprecedented feeling of national unity,” Mitsotakis said during his speech.
“As we face other challenges, let us remember these words again. I am absolutely sure that with a sense of unity, high individual and social responsibility and collectivity, we will be able to face this crisis and emerge victorious again.”
Wednesday marked the second consecutive day in Greece with over 1,000 new cases.
The total number of cases since the start of the pandemic is 34,299, with 603 deaths.
There are 108 patients on ventilators. Their median age is 65 years. Thirty-four (31.5%) are women and the rest are men.
Ninety-three percent of intubated patients suffer from an underlying disease or are aged 70 years and older. A total of 280 patients have now been discharged from ICU’s across the country.
Greek military jets and helicopters performed flybys over Athens and other Greek cities, towns and islands on Wednesday to mark Greece’s national holiday.
Known as OXI Day, or “No Day,” the October 28 holiday commemorates the day in 1940 when Greece rejected an ultimatum from fascist Italy to allow Axis troops to enter the country and occupy strategic locations. The refusal marked Greece’s entry into World War II on the Allied side.
On Wednesday, an F-16 of the Greek Air Force flew through the skies in Thessaloniki with the pilot giving a powerful patriotic message.
“Greeks, from Orestiada to Gavdos and from Othonoi to Kastellorizo, remember that the most laconic and resounding message in world history consists of two syllables: OXI,” the pilot can be heard saying as he completes his fly-by.
“A message that reminds everyone that democracy and freedom are ideals that will triumph as long as there are immortal Greek souls. Souls bold beyond their strengths, adventurous in their knowledge and optimistic despite difficulties. Happy National Day Greece.”
Greek flag flies over Athens:
While traditional military and student parades were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Mayor of the southern Athenian suburb of Glyfada also installed a huge Greek flag on the slopes of Mount Hymettus, overlooking the capital city,
The 800-square meter flag can be seen from most parts of southern Athens.
“With pride, up there on Mount Hymettus we put the Greek flag today! Above the small church of Prophet Elias where it is visible from everywhere. It is a tribute to the Greeks who sacrificed themselves in the ’40s, defending our homeland,” Mayor Giorgos Papanikolaou said on Twitter.
Με περηφάνεια και καμάρι, εκεί ψηλά στον Υμηττό βάλαμε σήμερα την ελληνική σημαία! Πάνω από το εκκλησάκι του Προφήτη Ηλία, ορατή από παντού. Φόρος τιμής στους Έλληνες που θυσιάστηκαν το ‘40, αμυνόμενοι περί πάτρης. Η φετινή επέτειος του «Όχι» δεν είναι σαν καμία άλλη. pic.twitter.com/fTajis4aG3
Greece’s Prime Minister and President celebrate OXI Day:
In his address for the national holiday, Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, appealed to Greeks to show the same unity and solidarity they did in 1940.
“Today, our country is facing different challenges than those it faced 80 years earlier,” Mitsotakis said. “But we must marshal the same virtues that made Greece then too: national unity, a high mindset, the sense of solidarity.”
Mitsotakis was at the Greek naval base in Souda Bay, Chania, on the island of Crete.
Mitsotakis was at the Greek naval base in Souda Bay, Chania, on the island of Crete, visiting with sailors at the naval base and the crew of the submarine “Katsonis.”
Greece’s President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, on the other hand, was in Thessaloniki to celebrate the national day.
Sakellaropoulou lay a wreath at the Heroes Monument at the 3rd Army Battalion in Thessaloniki, while Air Force jets, followed by helicopters, flew over the city.
Katerina Sakellaropoulou lay a wreath at the Heroes Monument at the 3rd Army Battalion in Thessaloniki.
In a speech, she said that history teaches the Greek people that Greece “becomes stronger and overcomes every obstacle when it is united.”
“Greece chose the right side of history, defended liberty, justice and human values against the barbarity of fascism and the violence of Nazism, overcame fear, fought valiantly under the worst possible conditions and gained the admiration of the entire world,” Sakellaropoulou said.
“That event still inspires Greeks. Today, under difficult circumstances, in the midst of a pandemic and tensions in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, the event serves as a model of solidarity, unity and national self-confidence.”
