Lemnos Anzac Conference 2013

You Are Invited

Samothrace, viewed from the Roman Shore, Myrina, Lemnos, April 2013. Photograph Jim Claven

Inaugural Lemnos Anzac Conference

This July will see the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee, in conjunction with the Municipality of Lemnos, hold its inaugural Lemnos Anzac Conference.

All those interested in better understanding and promoting the vital Lemnos link to the Gallipoli and Anzac Story are urged to attend and take part in this important conference.

 

The Conference will provide a unique opportunity to commemorate and discuss the historic link between Australia and Lemnos, as well as an opportunity to plan for a new era of commemorative tourism on the Island commencing in 2015.

The Conference will be held at Portianou Cultural Centre, Lemnos, Greece, from 11th to 13th July 2013.

The Conference will include presentations by important speakers, participant workshops, gala conference dinner and a special tour of Lemnos' Anzac trail.

This is an important initiative that will bring together academics, government representatives, community organsations and interested individuals to discuss and promote the historic link between Lemnos, Gallipoli and the Anzacs, and to help plan and discuss preparations for the Centenary of Anzac in 2015.

 

Addresses will be made by international specialists on the Lemnos and Gallipoli link. The Conference will also discuss how to best promote Lemnos’ link to Gallipoli and Anzacs in the context of the coming Centenary of Anzac in 2015.

International guest speakers will include Australia’s Dr John Yiannakis, who recently addressed the issue of Lemnos at Melbourne’s Antipodes Festival and Dr Haluk Oral, celebrated author on Gallipoli from Istanbul University. The Hon John Pandazopoulos, MP, former Victorian Tourism Minister and President of the World Hellenic InterParliamentary Association, will address the Conference on how Lemnos can develop its unique cultural tourism links with Australia.

The Conference will also include a tour of the key Anzac sites on Lemnos, led by Conference Organiser and Anzac historian, Mr Jim Claven.

Lemnos was the key base for the Anzac campaign, where the Anzacs left from, where they rested and recovered, where the Australian nurses cared for the injured and where the Anzacs were helped by and helped the local Lemnians.

As well as being a base for Australia’s 50,000 soldiers and sailors and 130 nurses, over 140 Australians remain in Lemnos’ war graves. The letters, diaries and photographs left behind record the beginnings of Australia’s link to Greece.

To register your intention to attend the Conference, please email Jim Claven, Secretary, Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee – jimclaven@yahoo.com.au. To book and finalise payment for the Conference, downland and complete the Booking Forms below and send to sales@vandomus.com

For information on this important Conference, downland our Conference information bulletins:

Lemnos Anzac Conference 2013 Registration and Booking Details
Lemnos Anzac Conference 2013 Speakers
Lemnos Anzac Conference 2013 Tour
Lemnos Anzac Conference 2013 Booking Forms
Lemnos Anzac Conference 2013 Media Release

Portianou Military Cemetery, Lemnos, April 2013. Photograph Jim Claven

Nurses of the 3rd Australian General Hospital arrive at Lemnos 1915. AWM image reference A04118

2013 Anzac Parliamentary Study Tour

Australian Parliamentary Study Tour participants at Anzac memorial, Mudros Harbour, Lemnos, April 2013. Photograph Jim Claven

April-May 2013 saw another successful Anzac Parliamentary Study.

With representation from Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Western Australia, the Study Tour took part in commemorative services on Lemnos Island, at Gallipoli, and at Vevi in northern Greece, and Athens.

The Tour followed the footsteps of the Anzacs from Lemnos to Gallipoli, as well as the sites of the Salonika campaign in First World War. The Tour then followed the Second World War Anzac trail in Greece, from the battlefield of Vevi-Xinon Nero in northern Greece, down through those of Platamon, the Vale of Tempe, Brallos and Thermopylae, to Athens, Corinth and to one of the key embarkation sites in 1941, Nafplio.

Highlights of the Tour included:

• Attendance at the Portianou Military Cemetery Anzac Service (including the Greek Red Cross' commemoration of the two Canadian nurses buried there);
• Attendance at the various commemorative services on the Gallipoli peninsula. Highlights were the Anzac Cove Dawn Service, the Commonwealth Service at Cape Helles and the New Zealand Service at Chunuk Bair at Gallipoli;
• Tours of Hagia Sophia, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and other important sites in Istanbul, including those associated with the Anzacs;
• Community celebrations in Thrylorio Komotini in Thrace in honour of the Australian refugee helper Major George Treloar, as well as a visit to the museum at Ouranoupolis to honour Joyce and Sidney Loch, two more Australians who helped re-settle refugees to Greece;
• The battle of Vevi-Xinon Nero commemorations in northern Greece;
• Visits to important sites and museums in Thessaloniki, Vergina and Athens;  
• Our delegations wreath-laying service at Athens' Commonwealth War Graves, at Phaleron Military Cemetery.

The Tour also held discussions with senior members of the Australian and Greek Military, Government authorities, University bodies, community organisations and businesses to promote Lemnos' link with Anzac and the coming Centenary in 2015.

And of course, the key highlight was walking the Anzac trail on the beautiful Island of Lemnos!

Tour participants were also very appreciative of the opportunity to take part in traditional Easter Services in Athens.

Tour participants at our wreath-laying service at Phaleron Military Cemetery in Athens, May 2013. Photograph Jim Claven