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COMMUNITY
Recognition for Greek military Greek community asks for Federal Government support of delegation
local news
CHRIS CONNOLLY
@connolly2204
T
he Greek community and veterans groups have enlisted the help of Federal Member for Grayndler Anthony Albanese to try to restore official recognition of the visitation of a Greek military delegation. The delegation’s visit commemorates the Anniversary of the Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign. Mr Albanese raised the issue in Parliament last week stating the delegation was a well-established tradition, having visited various cities across Australia since 1978. “Over that time and up until 2010, the military delegation was recognised as an official visit and received consequential support from the Federal Government,” Mr Albanese said. “Unfortunately, due to the global financial crisis, they did not visit in 2011 and, therefore, that support has ceased.” The Marrickville-based Cretan Association of Sydney & NSW and the Joint Committee for the Commemoration of the Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign were instrumental in gaining Mr Albanese’s support. The Joint Committee’s Nick Andriotakis
Rear Admiral Alexandros Theodosiou and Commander Georgios Pelekanos said Australia and Greece have been allies for 100 years in all conflicts and peace keeping operations. “Not many people know the island of Lemnos was the headquarters of the Gallipoli campaign,” Mr Andriotakis said.
“It was the training ground for the beach landings. Hospitals were based there and the wounded from Gallipoli were evacuated there. Many ANZACs are buried there.” When Germany invaded Greece in 1941,
more than 17,000 Australian soldiers from the Sixth Division AIF were sent to help defend Greece. The ultimately unsuccessful campaign, which culminated in the Battle of Crete, saw 594 Australians killed, 1,001 wounded and 5,132 taken as Prisoners of War. Mr Andriotakis said the Greek military delegation, which involves top serving military officials, recognises the importance of this connection between the countries. “It is a significant visit to both Greek Australians and Australian military veterans,” he said. “We should have an official invitation from the Australian Government to make it an official visit as well as appropriate funding.” Mr Albanese said there are nearly 3,500 people originally from Greece in his electorate and Greek remains the language spoken most apart from English. “The Hellenic Military delegation is an important acknowledgement of the ties between Australia and Greece and I believe they should receive Federal Government support,” he said. “I have written to the Minister for Veteran’s Affairs, asking that the support be reinstated. I believe that everyone in this House would support such a measure.”
MY MARRICKVILLE
Friday 28 March 2014 the inner city weekender
Andrew Heslop, Petersham WW7763
Favourite restaurant: Oscillate Wildly, Newtown Favourite café: with a great breakfast opposite Camperdown Park is Store Espresso Favourite Florist: Arome Living, Petersham Best place to relax: with a caffe latte and a beautiful fresh pastry is Black Star Bakery, Newtown Best place for entertainment: is my street with the neighbours and across the road at the Petersham Bowling Club Favourite park: Petersham Park especially when the jacarandas are flowering