The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) honoured the Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos, at the Greek Centre on Wednesday, 27 November.
The event, which featured a guest list of leading community leaders, elected officials, the Deputy Premier, and the newly elected Lord Mayor, Nicholas “Niko” Reece, was preceded by a meeting between the GCM Board and the Ambassador. During this meeting, the ongoing agenda of the GCM regarding Greece-Australia relations—particularly the issues of tax and health agreements between the two states—was raised directly with the Ambassador once again.
The Ambassador, who was accompanied by the outgoing Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanouil Kakavelakis, promised to pursue the concerns of the GCM with the Greek authorities and reiterated that his door was always open to the GCM and its members.
The party then moved to a reception, where the Ambassador was welcomed by several community leaders and newly elected councillors, including the new Lord Mayor of Melbourne.
In an evening of kind words and sentiments, it was Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece who made an unexpected but very welcome announcement. He reiterated Melbourne’s and his personal connection with Greece, confirming that he was “planning to send a delegation to Greece during this term, and it will be the largest delegation this city has ever seen.”
GCM President Bill Papastergiadis took the opportunity to highlight some of the historical milestones that shaped the modern GCM, including a reminder of the Greek Government’s bailout of the GCM at a time of great need.
Ambassador Venizelos thanked his guests and “expressed pride in the Greek Australian community, acknowledging the sacrifices of earlier generations who served as a bridge between Greece and Australia.” He affirmed his commitment to advocating for the community, stating, “My door is always open.”
Outgoing Consul General Emmanouil Kakavelakis was also acknowledged and thanked for his service to Victoria’s Greek community. He “thanked the community for their support” and for “always being only a phone call away” whenever he needed anything during his tenure.
Later in the evening, Kat Theophanous, Labor Member of Parliament for Northcote, and Deputy Premier The Hon Ben Carroll joined the reception. They commended the GCM for its collaboration with the Victorian government in shaping anti-vilification legislation. Carroll highlighted Victoria’s multicultural identity as the foundation of its strength, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a society where everyone feels safe and respected. He stated, “What makes Victoria wonderful is our multiculturalism, and we must never lose sight of that enduring strength.” Both Carroll and Theophanous expressed gratitude to the GCM and its leadership for their ongoing contributions to the state’s inclusive culture.
