Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee Inc: Lonsdale Street Festival - George Devine Treloar and Greek Anzacs Displays

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Our Committee is raising funds to create a lasting legacy telling the story of Lemnos' link to Gallipoli and Australia's Anzac story. Our projects include the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial in Albert Park, the publication of a major new historical and pictorial publication and more. To make a donation you can also deposit directly by direct debit into the Committee's bank account: Account Name: Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee Inc; Bank: Bendigo Bank; Account No: 188010037; BSB No: 633000; Include your surname in the reference section. For further information on our legacy projects or to make a donation please contact either Lee Tarlamis 0411553009 or Jim Claven 0409402388M

Wednesday, 2 March 2016

Lonsdale Street Festival - George Devine Treloar and Greek Anzacs Displays

Promoting awareness of the Australian link to Greece. Photo Jim Claven 2016

It was great to see a stall combining two displays commemorating Australian connections to Greece across two world wars at last weekends Lonsdale Street Greek Festival.

Paul Sougleris of Greek Anzacs putting up his display, Photo Jim Claven 2016

Cr Jim Grivokostopoulos of the Pan-Tryfillian community and Paul Sougleris explain the Hellenic link to Anzac in WW2. Photo Jim Claven 2016

The Pan-Tryfillian community and the Greek Anzac organisation displayed historic images from the Greek and Crete campaigns of WW2, including photographs of many of the Anzac's who served and died there in 1941. This year is the 75th anniversary of these campaigns and many events are being planned to commemorate this important part of Anzac and Greek history. More information on these events will be posted soon.

Myself (centre) with Committee members Ange Kenos (second left) and Deb Stewart (right), with Sanker Nadeson (Anzac Commemorative Artist - left) and Peter Ford (son of Kiwi Greece-Crete campaign veteran). Photo Jim Claven 2016

Many veterans and their families enjoyed the stall - especially the photographic display assembled by Paul Sougleris. This has identified a range of new contacts and potentially historic memorabilia collections that will be brought to the public over the year of commemorations.

The Estia stall, with Litsa Athanasiadis on right. Photo Jim Claven 2016

The Pontiaki Estia display promoted their project to erect a memorial statue to Ballarat's Major George Devine Treloar. Treloar, who served in the British Army in WW1, assisted in the settlement over 100,000 christian - mostly Greek - refugees in northern Greece after the war. The display featuted many images for the time, a commemorative booklet and information on the Memorial project and how to people can assist and donate to the project. For further information on the Treloar Memorial project, please contact the Estia's Public Relations Officer Mrs. Penny Tsombanopoulos on 0409 850 109 or by email at GDT.memorial@gmail.com

Below are some general photos from the day.

Committee Exective member Deb Stewart and member Ange Kenos also attended the stalls.

Congratulations to Cr Jim Grivakostopoulos, Paul Sougleris and Litsa Athanasiadis for their great work keeping alive the Australian link to Greece in WW1 and WW2. Good luck for all their efforts and projects.
Great to see that the work of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee is spreading to our Hellenic organisations.
Jim, Paul and Litsa - and the Pontiaki Estia - have all been supporters of our Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Joseph Tsombanopoulos and folkloric group - in pre-Lenten carnival dress.Photo Jim Claven 2016