With the annual appreciation dinner held at the Adelaide Pavilion on Thursday, June 23, St George Parish priest of 52 years, Father Diogenis Patsouris OAM, thanked community members, the church committee and volunteers for their support during the years.
Saint George Community and Parish is known as one of the most active and dynamic in Adelaide providing a range of activities and services to parishioners, the Greek community in the western suburbs but also the wider Australian community.
Addressing the attendees during the evening, Vice President of the executive committee Antonis Privopoulos, son of one of the first Presidents of the Community in the 1960s, said that the Community’s ongoing success is due to the dedicated volunteers and supporters.
“First and foremost, we are grateful to our very own Father Diogenis Patsouris for his commitment, passion and determination,” said Mr Privopoulos.
Decorated priest Father Patsouris who has served the community of West Torrens for over half a century said that the purpose of the event was to thank “those we have contributed to the Community’s multifaceted and progressive vision”.
“I am grateful to you for what we have achieved together for the betterment of Adelaide’s Greek community,” he said, extending his gratitude to the Malinauskas Labor government and Infrastructure and Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis who was also present at the event.
Last month, Minister Koutsantonis announced a $100,000 grant to build a permanent memorial at St. George in Thebarton to honour the Bicentennial of the Greek War of Independence and “pay tribute to the Australians who fought alongside Greek people during World War Two and celebrate the two countries’ common history”.
The construction of the Memorial is due to be completed in time for this year’s ‘Ohi Day’ commemorations on October 28 and will be unveiled by the Premier.
In October 2021, during a similar event, Mr Koutsantonis had also committed to reinstate the Community’s loan that was previously authorised by Labor but was taken away during the change of governments.
In his speech, Minister Koutsantonis said that the Malinauskas Government recognises St George as “the centre of the Greek community in South Australia”.
