Women take over the leadership of the Battle of Crete Commemorative Council
On Wednesday, December 7, the representatives of the organisations that make up the Commemorative Council of the Battle of Crete and Greece met to take stock of the past year. The most notable achievements of the Committee for 2022 were the organiwation of the anniversary events for the Battle of Crete, the unveiling of a plaque in the province of Shepparton and the launch of a Commemorative Medal and Commemorative envelope for the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete.
In May, and after a two-year absence due to the pandemic, the events of the Battle of Crete took place with the participation of the Greek Armed Forces, as well as a delegation from the Region of Crete. The events included the opening of the photographic exhibition entitled “1821: Crete in the Greek Revolution” in the Queens Hall of the State Parliament of Victoria, the screening of the film entitled “Krousonas – In the Footsteps of Captain Satan”, dedicated to the resistance of Crete against during World War II, the official Doxology at the Cathedral of St. Eustathios in Melbourne, as well as the Wreath-Laying ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance and the Australian-Hellenic Memorial.
At the same time, the Commemorative Council in collaboration with the Municipality of Shepparton and the support of the Panhellenic Union of retired Reservists in Australia, organised a special ceremony, dedicated to the Australian soldiers who fought on the side of the Greeks during the Second World War and mainly to those who did not manage to return back to their homeland and found themselves buried on Greek soil and in particular in Crete. During the ceremony, a plaque was unveiled for the ANZACs who fought in the Battle of Crete.
This year’s Commemorative Council events concluded with the launch of the Commemorative Medal and Commemorative envelope for the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete in 1941. It was an initiative carried out by the Commission in collaboration with Australia Post, under the auspices of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand. Australian Remembrance Day was chosen for the presentation of this rare and unique publication on Australian history, thus honouring the bonds of friendship that unite the two countries, Greece and Australia.
The outgoing President of the Commemorative Council , Mr. Dimitris Papadimitriou, warmly thanked all the members for their support during his term.
With a unanimous decision, it was proposed that Ms. Natasa Spanou, who until recently was the Secretary of the Committee, take over as new President. Ms. Spanou, who has been on the Committee since 2017 representing Oakleigh Grammar School, accepted to take up the position with particular emotion and becomes the first female Chair of the Coordinating Committee.
At the side of Ms. Spanou will be Mrs. Maria Maniou, representative of the Pancreatic Association of Melbourne, who will assume the position of Secretary.
On Friday, 30 December 2022, Ms. Spanou and Ms. Maniou paid an official visit to the Consulate General, met with the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Mr. Emmanuel Kakavelakis, and discussed the future of the Committee. On the same day, they received the wishes of His Grace Bishop Evmenios of Kerasounta, who wished them a good tenure and good strength in the worthy work they are undertaking.
The Commemorative Council of the Battle of Crete and Greece is already preparing the 2023 event schedule, which will be available soon. Those organisations and associations interested in actively participating in the Committee, can contact the President, Ms. Spanou, by phone at mobile 0449232783, or at the email address [email protected].
