Shepparton Commemorates Ohi Day and its link to Lemnos

Members of the Greek Ex-Servicemen's Association and Lee Tarlamis MP at Lemnos Primary School, Shepparton. Photograph Jim Claven 2013

Jim Claven, Secretary of the Committee, and the Hon John Pandazopoulos MP, addressed the Shepparton Ohi Day commemoration at the Shepparton RSL on behalf of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee, last sunday, 27th October 2013.
The event was organised by the Greek Ex-Servicemens Association. Other Committee representatives present included President Lee Tarlamis MP, and Sofia and Con Kotanidis.
These events have been held for the past 11 years and involve the local Shepparton Greek community. Approximately 100 people attended the event.

The Ohi Day service at the beautiful St George's Greek Orthodox Church, Shepparton. Photograph Jim Claven 2013

The commemoration encompassed a Church Service at St George's Greek Orthodox Church, wreath laying at the Cenotaph and a speech over lunch at the Shepparton RSL.

Ohi Day commemoration and wreath laying at the Shepparton Cenotaph. Photograph Jim Claven 2013

Lee Tarlamis MP and the Hon John Pandazopoulos MP lay a wreath at the Shepparton Cenotaph. Photograph Jim Claven 2013

Ms Jenny Houlihan, Mayor of Greater Shepparton, and Mr Peter McPhee, President of the Shepparton RSL, took part in the commemoration.

Ms Jenny Houlihan, Mayor of Greater Shepparton lays a wreath at the Ohi Day commemorations at the Shepparton Cenotaph. Photograph Jim Claven 2013

A minutes silence is held at the Shepparton Cenotaph. The Hon John Pandazopoulos MP at left, Ms Jenny Houlihan, Mayor of Greater Shepparton next and Mr Peter McPhee, President of the Shepparton RSL centre. Photograph Jim Claven 2013

Jim Claven's address stressed the following points

• Ohi Day provides an opportunity to commemorate the links between Greece and Australia forged in WW1 and WW2, including the coming 95th anniversary of the Armistice of Mudros on 30th October, ending the war that began at Gallipoli in 1915;
• The importance of Lemnos to the Anzac campaign;
• That over 2,200 recruits from the Shepparton region enlisted in WW1 with a significant number of these seeing service at Gallipoli and on Lemnos. These included the famous - such as Lieutenant Colonel Murray Bourchier, who led the charge at Beersheeba and was awarded the Distinquished Service Order - and the less well known - such as Shepparton-born Driver Thomas Maidment, who served in the 1st Field Ambulance at Gallipoli and on Lemnos;
• Two local Anzacs that died during the Gallipoli campaign and are buried on or near Lemnos - Private Frederick Sargent who is buried at East Mudros on Lemnos and Lieutenant John Shallberg who was buried at sea near Lemnos;
• The story of Lieutenant Ernie Hill, a cabinet maker from Ballarat, who served with Corporal Albert Jacka VC at Gallipoli and on Lemnos, moved to Shepparton after the war and was instrumental in having the new soldier settlement township established to the east of Shepparton and named Lemnos - in remembrance of his experiences on the Island in 1915;
• Along with Ernie Hill - who would become a successful orchardist at Lemnos - a number of the new ex-soldier settlers who came to Lemnos Shepparton had served at Gallipoli and had known Lemnos - like Private Hec O'Neill from Echuca; and,
• Ernie would also be instrumental in setting up and playing in the local Australian Rules Football Club - the Lemnos Ramblers Football Club (now the Shepparton Swans).

Lemnos Football Club shield. Photograph Jim Claven 2013

The Committee also mounted our display of selected photographs from the Australian War Memorial archive showing the Anzacs on Lemnos in 1915. Of  special interest was the image of local Greek villagers receiving medical attention in the 3rd Australian General Hospital on the Island.

Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee photographic display at the Shepparton RSL. Photograph Jim Claven 2013

The Committee had discussions with the Shepparton RSL and the Mayor of Greater Shepparton as to how we work together to enhance awareness of the Lemnos link to Anzac and to Shepparton.

President Lee Tarlamis, with Ms Houlihan and Mr McPhee and another representative of the Shepparton RSL at the Shepparton Cenotaph.  Photograph Jim Claven 2013

Thanks to the Greek Ex-Servicemen's Association and the Greek community of Shepparton and the Shepparton RSL for putting on such a wonderful event and making us welcome.
We look forward to working together to build the remembrance of the Lemnos, Anzac and Shepparton connection into the future.

St George's Greek Orthodox Church, Shepparton - on Knight Street. Corporal George Knight was an Anzac from Albert Park who is buried on Lemnos. The Church was erected the year before the famous Shepparton Anzac Ernie Hill passed away in 1966, aged 75. Photograph Jim Claven 2013