On Sunday 15 May, the event was held in the crowded Mezzanine room at the Hellenic Centre, the event “Crossing Cultures: Ancient Greece meets Aboriginal Australia”. The event was dedicated to the meeting points between two of the oldest peoples and cultures in the world, the Greeks and them Aborigines.
An event full of emotion, respect and knowledge, in order to strengthen the educational program of the Hellenic Community. A program that aims not only at the Greek Language and grammar, but primarily at the human being and the Greek Culture, a Culture that respects the wider society in which we live and express ourselves and enriches the links with other Cultures.
An encouraging aspect of the presentation was the references made to Aboriginal people and the need to realize mistakes and injustices that have occurred in the past. So that through acknowledging and accepting them we can help our children not to repeat them.
Addressing the attendees were Wurundjeri woman Rebecca Axford, Yorta Yorta/Gunditjmara/Kastellorisian activist Andrew Jackomos and the former Director of the HCM Language and Culture Schools, Mr Manos Tzibragos, as well as Monash University Lecturer Dr Claire Hall (Lecturer in Performing Arts, Faculty Research Group Member Co-leader Decolonising and Indigenising Music Education SIG).
The event was also welcomed by the Education Coordinator of the Consulate General of Greece in Melbourne, Dr. Georgia Nikolaidou.
The event was honoured with the presence of the president of the Greek Community of Melbourne, Mr. Vasilis Papastergiadis, the vice-president Mrs. Anthi Sidiropoulou, as well as the former vice-president Mr. Theodoros Markos.
Papastergiadis pointed out in his greeting that the Greek Community of Melbourne, unequivocally supports the signing of the Treaty between the Federal Government and the First Peoples of Australia. A deeply and historically significant move that places the Hellenic Community at the forefront of the campaign for reconciliation.
Of course, the heroes of the day were the students from various schools of the Community, who joined their voices and moved young and old alike. The students performed two songs: The first one entitled “Inanay capuana”, a lullaby in the ancient language of the indigenous people from the Torres Islands and the second, a song an ode to the first inhabitants of this Earth and multicultural Australia entitled “I am Australian” translated into Greek by Dr. Claire Hall, whom we thank very much.
Also, the students presented a wonderful theatrical performance of the Aesop's myth “The Hare and the Tortoise”, directed by the theatre teacher of the Hellenic Community Schools, Mrs.Katerina Poutachidou.
The event was coordinated by the teacher Ms Christina Soumi, with the help of the director of the Schools of Language and Culture of the HCM, Ms Maria Bakalidou, as well as other teachers.
The closing moment of the evening was touching, when students of both Greek and Aboriginal descent approached their teachers and embraced them with thanks and emotion. As honouring were the words of the proud Wurundjeri woman, Rebecca Axford, who said, ”I envy your students who can speak two languages, and who can live and be inspired by the two great cultures of our history.”.
