Premier of Victoria Launches Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed at Melbourne's State Library - 13th November 2019

Photo by Michael Claven 2019

On behalf of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee I would like to thank the many who joined us last week on 13th November 2019 in the Isabella Fraser Room of the State Library of Victoria for the official launch of our new book ‘Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed’ by the Hon. Daniel Andrews MP Premier of Victoria. The Consul General of Greece Dimitrios Michalopoulos, Dr Peter Ewer, Dr Kevin Molloy and myself also spoke about the significance of this book.
In launching the book, the Premier referenced the Hellenic aspect of Victoria's multicultural story and felt that the book - as a celebration of the Anzac roots of the link between Australia and Greece -  should be available to Victoria's students. The Committee appreciates the Premier making the time during a busy parliamentary session week to launch out book.
Our MC Christina Despoteris was also able to read out a congratulatory message from the Honorary Secretary of the UK-based Gallipoli Association, Ms Sarah Kellam Ansdell.
We also heard from the author of this magnificent, authoritative and well researched book, the only one of its kind on this subject, a true Philhellene, Jim Claven - Historian. Jim's address took us all on  his personal journey of historical discovery, from archives in Australia and overseas, to walking on Lemnos itself to discover where the Anzac's walked in 1915-16. He highlighted some of the key photographs from his book, particularly those revealing the contacts between the Anzac's and the local villagers of the Island. He pointed out how purchases of the book will help realize the Committee's dream of creating the Lemnos Gallipoli Heritage Trail on Lemnos, with the support of the local Lemnos authorities, a trail begun last year with our unveiling of the Australian Pier memorial north of Mudros. Finally, he appealed to all who had personal family archives documenting Australia's Anzac history to consider donating them into the care of our great state libraries across Australia.

Photo by Stella Pappas 2019

Photos Kostas Deves 2019

On behalf of the Committee, I presented a copy of the book to the Premier.

Photo Kostas Deves 2019

We were humbled to have been joined by so many other distinguished guests including current and former Members of Parliament. These included former Premier of Victoria Steve Bracks, the Hon Martin Foley and the Hon Gavin Jennings - both Ministers in the Victorian State Government, former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mr Alex Andrianopoulos, former Minister Mr John Pandazopoulos, former MP Mr Bruce Mildenhall and the Federal Member for Hotham, Ms Clare O'Neil.

Photos by Kostas Deves 2019

Photo Michael Claven 2019

Other attendees included representatives of various service organisations (including the Oakleigh-Carnegie, Box Hill, Essendon and Hellenic Sub-Branches). And there were representatives from many of Melbourne's Hellenic community organisations, including the Lemnian, Pontian, Pan-Korinthian, Messinian, Nafpaktian and Cretan communities.
A number of descendants of those who served on Lemnos in 1915-16 were also in attendance, including Ms Deb Stewart and Mr Stephen Lee, both descendents of Australian nurses who served on Lemnos.
A special thanks to the State Library of Victoria for making this beautiful room available for our launch and for the amazing display from their collection, revealing some of the original photographs and albums published in the book, enjoyed by many who attended the launch (below).

Photo Michael Claven 2019

Photo Michael Claven 2019

Thanks also to George Petrou, who’s professional team was responsible for the amazing layout of the book but also had his new "Lemnos" painting on display at the launch (below).

Photo Lee Tarlamis 2019

Photo Lee Tarlamis 2019

Also present were David Downie and others from Kosdown Printing in South Melbourne who were responsible for the final printing of the book.

MC Christina Despoteris looks on as the Premier of Victoria launches the book. Photo Kostas Deves 2019

I would also like to thank the MC, our Vice-President, Christina Despoteris, for doing an amazing job ensuring the evenings success as well as our book ‘sales team’ - Emma Gibson Vulin, Helen Constas and Vicki Kyritsis (pictured below) - who also did a great job.

Photo Michael Claven 2019

Thanks to the many who took the opportunity to purchase their own personal copies of the book and have Jim sign them. It was great and heartening to all involved to see so many take up this opportunity. We thank you all.

