25 th March Greek Independence Day

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "25 th March Greek Independence Day"

Pierce Peters
5 years ago
Views:

The Sub-Branch congratulates our member Stephen Manos upon receiving the OAM award for his many years of services to the Greek Community.

1 Dear Members and Friends of the A warm welcome to our first 2014 publication of our quarterly newsletter. There is a lot of excitement in the buildup towards the 2015 Gallipoli Centenary. Our Sub- Branch is actively involved in the planning of the Lemnos Gallipoli Statue which will be erected at a location in the City of Port Phillip, not far from our club rooms. The Sub-Branch congratulates our member Stephen Manos upon receiving the OAM award for his many years of services to the Greek Community. We welcome to Melbourne the new Greek Consul General Mrs Christina Simantiraki, whom we met in February this year. I hope you enjoy this edition of the Returned Soldier Apostratos Newsletter. Steve Kyritsis, President 25 th March Greek Independence Day Sub Branch Secretary Major Terry Kanellos hosted two wreath laying ceremonies. The first was at the Australian Hellenic Memorial in Birdwood Avenue, the second was within the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance. The day concluded with a light complimentary lunch back at our club rooms. 1

2013 Sub Branch Christmas Dance Opa, the event was an outstanding success. Lots of dancing to the music of DJ George Dalaras.

Members are to assemble 11:30am at the Princess Walk staging point for an expected 12:00noon start.

Parade cars have been arranged for our more senior members who find the march a little challenging.

2 2013 Sub Branch Christmas Dance Opa, the event was an outstanding success. Lots of dancing to the music of DJ George Dalaras ANZAC Day Parade As with every year, all Hellenic Sub- Branch RSL members are invited to march in the ANZAC Day parade. Members are to assemble 11:30am at the Princess Walk staging point for an expected 12:00noon start. Princes Walk is beside Federation Square on Swanston St and opposite Flinders St train station. Parade cars have been arranged for our more senior members who find the march a little challenging. Again this year, a bus will be leaving from our South Melbourne Clubrooms to the march start point, at 11.00am sharp. At the conclusion of the march, the bus will pick up members at the corner St Kilda Rd and Park St. We conclude with a light complimentary lunch back at our club rooms. The Sub Branch would like to congratulate Ken Tsirigotis on his promotion to Warrant Officer in the Australian Army. He is currently posted to 4 th Brigade. Photo taken 25/Mar/2014 at the Hellenic Memorial. A final reminder to members who have yet to pay your membership., only $35, Thank you. 2

We are saddened by the passing of Mr George Makris 17 th February 1925 to 17 th January 2014 The would like to pass on our condolences to his wife Despina and the

He served in what was then known as Dutch New Guinea in the Pacific as a Leading Aircraftsman.

To us, George was famous for his war time story with the coconuts that involved him and a couple mates rubbing coconut oil in their hair for better looks.

He survived to tell the story and would quietly laugh it off with us over a cup of tea. George was respected and well liked at the RSL.

3 We are saddened by the passing of Mr George Makris 17 th February 1925 to 17 th January 2014 The would like to pass on our condolences to his wife Despina and the extended Makris family. George Makris 1945 George at Anzac Day 2013 George Makris enlisted in the Royal Australian Air force on the 19 th March He served in what was then known as Dutch New Guinea in the Pacific as a Leading Aircraftsman. George was a humble man and never really spoke about the perils of Japanese bomber planes that harassed their base. To us, George was famous for his war time story with the coconuts that involved him and a couple mates rubbing coconut oil in their hair for better looks. Whilst asleep at night, the rats would gnaw at the coconut oil till eventually they became extremely sick. He survived to tell the story and would quietly laugh it off with us over a cup of tea. George was respected and well liked at the RSL. He attended many Hellenic Sub-Branch functions with his family. We will dearly miss him. Date Milestones and Past Events 14 th December 2013 Hellenic Sub branch Christmas function. 19 th February 2014 Milestone - The bombing of Darwin that first occurred on the 19 th Feb th March 2014 Greek National Day 25Mar2014 Left Mrs Simantiraki addresses the audience. Right Sam Mourtzas, Dimitra Petropoulos, Theo Spanos with Shrine Guards. 3

We still have copies available for purchase from our Sub- Branch or order by post. Greek-Australians in the Vietnam War 1962-72 ($25). Greek-Australians in the Australian Forces WWI & WWII ($40).

Ms Dora Bakoyani at the Australian Hellenic Memorial Early this year, Greek MP and ex Greek Foreign Minister Ms Dora Bakoyani visited the Memorial and laid a wreath for all Australian, New Zealand

Pictured (left to right) Con Katsambanis, Pantelis Kalimnakis, Dennis Patisteas, Dora Bakoyani, Steve Kyritsis and Tony Tsourdalakis.