For many people, October 28, 1940, marks the moment when former military general and Prime Minister of Greece, Ioannis Metaxas, said “OXI” (NO) to an ultimatum made by Italian Prime Minister, Benito Mussolini, an ally of Nazi leader Hitler.
For Chris Zaropoulos, the day is more personal and vivid. He was only 9 years old at the time and remembers the exact moment when the Italians launched an air attack on Greek soldiers who were fighting in the Pindus mountains near his village, Aristi, in Zagori.
“Once the bombing began, all the villagers gathered to discuss whether we should stay or leave. Eventually we decided to flee in the middle of the night,” Chris tells The Greek Herald exclusively.
“My mum packed whatever she could, including clothes and blankets. Once night fell, she put everything on our two donkeys and we travelled towards a village called Vikos.
Chris was only 9 years old when the Italians launched an air attack on Greek soldiers.
“We walked all night, very slowly. There was about 50 of us and we all had to walk one behind the other because the road was narrow. I didn’t want to get lost so I held onto the tail of the donkey until we finally reached our destination at dawn.”
Chris and his family stayed in Vikos for a few months, while all around them Greek soldiers were launching a powerful counterattack against the invading Italian forces. The Greek army had to face a cold winter, Chris says, but their determination, bravery and patriotism never wavered.
“For ten days in December, the Greek and Italian forces battled over two mountains of Pindus all day and night. Seven times the Italians took over the mountain and seven times we claimed it back,” Chris explains.
For ten days in December, the Greek and Italian forces battled over two mountains of Pindus.
“During the third week in December, the Greek army took over the mountain for good after constant attacks on the Italian forces.”
Of course, these attacks were not without heavy casualties. Something Chris distinctly remembers as once the snow began to melt in March, he begged his pappou to take him to the place where the bodies of dead Greek and Italian soldiers were.
“I saw their bodies half covered by snow. I counted about 25 bodies. Two of them were hugging each other. From their khaki uniform, I could tell that they were Greeks,” Chris says.
Many of the Greek soldiers who fought in the Greek-Italian war were either severely injured or killed.
After this traumatic experience, Chris and his family returned to Aristi. He says they were able to survive by living off the animals they had as they provided them with wool, cheese, milk and meat.
To this day, Chris still thinks about those days and always spares a thought for the mothers of the young soldiers who lay dead on the battlefield.
“I still think about those mothers who wanted to see their sons grow up, get married and have children, not lying dead on a mountain for at least three months covered by snow,” Chris says tearfully. “They were just children.”
A painful reminder that while the patriotism of the Greeks was incomparable and a brave example for future generations, it also had many devastating impacts for those people who were left behind.
80 years have passed since the outbreak of the Greek-Italian war. Greece responded immediately to Italy’s aggressive action.
Some fought bravely in the mountains of Albania, while others gave their best in the background to organise the war. All the Greeks, however, surpassed themselves.
The Greek-Italian war of 1940-1941 became history. An example to imitate. It inspired many and became a source of creation and continues to inspire Greeks. The events of 1940 live in the hearts of all of us, no matter how far we are from home.
The editorial team of The Greek Herald thanks the more than 50 young people, aged 10 to 17, who participated in our competition for October 28 and congratulates their parents and grandparents, who pass on their love for the homeland.
Winner for Year 5 – 6: Vasiliki Kastora
Vasiliki Kastora from Nestoras College was the winner of our Year 5-6 category, submitting a beautiful hand-drawn artwork which clearly portrays her pride in her Greek heritage. The Greek flags, as well as the quote by Winston Churchill saying “heroes fight like Greeks,” made her entry a standout.
“On October 28, we celebrate the liberation of Greece from the Italians and Germans during the war of 1940. As a Greek, I am proud of all those who fought like heroes, and this sacrifice remains in our history today,” Vasiliki tells The Greek Herald.
“Let us never forget the day of “NO,” when Greece gave hope to the whole world and that gives me great joy.”