Finally, I would like to thank the media who attending and supported this event - Nick McCallum (Seven News), Sotiris Hatzimanolis (Neos Kosmos), Pano Apostolou (SBS) and Kostas Deves. Their reports on the launch are appreciated and can be read on the links below.
Thanks to the many who took photographs of the event helping his to record this important event in Australian and Hellenic history - Kostas Deves, Michael Claven, Roma Siachos, Kris Pavlidis, Stella Pappas and Liza Drakos - amongst many. This is yet another in a long and growing list of achievements that our small but active organisation has delivered and I can assure you that we are no where near done yet and we look forward to your continued involvement and support with our current and future endeavours.

Lee Tarlamis OAM, President
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Purchasing the Book

Those wishing to purchase a copy of the book from our Committee should contact me via email - lee.tarlamis@hotmail.com - and follow the instructions and complete the form below:

Media Reports on the Launch

Below is the link to the Channel 7 Report on the launch by Nick McCallum, feauting interviews with both Ms Deb Stewart and Mr Stephen Lee:
Channel 7 News Report on Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed Launch

Below is the link to the report in Neos Kosmos on the launch published on 16th November 2019:
Book launch for ‘Lemnos and Gallipoli Revealed’, a book that should be on the school reading list

 

And the review of the book by Konstantinos Kalymnios published on 16th November 2019 in Neos Kosmos:
Jim Claven’s ‘Lemnos and Gallipoli Revealed’ captures the ANZAC spirit

SBS's Radio's report by Panos Apostolou:
SBS Radio - Panos Apostolou Report on the Launch

Below is a link to a video of the launch made by John Pandazopoulos:
Book Launch Video - John Pandazopoulos 

Oakleigh Glendi Festival Success

Well what a successful weekend the Committee had at Oakleigh's Glendi Festival in Warrawee Park in Melbourne's Hellenic heart of Oakleigh!
We have taken part in the festival over a number of years but this was truly our most successful year in terms of promoting awareness of the Hellenic link to Australia's Anzac story and also for providing a great opportunity to promote our new book - Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed: A Pictorial History of the Anzac's in the Aegean 1915-16.
Thanks to all who stopped by our stall, including Consul General of Greece Mr Dimitrios Michalopoulos, Ms Clare O'Neil Federal MP for Hotham, Mr Steve Dimopoulos Victorian MP for Oakleigh, Mr Nick Staikos Victorian MP for Bentleigh, Mr Michael O'Brien Victorian MP and Victorian Leader of the Opposition, Ms Nina Taylor MP and Ms George Crozier MP both representing the Southern Metropolitan Region in the Victorian Parliament's Upper House, Mr Mark Robertson Principal of Oakleigh Grammar and his wife Kerri, former Monash Councillor Mr Bill Pontikis, Ms Ann Barker Secretary of the Oakleigh Carnegie RSL and former Victorian MP for Oakleigh, Mr Paul Sougleris of the Pammessian Brotherhood Pappaflessas, Ms Litsa Athanasiadis of the Melbourne Pontiaki Estia, Ms Kris Stamboulidis of the Australian Krythian Association, Mr Peter Andrinopoulos of the Society of Kalamata, Mr Nikolaos Kydas of our Committee and the Victorian Lemnian Community, Ms Mary Sinanidis from Neos Kosmos, Mr Pano Apostolou from SBS Radio and Ms Roula Krykelis and Mr Lee Andrikopoulos of Rythmos Digital Radio - as well as countless others.
A special thank you to those who purchased copies of our book - we sold twenty copies on the weekend, along with our Committee badges. Many purchased books as gifts for their Lemnian-born relatives - including young Sam for his pappou Stavros - as well as school teachers and others.
A big thank you to Sam and Lee Tarlamis who set up and dismantled our stall display on both Saturday and Sunday - even during the rain on Saturday - and who stayed all day on both days promoting our work. Thanks to our Vice President Christina Despoteris for helping out all weekend, as well as to Committee member and Essendon RSL President Ange Kenos for helping out too. Thanks also to Vicki Kyritsis and Chau Huynh for also helping.
Another big thank you to Andrew Ballis, President Pan-Macedonian Association of Melbourne and Victoria and to George Carydias, Director, Aubrey Paton & Associates for their assistance in obtaining the stall at the festival, we can't thank you enough.
And thanks for all those who dropped in to say hello, to learn about Lemnos and its link to Australia's Anzac story and to all who purchased our new book.
Above and below are photos from the weekend - thanks to all who contributed their photos too.
Jim Claven,
Secretary, Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee