A message for Australia Day was issued by AHEPA New South Wales. It is noted that January 26 is a national holiday, which should be honored with respect as the beginning of modern Australia, while describing how hundreds of thousands of Hellenes have built new lives in the Great South Land, noting that Hellenism has become as Australian as the olive groves of southern Australia, a part of the landscape. In addition, it is stressed that as much as Hellenism demands recognition as the indigenous people of Thrace, of Anatolia, of Pontus, of Cyprus, of Epirus, of Macedonia, so do First Nations Australians demand recognition as the indigenous people of Australia
Read the full message of AHEPA New South Wales:
26 January is officially marked as Australia Day, the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of British colonists at Botany Bay, New South Wales. To First Nations’ peoples and many others, 26 January marks the anniversary of the British invasion of their homelands.
As much as Hellenism demands recognition as the indigenous people of Thrace, of Anatolia, of Pontos, of Cyprus, of Epiros, of Macedonia, so do First Nations Australians demand recognition as the indigenous people of Australia.
For AHEPA NSW INC, 26 January is a national day, to be marked with due respect as the beginning of modern Australia.
Over the last two centuries, hundreds of thousands of Hellenes have built new lives in the Great South Land. From Hellas, Cyprus, Anatolia, Egypt, Romania, the former Soviet Union, South Africa, and many other lands, Hellenes have come. Some as economic migrants. Some as political refugees.
Others as survivors of the Genocide of the Hellenes (1914-1924), drawn here by the aid Australians sent to them as they were driven from their homelands in eastern Thrace, Pontos and Anatolia.
Some have migrated between Australia, Hellas and Cyprus multiple times, like our ancestor Odysseus, following their restless spirits.
The most unique group are the clergymen – the priests, Bishops and Archbishops who migrated to Australia to serve the spiritual needs of the Orthodox community of Australia.
Whatever brought them to the Antipodes, overseas-born and Australian-born Hellenes alike express their gratitude to the land and society which provided opportunities: economic, political, educational, spiritual and more.
As the medieval Pontian song mourning the loss of Constantinople in 1453 concludes, Hellenism «blooms and brings another». Australian Hellenism continues to grow and develop, adapting to local conditions and adopting from them.
As evidenced by the Australian Hellenes on the 2021 Australia Day Honours List, Hellenism has become as Australian as the olive groves of southern Australia, a part of the landscape.
Happy Australia Day!