Winner for Year 7 – 9: Georgia Christofi
Georgia Christofi from Oakleigh Grammar School was the winner of our Year 7 -9 category, after she submitted a hand-painted artwork showcasing the Greek flag and soldiers preparing for battle.
The Hellenic Culture Coordinator at Oakleigh Grammar, Natasha Spanos, says students from the school were “excited” to take part in the competition to “express themselves and understand Greek history and culture better.”
“This competition gave the students the opportunity to identify what we celebrate on the 28th of October and express it in their own way,” Ms Spanos tells The Greek Herald.
Winner for Year 10 – 12: Elektra Cadzow
Elektra Cadzow took home the prize for the Year 10-12 category, with a striking image of a man holding the Greek flag proudly, while the word ‘OXI’ stands out in the left hand corner.
“OXI day means to me celebrating the Greek people’s resolve for standing up for what’s right and empowering the people,” Elektra says.
“Thank you for the opportunity, I’m so excited that you chose my picture. My yiayia and pappou will be so happy.”
2020 marks eighty years since Greece’s Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas’ famous declaration, ‘OXI’ (NO!) to Italy’s proposed annexation, subsequently triggering an Italian invasion. While Greece’s glorious military feats against the Italians have been well-documented, whether through historical recount or analysis in so many mediums over the many decades, looking at the events through a newspaper of the Greek diaspora, such as the Panellinios Kiryx, highlights its significant role in providing news information to its readership on the other side of the world, as well as bridging the relationship between Australia’s Greek migrant communities with the broader Australian society.
As the Panellinios Kiryx’s policy at the time, stated in its masthead, was to ‘promote friendly relations between the Greek and Australian people and to educate and instruct Greeks in Australian sentiment and develop good citizenship,’ how was Italy’s declaration of war against Greece and the ensuing Greek-Italian campaign presented in Sydney’s Panellinios Kiryx? While its readership’s homeland was at war, in what ways did the newspaper promote friendly relations between Greeks and Australians, and how did it develop good citizenship among Australia’s Greeks?
Before we examine the significant coverage of October 28, 1940, the Panellinios Kiryx was already covering the prelude to the forthcoming events with the sinking of the Greek cruiser, ‘Elli,’ docked at the island of Tinos as it was participating in the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Panellinios Kiryx, August 22, 1940), with the front page headline capturing the plight in Greek Italian relations, ‘Greece Is Determined to Protect its Liberty at all Costs’, while stating the torpedo that sunk ‘Elli’ was Italian. Furthermore, the Panellinios Kiryx’s editorial, written in English, ‘Italian Double Dealing and Double Crossing’ (October 17, 1940) puts forth the Greek case of not trusting Italy’s assurances that it respects Greece’s sovereignty – colourfully portraying Italian policies as ‘Caponism’ and ‘Mafiasm,’ and foreshadowing the imminence of an Italian defeat, ‘And Italy is rushing headlong toward that inglorious destiny.’
Rallying Behind OXI:
Front page of the Panellinios Kiryx on October 31, 1940.
As Panellinios Kiryx was a weekly newspaper, published on Thursdays, the news of Italy’s declaration of war against Greece was published on October 31. As a broadsheet newspaper, the entire front page was dedicated to the headline, ‘Hellas at War with Italy.’ Throughout the main article, Greece is repeatedly referred to as a ‘small’ country, and protecting its sovereignty and freedom against a much larger, aggressive country. There are proud, patriotic statements such as ‘Today, we are proud to be Greek. We are proud because a small and weak Greece showed the road of duty and honour to countries which are larger and more powerful but hurriedly tied themselves to the Hitler’s chariot of slavery and brutality,’ and ‘… as Greece’s new struggle is not a struggle of dreams and national claims. It is a struggle of life and death.’
Included on the front page are also portraits and statements from Greece’s Prime Minister, Ioannis Metaxas and King George I, as well Great Britain’s King, George VI. Both Metaxas and King George I rally the Greek people with a reference to history, with the former stating, ‘Greeks, now we will show just how worthy we are to our ancestors which our forefathers secured for us,’ and the latter, ‘And at this great historical moment I am sure every Greek will do their duty until the end and we will prove worthy of glorious history, with our faith in God and our national destiny.’ Great Britain’s King George VI immediately provides assurances of his country’s support for the Greek struggle, ‘In this testing hour for Greece, I wish to say to the heroic Greek nation and to my cousin, King George of Hellenes: I am at your side during this fight! Your matters are our matters. We will fight against the common foe.’
Week after Week, Victory after Victory:
With the Greek army quickly halting the Italian advance and the commencement of their counter-offensive, then pushing the Italian army into Albania and, in turn, liberating towns and villages of northern Epirus, this series of Greek victories were vividly captured by Panellinios Kiryx. As a weekly paper, the headlines of victory and anticipated advances would have captivated its readership and prompted such a great sense of national pride.
Only one week after the Italian invasion, any Italian dream of ‘Athens by Christmas’ was shattered by the rallying Greek army and the headline, ‘Greeks Stop the Italian advance’ and sub-headline, ‘Greeks Threaten Koritsa; English at Crete’ highlight the complete and rapid changing fortunes in the campaign. How the Panellinios Kiryx structures the front pages is as a general news article and then provides readers with a day-to-day account of events. Again, the establishing sentence emphasises the David and Goliath contest as ‘It has been one week from the commencement of the war between the barbaric Fascist Italy and the small and weak Greece,’ but the driving force behind the latter’s efforts become profoundly clear, ‘… a race who’s foremost characteristic is its great love for liberty.’ (Panellinios Kiryx, November 7, 1940) As a historical source, what signifies the Panellinios Kiryx’s coverage of the Greek-Italian campaign is also visual stimuli accompanying the text, with a photograph of Greek soldiers passing a bomb shelter.
Announcements made in the Panellinios Kiryx on 14 / 11.
Despite the Greek armies halting of the Italian advance, the ‘against the odds’ image persists, ‘For one more week of epic resistance from the small but heroic Greece against the ever-strong Italy,’ and the Greek army’s resistance is generating an enormous sense of pride, ‘One more week that has strengthened our patriotism and national pride with a new golden page being written by our brave men in the mountains of Epirus and Macedonia.’ (November 14, 1940)
By the November 21, 1940, edition of the newspaper, the headline read, ‘The Greeks Advance in Albania’ and the victorious Greek army’s feats were announced in the November 28, 1940, edition, ‘Ever Bright Victory of the Greek Army’ as the towns Koritsa and Argyrokastro in northern Epirus had been liberated. December editions continued to follow the Greek army’s advancements; every victory provided Greek readers and Australians a growing swell of pride and admiration, as the English editorial read, ‘The slogan for the Greek from time immemorial has been, DEATH BEFORE SURRENDER’ (Panellinios Kiryx, December 12, 1940) As the Greek army’s advance continued, the headlines continued, ‘The Greeks At Tepeleni and Cheimara.’ (Panellinios Kiryx, December 12, 1940) Despite the challenges of limitations in the weaponry and ill-organised supply lines, the Greek army had achieved the unbelievable by advancing deeper into Albania.
Front page of the November 28 edition.
With the New Year came news of more victories, as Cheimara fell (Panellinios Kiryx, January 2, 1941) and, after a thirty-one minute battle, Kleisoura was taken, (Panellinios Kiryx, January 16, 1941), while Italy’s counteroffensive was quelled (Panellinios Kiryx, January 31, 1941)
As an aside, astrologer A.J. Bush examined the alignment of the planets to provide a forecast for the Greek armed forces. For example, one of the predictions was, ‘The New Moon for the 27th March shows the distinct possibility again of universal public rejoicing throughout the country, and I notice here a strong indication of new Allies and or substantial help which will greatly increase the power of the fighting forces’ (Panellinios Kiryx, January 16, 1941). How prophetic Bush was, when we consider the Greek nation would have been celebrating around March 25, with Independence Day celebrations, and the British army was already in Crete at the time.
After months of headlines highlighting the Greek army’s glorious victories and advancement, news of Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas’ unexpected death was captured by the Panellinios Kiryx’s sketch of his portrait amongst marching evzones- with the caption, ‘The sacred memory of Ioannis Metaxas who always guided to victories and triumphs’ (February January 16, 1941). As the Greek Consul, Dr E. Vrizakis, paid tribute to the late Prime Minister on 2BL, ‘I feel that Metaxas had sown the good seed and that Greece, before long, will reap a rich harvest of moral and material wealth,’ it was as though his death inspired further victories- with the liberation of Kleisoura and the Greek army capturing thousands of Italian prisoners.
Front cover reports on Metaxas’ death, 06/02/1941.
The enormous outpouring of support on the Australian home front:
Greece’s heroic defence evidently captured the admiration of nations across the globe, including Australia, and the support was immediate. With the Greek Consul General, Emilios Vrizakis, establishing the Greek War Fund, where people could make a donation towards Greece’s war efforts, the rush to financially support the Greek cause was incredible. In only a week, Australia’s Greek communities had donated £1328-9-0 with Port Pirie’s Greek community raising another £600, Innisfail’s Castellorizians donating £100 and Sydney and NSW’s Cypriots raising £50!
And the donations poured in from Australians too: the fish agent, Arthur Murrell donated £600; through the Central Committee members, S. Andronikos and A Diamantopouos, they received £237 from Australians; the company Nathan and Wyeth, who imported Varvaressos Ouzo, donated £10. And the support did not only come in money; the company, Henry Woolf Butchers, donated five tonnes of meat for Greece’s war effort! The Greek victories also captivated the local Australian newspapers; via the ‘The Tweed Daily,’ the Greeks of Murwillumbah raised £78. 11.0! With Queen Frederika addressing the Greek diaspora, the initiative, ‘The Jumper of the Soldier,’ was launched, which was known in Australia as the Ladies Greek Auxiliary Comforts Fund! (Panellinios Kiryx, November 14, 1940)
Photo in the newspaper covering the Red Cross march in Adelaide.
As the Greek War Relief Fund declared, ‘Act on our Sacred Duty to our Homeland, Greece,’ another list of individualised contributions was published with subgroups of Sydney and suburbs, Silkwood (Queensland), Cooma and Goulburn (NSW) and Mt Larcoum (Queensland), all raising £794.14.0. As the Kytherian Brotherhood announced they would be making a substantial donation, Sydney Castellorizians also donated £200 in this latest wave of donations. (Panellinios Kiryx, November 28, 1940).
And the wave of support gathered momentum, as the whole country was behind Greece. Within the week, another £3, 073.3.4 was raised- including donations from NSW country towns such as Katoomba, Molong, West Wyalong, Queenbeyan, Narromine, Cowra, Barraba, Temora, Dubbo and Trangie, as well as Ipswich (Queensland). Included was the donation of £100 from the Chelmos Association. The list of contributors was so large that it went over a second page (December 5, 1940).
Within another week, the monies raised were at £9515.0.1 (Panellinios Kiryx, December 26, 1940) and another week, it had jumped to £12, 575.0.10 (Panellinios Kiryx, January 2, 1941). Every week, the updated amount surged by the thousands. Fundraising for the Greek War Relief Fund just did not cease. In fact, great sums continued to be raised. One example is the Chelmos Association whose funds increased from its initial £422.16.056 to £1003.1.7! Every social dance within the Greek communities across the country, even theatre performances, was dedicated to raising monies for the Greek War Relief Fund.
Panellinios Kiryx, 19/12/1940.
Examining the list of contributors of the Ladies Greek Auxiliary Comfort Fund, which raised £179-14-8, it is admirable to notice just how many non-Greek ladies were contributors (Panellinios Kiryx, January 23, 1941). It should be highlighted that the whole nation came to the support of the Greek cause and this is epitomised by the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Rt. Hon. J. B. Chandler’s radio appeal, where he appealed for Australians to get behind the fund-raising efforts for the Greek army, ‘The maintenance of the Greek army and the Greek people is a vital necessity to our own national existence…I again appeal to you to give- give freely- give liberally- give NOW!’ (Panellinios Kiryx, February 13, 1941).
