Dear Members and Supporters
Well here we are at the end of another year.
The last two years have been particularly challenging for all, including commemorative organisations.
Despite these restrictions we have been able to continue to advance our program of building awareness of the Hellenic link to Anzac in general and the role of Lemnos in the Gallipoli campaign in particular. I thank all members of the Committee for their work at this difficult time.
Whilst we were unable to hold our annual public commemorative service at the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial in Albert Park over the past two years, we were able to hold online services for our annual Armistice of Mudros commemoration at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance. We also were able to hold a small dawn service at the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial on Anzac Day in 2021.
We have continued to maintain our cooperation with the authorities on Lemnos as well as our regular online sessions linking schools in Melbourne and on Lemnos.
We have progressed plans to extend the Anzac Trail on Lemnos, commenced in 2018 with our Australian Pier Memorial. Two new bronze commemorative plagues have been created – commemorating the Royal Australian Navy at Lemnos in 1915 and Lemnian Anzac Sapper Basil Demetri Passa from Kontopouli on Lemnos. These will soon be transported to Lemnos in advance of their installation on the Island, hopefully in 2022.
We have also participated in the Australian Government scoping study for a commemorative site on Lemnos and look forward to its implementation in coming years and assisting where we can.
We were successful in our proposal to Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance for the holding of an annual commemorative service in honour of the Australian’s who served in the Salonika Campaign 1915-18.
And we have continued to publicize the Hellenic link to Anzac through the many media stories we have been successful in having printed. A big thank you to Melbourne’s Neos Kosmos in this regard.
Our recent AGM has seen the election of our new Executive Committee. These are: Lee Tarlamis OAM MP – President; Christina Despoteris – Vice President; Jim Claven – Secretary; Arlene Bennett – Treasurer; General Members – Deb Stewart, Terry Kanelos, Malcolm Macdonald, Vicki Kyritsis and Paul Sougleris. Patrons – Col (Ret) Janice McCarthy ARRC and Lambis Engelzos OAM.
The Committee places on record its appreciation of its outgoing Executive Committee Members – Ange Kenos and Nikolaos Kydas. We look forward to continuing to work with both Ange and Nikolaos in the future.
We look forward to a full program of events and new projects promoting the Hellenic link to Anzac in 2022 and hopefully seeing you all again in 2022.
Finally, wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
President, Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee
