This is a notice regarding the 2020 Annual General Meeting of the The Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne & Victoria.

In a historic agreement signed by the University, the Greek Community of Melbourne in association with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, the university language program will continue with financial support raised by the Greek community however needs to increase enrolments significantly over the next 3 to 5 years.

Eργασία με τη μέθοδο project με θέμα την ελληνική διατροφή στο πέρασμα των αιώνων, πραγματοποίησε κατά τη διάρκεια του Νοεμβρίου, η Δ’ Δημοτικού του σχολείου της Ελληνικής Κοινότητας της Μελβούρνης ( City Campus).

As has been widely reported in recent weeks, a coalition of community groups and leaders has been put together by the GCM to lobby La Trobe University for the future of its Greek Studies program.

With Greece in the grip of second wave of COVID-19, The Hellenic Initiative Australia has launched an online Winter Appeal to support people facing severe hardship over the coming months.

Dozens of Greek community leaders attended an urgent meeting called by the Greek Community of Melbourne to discuss the proposal to terminate Modern Greek Studies language program at La Trobe University.

Greek language students from the Balwyn School Unit of the Greek Community of Melbourne, performed the radio-edition of the tale 'The Young Rooster' by Greek author Glyka Stoiou in a special online meeting.

As part of the anniversary cultural events of October 28th and November 17th, students from our schools prepared poems and short stories, which they recited in an online celebration and were also broadcast on SBS Greek radio.

Every year, the Greek Community of Melbourne together with the other members of the Polytechnic Commemorative Committee honour the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic students heroic uprising against the junta, with a special event often organised at the Democritus Cultural Centre. This year because of the pandemic such an event will not take place.

On 11 November the GCM became aware of the news regarding La Trobe University’s plans to wind up the Greek Studies program. The GCM immediately wrote to the Vice Chancellor expressing its concerns and seeking an immediate meeting.

Dr. Johnny Karanicolas from the Adelaide University, will present an online lecture on Thursday 26 November, as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

The program for the Greek Community of Melbourne’s Greek History and Culture Seminar Series for 2021 has just been released. As 2021 coincides with the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence, it’s probably the most ambitious series attempted so far. More than half the program has been dedicated to 1821 themes. Delivering 30 seminars, and this may even grow, and a crash course aimed at students is a massive undertaking.

David Robertson, Head of Economic and Market Research, of the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank will present an online lecture on Thursday 19 November, as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.
The lecture is presented by Delphi Bank and the Greek Community of Melbourne.

Kateřina Králová, Associate Professor of Modern History and Head of the Department of Russian and Eastern European Studies at Charles University, Prague, will give an online lecture entitled "Greek Civil War Refugees in Czechoslovakia”, on Thursday 12 November, as a part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

Ο Οκτώβρης έκλεισε με τον εορτασμό της σημαντικής εθνικής μας επετείου της 28ης Οκτωβρίου 1940. Με την τάξη της Α΄ Γυμνασίου στο σχολείο του Bentleighτης Ελληνικής Κοινότητας της Μελβούρνης επιλέξαμε να γιορτάσουμε φέτος την επέτειο αυτή με έναν διαφορετικό τρόπο. Είχαμε τη χαρά να καλωσορίσουμε στο διαδικτυακό μας μάθημα τη συγγραφέα Αγγελική Δαρλάση και να κάνουμε μαζί της μια εξαιρετικά ενδιαφέρουσα συζήτηση για τα γεγονότα της εποχής εκείνης.

Dr Zisis Fotakis will present an online lecture entitled "The Naval Battle of Salamis: An Instructive Example of Coalition Naval Warfare”, on Thursday 5 November, as a part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

The President of the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), Bill Papastergiadis, was invited by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to participate in a meeting with the Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alan Tudge, Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, Jason Wood, and various community leaders, on Friday 23 October.

Η τελευταία δράση προς το κοινό του Δημιουργικού Κέντρου Δράματος και Τεχνών (Creative Drama & Arts) της Ελληνικής Κοινότητας Μελβούρνης, έγινε τον Φεβρουάριο, με την εξαιρετική παράσταση «Λίγη Αλήθεια» σε σκηνοθεσία της Ελένης Μπουκουβάλα. Πιστεύοντας ότι η χρονιά ξεκινoύσε δυναμικά… μας “κλείνει” την αυλαία... ο Mr Covid-19.

Professor Dimitris Christopoulos at the Department of Political Science and History of Panteion University, will give a special online lecture entitled "The day after the Golden Dawn Trial: Legal and political repercussions of a historical verdict”, on Wednesday 21 October, as a part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

Melbourne’s Historic Lonsdale Street Greek Precinct will benefit to the tune of $100,000 over two years should Sally Capp be re-elected as Lord Mayor in the upcoming council elections. The incumbent Lord Mayor pledged the support to the Greek and the other eight Melbourne City Precincts in a $900,000 program that will boost their marketing programs over the next two years.

The President Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) Bill Papastergiadis was invited by Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge with a number of other community leaders for a briefing on the budget and its effect on immigration and multicultural communities.

 COVID 19 has not deterred the education sector of the Greek Community of Melbourne continuing its work on a range of issues.

Fellow at Newcastle University, UK, Dr. Gönül Bozoglu, will present an interesting online lecture entitled Memory Mapping and the Historic Greek Communities of Istanbul, on Thursday 22 October, as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

The book ‘A Holiday in Greece’ by GCM student, Androula Matthews, is a bilingual children’s book (in English and Greek) and can be enjoyed by anyone of any age.

The Greek Community of Melbourne proudly acknowledges Jenny Mikakos’ contribution to public service and her tireless pursuit of social justice in the great state of Victoria.

In his response to Bill Papastergiadis’ letter (dated 21 August) to the Prime Minister encouraging the Australian Government to engage in the concerning developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Government on behalf of the PrimeMinister replied as follows:

Dr Ioanna Sitaridou will present an online lecture entitled In search for the lost Greek infinitive in Anatolia, on Thursday 15 October, at 7.00pm, as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

The Greek Community of Melbourne has called on the Federal Government to increase pensions, on the occasion of the recent announcement of the Minister of Social Services that Australian retirees will not receive an automatic CPI increase this year, on the grounds that inflation has fallen.

In 2021, the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) will be presenting a multifaceted program of events to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the commencement of the Greek War of Independence and celebrate the Bicentenary of the Modern Greek State. It will be part of a rich program of events being planned around the world.

An interesting lecture on the Treaty of Lausanne will be presented online by Markos Carelos, on Thursday 24 September, as a part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars offered by the Greek History and Culture Seminars offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

The Greek-Australian community has been heavily impacted by COVID-19.   In particular, there is a high proportion of elderly Greek-Australians, especially in aged care, that have passed away due to COVID-19 or are currently in hospital fighting for their life as a result of this pandemic.

Greek writer and historian Antonis A. Chaldeos will presen a virtual lecture entitled "The Greeks of the Sudan", on Thursday 3 September 2020, as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

An online lecture about the COVID-19 pandemic and the migrant communities will be presented by Kos Samaras on Thursday 27 August 2020, as part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

In he years after World War two, a weary and beleaguered European population was enticed to a mysterious southern land, a haven of prosperity and opportunity: Australia.

Εν καιρώ κορονοϊού και με δεδομένο ότι δεν μπορούν να κάνουμε μαθήματα θεάτρου από κοντά, η υπεύθυνη του θεατρικού τμήματος της Ελληνικής Κοινότητας Μελβούρνης, κ. Κατερίνα Πουταχίδου, δεν έμεινε με σταυρωμένα χέρια.

French-Greek historian at the École Normale Supérieure - Paris, Lukas Tsiptsios, will present an online lecture entitled Bizim PAOK – Our PAOK: Refugees, Sports, and Venizelism in Interwar Thessaloniki, on Thursday 6 August, as a part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

The Board of the Greek Community of Melbourne expresses its sincere condolences to the families who have recently lost beloved family members as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our hearts are with you.

Dr Sebastiana Nervegna will present online a lecture entitled Performing Greek Tragedy around the Mediterranean, on Thursday 23 July 2020, as a part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

It appears that normality as we once knew it is still a long way away. So therefore we have to adapt and accept what is now the new norm as the Covid pandemic continues.

The Greek Community of Melbourne wholeheartedly welcomes the appointment of a teacher that will allow the Greek language program at Coburg West Primary School to recommence in term three. The Greek Community of Melbourne, in conjunction with a large group of school parents, has campaigned strongly over the past two years to ensure the return of the Greek program.

Catering to the needs of students in year 7 and 8 who wish to increase their cultural literacy, investigate the origins of philosophy, science, politics, rhetoric, history and literature, be inspired from the moral insight and virtue of the classical world, read the architects of western civilization in their own words and finally select it next year as a subject of their study program which will allow them to participate in the VCE Classical Greek examinations and be benefited from its high score scaling.

This course provides students with the opportunity to develop their communication skills in Modern Greek and their knowledge and understanding of the Greek language and culture. This elementary level will introduce the Greek alphabet, greetings and introductions, and how to describe various daily activities. No prior knowledge of Greek is required.

The Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne & Victoria strongly condemns the Turkish Republic’s decision to reinstate the World Heritage listed cultural icon - Hagia Sofia (Αγία Σοφία) - back into a Mosque.

This course provides students with the opportunity to develop their communication skills in Modern Greek and their knowledge and understanding of the Greek language and culture. This elementary level will introduce the Greek alphabet, greetings and introductions, and how to describe various daily activities. No prior knowledge of Greek is required.

Dr Antonios Meimaris will present online a lecture entitled A Brief History of Randomness: From divination and gambling to modern Probability Theory & Statistics, from the Greek Centre on Thursday 9 July 2020, as a part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

Melbourne's not-for-profit community television station Channel 31 is set to be taken off air after more than 25 years of broadcasting. Channel 31 now believes that extension to its license will not be granted and the station will cease to broadcast on June 30, 2020.

An interesting discussion on strengthening the relations between Greece and Diaspora took place online on Thursday 18 June, as part of the 5th Delphi Economic Forum, with the participation of the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne and Director of the law firm Moray and Agnew, Mr. Bill Papastergiadis.

A discussion held in English, with:

• George Prevelakis, Professor emeritus, Sorbonne University (Paris 1), Permanent Representative of Greece at the OECD
• Bill Papastergiadis, Managing Partner, Moray & Agnew Lawyers, Australia
• Endy Zemenides, Executive Director, Hellenic-American Leadership Council, USA
• Moderator: Antonis Papayannides, Managing Director, Economia Publishing, Greece

Register here:

https://www.crowdcast.io/e/defoe28/register

Australians of Greek background, who historically can be considered as recent arrivals to this great country have prospered from opportunities afforded to them.

***THIS IS A VIRTUAL SEMINAR, PARTICIPATION DETAILS WILL BE POSTED ON THE GCM’s WEBPAGE NEXT WEEK*** Louise Hitchcock, Professor of Aegean Bronze Age Archaeology in the Classics and Archaeology Program at the University of Melbourne, will present a lecture entitled What the Covid-19 Pandemic Can Tell Us About the Bronze Age (12th cent) Collapse in Greece, on Thursday 25 June 2020, as a part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars, offered for ten consecutive years by the Greek Community of Melbourne.