The Greek Italian War truly captivated Australians. At this point, only Greece was defying the Axis Powers push across Europe. So much was the enthusiasm and admiration for Greece’s victories- as well as the understanding for the Greek army and nation to be financially supported- that Friday February 28, 1941 was declared Greek Day as an opportunity to celebrate Greece’s victories and raise more funds. All the celebrations culminated with a parade of Greeks dressed as evzones and Australians! Panellinios Kiryx’s editor, A. G. Grivas, wrote, ‘APPRECIATION. To the excellent organisers of the magnificent celebrations of Australia’s Greek Day, to the most generous Australian People who with traditional nobility of their hearts spontaneously responded to the appeal for the valiant Greece Forces, the Greek Community of Sydney has no adequate words to express its appreciation. From the innermost of their hearts, the Greeks of Australia extend to every one of them their sincere thanks…’ (March 6, 1941) What these Greek Day celebrations pointed out to Australians was what an important ally Greece was to the Allied cause. It also provided Australians with an insight of Greece and the Greek people, as ANZACS and British forces would soon be deployed in Greece to defend the country against Germany’s inevitable invasion.
Panellinios Kiryx, 16/03/1941.
Greece’s delays in entering World War I placed pressure on Australia’s Greek communities and generated a poor portrayal of their homeland. World War II, however, was a profoundly different experience for Greece as Italy’s expansionist policies thrust it into war. Whether it was Australians’ love for the ‘underdog’ – with Greece defying all odds against a strong, aggressive Italy- or Greece proving to be an important ally for the free world, Australians were presented with a great image of Greece and its people, who showed enormous courage against all adversities to repel the Italian invasion and then advance deep into Albanian territory.
And the Panellinios Kiryx played an instrumental role in the re-evaluation of the Greek image in Australia. Whether it was its weekly updated funds of the Greek War Relief Fund or several editorials written in English, the newspaper went beyond its role in informing its Greek readership by bringing Greeks and Australians closer in the Allied cause. And the ANZACs defending Greece against the German invasion would merely solidify this relationship forever.
Lockdown restrictions in Melbourne lifted as of midnight last night with people able to leave their home for any reason.
Oakleigh, Melbourne’s Greek precinct, came back to life on Wednesday as patrons were able to visit their favorite Hellenic cafes and restaurants.
Metropolitan Melbourne has been subject to Stage 4 restrictions since 2 August 2020 with residents under stay at home orders following a second wave of COVID-19 cases in the community.
Here’s is what has changed:
Visiting friends and family
Visiting people in their homes will be allowed, but limited to no more than two adults, plus their dependents, per day.
People in Melbourne must also to abide by the 25km ruleandcannot travel any further to visit someone in their home.
The metropolitan-regional border also remains and cannot be breached for the purposes of visiting.
Mr Andrews said the home was “actually the most dangerous environment for the spread of this virus” because people let their guard down, and there’s no supervision or industrial cleaning.
“Only one such visiting event can occur per day,” Mr Andrews said.
Retail and hospitality
All retail stores will be allowed to reopen.
Beauty, personal services and tattoo parlours can return as long as customers can wear a mask throughout the procedure.
For the first time in months, hospitality businesses will be allowed to seat patrons, including inside.
Restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs will be allowed to seat a maximum of 20 people indoors, provided there are no more than 10 people per space and no more than one person for every 4 square metres.
Outdoors will be restricted to one person per 2 square metres, up to a maximum of 50 patrons.
Groups will be capped at 10 people, seated 1.5 metres from other groups.
Community sport is back for kids and adults
All outdoor sport will return for those aged under 18.
Adults will be allowed to participate in non-contact outdoor sport.
Weddings, funerals and religious gatherings
Weddings will increase to a maximum of 10 people.
Funerals will increase to a maximum of 20 mourners.
Indoor religious gatherings will be capped at 10 people indoors, or 20 people outdoors, plus one faith leader.
Additional changes, including the 25km travel limit for Melburnians, will be introduced on November 8.
November 8 will also be the day Victorians get a sense of what the rest of November, and indeed Christmas, might look like with the Premier set to unveil an updated roadmap.