4 We still have copies available for purchase from our Sub- Branch or order by post. Greek-Australians in the Vietnam War ($25). Greek-Australians in the Australian Forces WWI & WWII ($40). Proceeds from all book sales are donated to the RSL Hellenic Sub-Branch. Ms Dora Bakoyani at the Australian Hellenic Memorial Early this year, Greek MP and ex Greek Foreign Minister Ms Dora Bakoyani visited the Memorial and laid a wreath for all Australian, New Zealand and Greek Servicemen that fought and died in the WWII Greek Campaign of Pictured (left to right) Con Katsambanis, Pantelis Kalimnakis, Dennis Patisteas, Dora Bakoyani, Steve Kyritsis and Tony Tsourdalakis. Bombing of Darwin 19 th February 1942 and The Darwin Defenders Darwin was bombed on the 19 th of February 1942 by the Japanese Air Force three months after the start of the war in the Pacific. The attack was only the beginning of a series of Japanese bombing raids across all of northern Australia that lasted almost until the end of the war. War had never been fought on Australian soil before and Australians had never before seen bombs fall within their borders or seen civilians lose their lives at the hands of the enemy. The first raid on Darwin was at 9.58am on the 19 th February Over Australian Servicemen served in Darwin, till the end of WWII. Every year across Australia on the 19 th February, The Darwin Defenders Association commemorates the bombing of Darwin. This year, I was fortunate to attend a wreath laying ceremony at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance and managed to catch up with a number of Darwin Defender veterans, all of them now well into their 90s. Steve Kyritsis 4

Date Friday 25 th April 2014 3:00pm Sunday 27 th April 2014 1.

5 Date Friday 25 th April :00pm Sunday 27 th April pm Sunday 4 th May 2014 Saturday 28 th June 2014 ANZAC Day Future Events Sub-Branch Annual General Meeting All members are invited to attend. Mothers Day function at the Sub-Branch. All members and friends are invited. Lots of food, drinks, great music and Dancing. Only $30 per person. Reserve your tickets early Dinner dance function at the St Kilda town hall commemorating the role of Lemnos to the WWI Gallipoli campaign. We are saddened by the passing of Mr Basil George Hayler On 24 th February 2014 aged 92 A WWII Greek Campaign Veteran, Basil was a regular special guest at many Greek Community Battle of Crete wreath laying ceremonies. The would like to pass on our condolences to the extended Hayler family. Basil would recount years later that whilst on shore leave in 1941 his memories of the Nazi invasion of Greece. When the Greeks were invaded by the Germans, I was standing up on the Acropolis watching the harbour being bombed." Below is an extract of an article that featured in the Neos Kosmos Newspaper on 24 th Feb 2014 Basil was one of the last survivors of the WWII cruiser HMAS Perth - the Royal Australian Navy warship that played a major role in the Greek and Crete campaigns of WWII and which was eventually sunk by the Japanese. In 1938 Basil enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy, aged 16. In March 1941 the Perth took part in the deployment of Allied forces to Greece, making two voyages with troops from Alexandria to Piraeus. After playing a significant part in the Battle of Cape Matapan, where Allied forces destroyed five Italian battleships, by late April 1941 HMAS Perth was evacuating Allied troops from the mainland, taking off troops from Porto Rafti and Tolos. In May, the Perth took part in the evacuation from Crete. Having picked up 1188 troops from Sfakia on May 29, as it made its way to Alexandria it was subject to repeated enemy attacks. One bomb which penetrated the boiler room killed 13 crew and passengers. 5

Basil and his ship made it to Alexandria. Shortly after, he was transferred to HMAS Stuart which was deployed on 'the spud run' - ferrying vital supplies to the besieged Allied forces in Tobruk.

In May 1944 whilst on leave in Australia, he married Pauline Kirkham. They had two children, seven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.

6 Basil and his ship made it to Alexandria. Shortly after, he was transferred to HMAS Stuart which was deployed on 'the spud run' - ferrying vital supplies to the besieged Allied forces in Tobruk. The move to the Stuart was fateful. In March 1942, HMAS Perth was sunk by the Japanese in the Battle of Sunda Strait, with the loss of more than 340 lives. In May 1944 whilst on leave in Australia, he married Pauline Kirkham. They had two children, seven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. WWII veterans Basil Hayler and Norman Maddock lay a wreath in the Cretan town of Rethymno at the Hellenic-Australian Memorial during the 2011 commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete. Photo # taken by Corporal Janine Fabre, 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit, ADF. 28 th October 2013 Wreath Laying Ceremony Thesaloniki Greece Pictured is Mr Dimitrios Harizanis laying a wreath at the Military Cemetery on behalf of the Hellenic Sub Branch of the RSL in front of military and civilian dignitaries Raffle Winners Congratulations to the following winners of the raffle which was drawn at our Christmas function:- 1 st prize - Mr K Pipilikas (#0860) 2 nd prize -Mrs E Potamidis(#0870) 3 rd prize - Mr G Peroulas (#1312) 4 th Prize - Mr G Verginis (#1353) 5 th prize - Mrs R Hronis (#0332) Thank you to all that supported our raffle. Next Edition Returned Soldier Apostratos Due June

The Hellenic Sub branch visit the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial in Ballarat

The Hellenic Sub branch visit the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial in Ballarat RSL Hellenic Sub-Branch RETURNED SOLDIER APOSTRATOS Memorial Hall, 14A Ferrars Place South Melbourne Vic 3205 Phone 9699 9844 March 2016 Dear Veterans, Members and Friends of the RSL Hellenic Sub-Branch