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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

Tuesday 25 April 2017

Lemnos Committee and Battle of Crete & Greece Council take part in Oakleigh Dawn Service

Photo Jim Claven 2017
At 6am on Anzac Day, the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee and the Battle of Crete and Greece Commemorative Council took part in the annual Dawn Service held by the Oakleigh-Carnegie RSL. The Committee and the Council had been invited to lay wreaths as part of this moving service.
As many will know, the RSL is located in one of Melbourne - Australia's - most famous Greek community precincts.
Around 200 people assembled, despite the cold and raining conditions, to honour the Anzac's.
Our President Lee Tarlamis, assisted by executive member Deb Stewart, laid the Committee's wreath in honour of the Anzac's and specifically Oakleigh's Private William Withers who is buried on Lemnos, Greece and Deb's grandmother, Sister Evelyn Hutt, who tended to the sick and wounded diggers on Lemnos in 1915.
Tony Tsourdalakis, Secretary of the Council laid his wreath in honour of the Anzacs, noting the 17,000 who served in Greece and the 6,500 who served on Crete, both in 1941.
Photo Jim Claven 2017

The Oakleigh Cenotaph was re-dedicated by Brigadier Ned Herring, who had served in Greece in both WW1 and WW2.
Photo Jim Claven 2017
Photo Jim Claven 2017

We also were invited by Mr Steve Dimopoulos, MP for Oakleigh and Co-Chair of the Victorian Parliamentary Friends of Greece, to inspect the RSL's beautiful honour board which lists William Withers. Our Vice-President, Christina Despoteris and myself also attended. Thank you to the Oakleigh-Carnegie RSL for inviting us to take part.
And we all enjoyed the traditional "gunfire" breakfast.
We discussed a number of possible joint projects with the RSL and we all look forward to collaborating with the Oakleigh-Carnegie RSL in the future.
We encourage all members and supporters to visit the Oakleigh-Carnegie RSL and its Cenotaph, on the corner of Drummond St and Atherton Rd, Oakleigh.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

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