To commemorate the Greek National Day, 25 March 1821, when Greeks rose against the 400-year colonial occupation of the Ottoman Empire, thousands attended the annual Greek National Day Parade at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.
Minister for Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos, representing the Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, announced that the forecourt area in front of Treasury Place, opposite Parliament House, will be named “Democracy Place”.
“The Greek community has no stronger friend than my Labor Government, and I look forward to unveiling Democracy Place alongside Greek Victorians soon.” Premier Jacinta Allan
“On behalf of the Premier, I’m proud to announce that the Allan Labor Government will name the forecourt area in front of Treasury Place, opposite Parliament House — the heart of decision-making in Victoria — as Democracy Place,” said Minister Dimopoulos.
Dimopoulos announced the naming of Democracy Place in honour of the Greeks’ battle for Freedom in 1821 and linked it all to the Greeks’ impact on Victoria. Photo: NK
Democracy Place, he said, will be “At the very heart of Victorian democracy inside the Parliamentary precinct, within the buildings of power”.
Reflecting on the birthplace of democracy, Greece, with a hint of the great Periclean oration of 431 BC, Dimopoulos said that Democracy Place will be a “permanent recognition of one of the greatest gifts that Greece has given us and the world – democracy”.
An aerial image of where Democracy Place will be in the heart of this state’s parliamentary district. Photo: Supplied
Dimopoulos linked ancient and 18th-century history of the fight for freedom to the “Greek community of Melbourne and Victoria that carried that legacy here to Victoria”.
Steve Dimopoulos said that Democracy Place will be a “permanent recognition of one of the greatest gifts that Greece has given us and the world – democracy”.
He was emotional as he hailed “our yia yias and papous who arrived here by boat, those who started as factory workers, opened up cafes and milk bars or worked in agriculture”.
Core values that made Athens, some 2,500 years ago, the world’s first democracy — which gave birth to the Enlightenment some 2,000 years later — were reborn in 1821, when Greece became a fulcrum in the struggle for universal human rights and freedom. Against tyranny.
“Freedom or death”, the war cry of the Greeks, has been echoed in many great and bloody struggles since and is also currently resonating across many arenas.
Premier Jacinta Allan, in a statement to Neos Kosmos, said Democracy Place recognises the enduring legacy of Hellenism and its greatest contribution to Australia and the world: democracy.
Many of the dignitaries present at the 25 March Celebrations, including Archbishop Makarios, MP Kat Theophanous, MLC Lee Tarmalis, Greece’s Ambassador to Australia, Stavros Venizelos; Greece’s Consul General in Melbourne, Dimitra Georgantzoglou; Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt; Shadow Minister for the Arts David Davies.
“The Greek community has no stronger friend than my Labor Government, and I look forward to unveiling Democracy Place alongside Greek Victorians soon.”
Dimopoulos said that the announcement was planned for Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s visit, which was halted due to the war against Iran and the attack on a British base in Cyprus by Iran.
“I know many were looking forward to welcoming the Prime Minister of Greece here today. While he could not be with us, we send him our best and we look forward to welcoming him to Victoria in the future.”
He added, “We stand with Greece. We stand with Cyprus. And we support the Greek Prime Minister in his efforts to keep our people safe.”
He went on to acknowledge members of that Greek caucus, Nick Staikos, Lee Tarlamis, and Kat Theophanous.
Among those in attendance were Greece’s Ambassador to Australia, Stavros Venizelos; Greece’s Consul General in Melbourne, Dimitra Georgantzoglou; Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Ingrid Stitt; Shadow Minister for the Arts, David Davies; as well as MPs, mayors and representatives of the Greek community.
Before the parade, a memorial service was held at the Shrine of Remembrance by Archbishop Makarios, in a solemn atmosphere honouring those who sacrificed their lives for freedom in 1821.
(L- R) Lee Tarlamis, Member of the Victorian Legislative Council, A/Prof Marinis Pirpiris, Secretary and Bill Papastergiadis, President of the Greek Community of Melbourne, along with other dignitaries, snap away at the events. Photo: K Deves
Speaking to Neos Kosmos, Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece spoke on how much Greece means to not just the city but himself.
“Here we are celebrating Greek National Day in the biggest Greek city in the world outside of Greece, Melbourne of course, ad as Lord Mayor I couldn’t be prouder to be here,” he said.
“ On a personal level, of course my wife is Greek, our children are growing up learning the Greek language, they even play for a Greek football club. We are living our best Greek life here in Melbourne.
“So today is a great day for celebration. This community in Melbourne has so much to be proud of. The Greek nation has so much to be proud of. The world has a lot to be grateful for to this great country. Democracy, freedom and so much of what we believe in. It’s a great day. Zito i Ellas!”
Hope Zorbas. Photo: Michael Georgiou
The national anthems of Greece and Australia were performed by Greek Australian singer Hope Zorbas.
Around 2,500 members of the community, mainly young people, took part in the parade, representing schools, community groups and associations.
The sight of children in traditional costumes and in school uniforms, alongside their families, moved the crowd, highlighting the preservation and continuity of Greek identity in the diaspora.
The atmosphere was celebratory, but Melbourne’s heat resulted in some fainting incidents.
This year’s event once again confirmed that Melbourne’s Greek community remains vibrant and deeply connected to its roots, honouring its history while passing on its innate traditions of freedom, democracy and liberty to all.
