The Australian Ambassador to Greece, Mr. Athanasios Spyrou, visited Kythera during the weekend of 28-30 May, focusing on the presentation of the studies for the “Kythera Immigration Museum” to be created in Agia Pelagia.
Mr Spyrou also visited the Holy Pilgrimage of Panagia Myrtidiotissa while he attended the Town Hall, where the signing of the 2no Memorandum of Cooperation for the promotion of Kythera's paths, between the Municipality, the Property Committee, the Kythera Foundation for Culture and Development and MEDINA.
Finally, during the Ambassador's presence here, it was agreed to further strengthen the ties of the island with the numerous Australian community of Kythera, with whom the Mayor of Kythera, Efstratios Harhalakis, is expected to meet during his planned visit to the country of Oceania in the coming months.
The Municipality of Kythera issued a press release on the presence of the Australian Ambassador in Kythera:
«Accepting the invitation of the Mayor of Kythera, Mr. Efstratios Harhalakis, His Excellency the Australian Ambassador to Greece, Mr. Athanasios Spyrou, of Greek origin, visited Kythera. Mr Spyrou attended the official presentation of the studies of the «Kythera Immigration Museum» - which he has placed under his auspices - a visionary project, which will be created in Agia Pelagia, just a few meters from the port from which in the 1940s and 1950s tens of thousands of Kytherians left for foreign lands in search of a better life.
The presentation of the studies took place on Saturday evening 27/5 in the hospitable space of «Hidden Retreats - Agios Prokopios», in Karavas, where the President of the «Friends of Kythera Museums» Mrs. Eleni Tzortzopoulou developed the vision for the creation of the unique in Greece - and one of the few internationally - Museum of Migration. The Museum will be implemented in the designs of the architect Mr. Stephanos Tavlaridis, who was awarded 1st place in the architectural competition announced by the «Friends of Kythera Museums» on the basis of the Memorandum of Cooperation with the Municipality. The Museum will consist of a three-storey building in terraces and will contain, apart from technical and storage spaces, the rooms of the permanent and temporary exhibitions, an event hall and the offices of the Museum. The exterior spaces have been arranged to host outdoor events (concerts, film screenings, etc.) with a view of the sea of Agia Pelagia.
During the presentation of the studies, Ambassador Spyrou expressed his excitement for his presence on the island of Kythera and shared his personal memories of the Australian Kytherians, while thanking them for their significant contribution to society, culture, literature, economy and everyday life in Australia. The Mayor of Kythera, Mr. Harhalakis, thanked the Ambassador for accepting his invitation and stressed the importance of the phenomenon of immigration for Kythera, an island that from being a sender of immigrants in the previous century, has now become a recipient since 1990, and concluded by saying that the Kythera Immigration Museum is one of the most emblematic and visionary projects, which will become a reference point for Kythera nationwide.
The presentation was covered by ADELLIN RADIO and is available here
On the morning of Saturday 28-05, the Ambassador visited the Holy Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Myrtidiotissa, where he wrote the following in the Visitors« Book: »With respect and love I return to the ancestral lands of so many Greeks of Australia and to this dear and holy place. Thanks for the hospitality and congratulations for the important work of the church". He was given a guided tour of the Museum of Icons, the Church of St. Andrew in Livadi as well as the Archaeological Museum, the Metropolitan Church of the Crucifixion and the settlement of Chora by Mr. George Lourantos and Mrs. Helen Harou.
At noon on the same day, he visited the Town Hall, where he attended the signing of the 2nd Memorandum of Cooperation for the promotion of Kythera's paths, between the Municipality, the Property Committee, the Kythera Foundation for Culture and Development and MEDINA. The Mayor Mr. Efstratios Harhalakis offered the Ambassador a commemorative plaque with the Teenager of Antikythera. In attendance were the President of EEPKA Mr. Mr. Mr. G. Kominos and Mr. P. Zantiotis, the President of the Port Fund Mr. D. Kalligeros, the head of the minor minority Mr. D. Kontoleon, the President of the KIPA Mr. G. The event was covered by PHOTO CERIGO/Valerios Kalokairinos.
The cooperation of our Municipality with the Embassy of Australia is ongoing and will continue with the organization of joint cultural activities, in the context of strengthening the ties of our island with the almost 80,000 Greeks of Kythira origin who live, work and progress in Australia, while an official visit of the Mayor Mr. Efstratios Harhalakis to the Australian community of Kythira is planned in the coming months.»
