Melbourne now has a street named after Greece following the unanimous decision by Darebin City Council in May to name a street in Thornbury after Kalamata, Kalamata Place.
Until last week, this small alley had no name, but according to a jubilant Facebook post by the Pan-Messinian Brotherhood «Papaflessas,» the alley between Gooch and Raleigh Streets is now officially called Kalamata Place.
It was Papaflessas who proposed this name to the Darebin City Council in recognition of the Greek community that developed in the Darebin area, mainly from immigrants who came after the war from Kalamata and Messinia. Well-known Greek businesses such as Psarakos, White Rose Receptions, and Tassos Cakes, as well as several Greek associations, opened their doors in this suburb.
The Board of Directors of the Pan-Messinian Brotherhood «Papaflessas,» which is based next to this alley, expressed its satisfaction with the Municipal Council's decision.
«We have been working on this proposal for quite some time. We are grateful to all Darebin City Councilors for supporting this idea, and we especially thank City Councilor Emily Dimitriadis and Mayor Lina Messina, without whom this proposal would not have been considered,» said Steve Gotsis, President of the Pan-Messinian Brotherhood. "We are also grateful to the Greek community in Australia for their support and encouragement," he added.
«We are also deeply grateful to the Greek and non-Greek organisations, businesses and individuals who took the trouble to submit proposals for support, such as the Greek Community of Melbourne, the Thessaloniki Association «The White Tower» and «Anemones,» proving that this proposal was widely accepted.».
The Public Relations Manager of the Pan-Messenian Brotherhood, Mary Tsaganas, also shared her enthusiasm, saying that «Kalamata is not just an important city in Greece, it is synonymous with its olives and oil, for which it is internationally renowned. It is a name with positive connotations both locally and globally, given its association with the famous Mediterranean diet,» she said.
«The entire Greek community in Melbourne should be delighted that we now have a new Greek landmark. There will be no Australian who, upon seeing Kalamata Place, will not know that it is Greek.».
