Greeks in Dandenong marked OXI Day despite rain, holding the annual event organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of Dandenong and Surrounding Areas. Bad weather moved the wreath-laying ceremony inside the Church of Saint Panteleimon, but the emotional tone remained strong as people honoured those who resisted fascism. Students from the community's Greek School took part, with poems and traditional dances. Community president Stefanos Karamoschos and school principal Niki Farfara Paschou spoke about freedom, dignity and the value of preserving the Greek language.
Coburg West Primary School has won first prize in the primary school category at the 14th Greek Student Film Festival. The school's Greek language program entry was also voted Best Film by the audience. Students, working with teacher Betty Koklanis, made the short film The Replacement, which explores artificial intelligence. The pupils used their Greek skills throughout the film. The festival, now in its 14th year, gives young people a platform to show their creativity and growing Greek language ability.
The Hellenic Open University and Melbourne's Aetolian College of Hellenic Language and Culture are exploring a partnership to expand university and professional development opportunities for Greek Australians. Proposed distance learning programs would let Greek Australians study through the Greek university. A key priority is training Australian-born teachers of Greek heritage who teach Greek language, history and culture. The discussions have the blessing of Archbishop Makarios of Australia. The partnership remains at the planning stage.
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A tribute event in Rethymno, Crete, celebrated Emeritus Professor Michalis Damanakis of the University of Crete. The event marked a new volume in his honour, Hellenic Diaspora: Studies in Honour of Michael Damanakis, which contains more than 30 contributions from Greek and international scholars. The book focuses mainly on the Greek diaspora and Greek-language education abroad. Speakers praised his work on the Education of the Greeks Abroad programme and his role in building networks among Cretans overseas. Professor Anastasios Tamis, who edited the volume, said Greek Australians are becoming increasingly distanced from everyday use of the language.
Associate Professor George Frazis has spent more than four decades teaching Greek in Australia, aiming to preserve its heritage for younger generations. A $30,000 contribution from the Greek Government, routed through Greece's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is supporting Greek and cultural studies at Charles Darwin University. Frazis said the money mainly funds academic publications, including a fourth volume on the Hellenic Diaspora, and gives the program more room for other activities. He described teaching as a lifelong commitment, and called for scholarships so young Greek teachers can study in Greece.
