Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee Inc: Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial Poster Gifted to Australian Embassy in Athens

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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

Monday, 3 October 2016

Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial Poster Gifted to Australian Embassy in Athens

Photo Christina Despoteris 2016

Recently our Vice-President, Ms Christina Despoteris, was able to re-inforce our Committee's excellent links with the Australian Embassy in Greece.
Christina has been visiting Greece to promote the work of our Committee, as well as that of the Thessaloniki Association's White Tower project and the new links being developing between schools in Greece and Melbourne.
Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial Poster Presentation
Ms Christina Despoteris presented the Australian Ambassador to Greece, his Excellency John Griffin, with our Lemmos Gallipoli Memorial commemorative poster.
The poster is now on display in the Australian Embassy in Athens.Christina also provided the Ambassador an update on our various projects.
Ambassador Griffin has been a strong promoter of the Anzac link between Australia and Greece and has always supported our activities to improve awareness of the link between Lemnos and Anzac in 1915. He has played a key role in ensuring that the annual commemorative services on Lemnos are a success, especially the Centenary commemorations held last year. Earlier this year he was able to visit our Memorial in Albert Park.
Christina presented the commemorative poster to the Ambassador during a meeting held at the Ambassador’s residence in Athens. Over afternoon tea the meeting discussed various ways in which we can liaise closer and exchange information, ideas and know-how in relation to the education and teaching of languages amongst ethnic minorities and the disadvantaged.
As well as Christina, those who attended the lunch and presentation included:

His Excellency John Griffin - Australian Ambassador to Greece
Dr Mary Koutsoudaki - Professor - Faculty of English Language and Literature - National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Dr Maria Kaskadami - Principal - 1st Junior High School - Voula/Athens
Argyro Sarigianopoulos - Immigration Department - Australian Embassy Athens
Bella Kapon - Public Diplomacy Officer - Australian Embassy Athens and

Christina Despoteris, Dr Maria Kaskadami, Ambassador Griffin, Argyro Sarigianopoulos, Dr Mary Koutsoudaki. Photo Christina Despoteris 2016

Ambassador Visits Athens War Museum
Later on the 27th September Christina arranged and accompanied the Ambassador on a personal tour of the Athens War Museum, led by Museum Director Brigadier General Panayiotis Kaperonis. The tour was followed by a luncheon at the Officers' Mess. Ambassador Griffin proudly wore a white laurel flower produced as part of the White Tower Melbourne Project.
The Athens War Museum is one of Greece's premier museums and is well worth a visit during your next stay in Athens.
Brigadier General Kaperonis has also been a strong supporter of our work - accepting our Lemnos Gallipoli Photographic Exhibition and hosting our presentation and reception at the War Museum as part of the Centenary of Anzac last year.
A big thank you to Panayiotis from all at our Committee.
Photographs taken by Christina during the tour are reproduced below.