Announcement - Winners of the LGCC School Competition at Moudros Senior High School

The Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee (LGCC) marked its tenth anniversary in 2021 with a number of activities showcasing the Lemnos connection to ANZAC; and more broadly the 200^th Anniversary of the 1821 Greek Revolution, the Hellenic connection to ANZAC. What better way of doing this, than through the eyes of our youth.

“In 2018, during the 100^th Anniversary of the Armistice of Moudros celebrations on Lemnos, the LGCC announced the establishment of two sister school relationships, one of which was between Albert Park College and the Moudros Senior High School”, Christina Despoteris the Vice President of the Committee said.

One of the activities organized by the LGCC in collaboration with the participating schools was an Essay, Poetry and Art Competition. The theme of the Competition was “Greece 1821 – 2021 Celebrating 200 years of Independence”. Students also focused on more specific themes including Heroes of the Revolution, Women of the Revolution, How has the Revolution affected Life in Modern Greece, Historical Markers that shaped Greek Society 1821 – 2021, The Influence of Hellenic Civilization on the World, How Hellenic Civilization has influenced Australia, The Greek Australian Connection.

The Competition was open to all students who participated in the sister school program in 2020 and 2021. Winners were chosen from each year level.

“The judges were very impressed at the standard of the entries. The essays and poems conveyed a sense of insight into the topic, articulating thoughts and arguments succinctly and clearly. The Art works which were submitted were of a high standard. They stood out for their creativity and originality of the theme, as well as the artistic composition and overall design” Ms Despoteris said.

“Today we are announcing the winners from the Moudros Senior High School”, Ms Despoteris continued.

The winners are:

Nicole Dimou, a Year 10 student, who impressed the judges with her essay about “The Exodus of Messolonghi”, the island of the civilian revolution; and

Sofia Voria, a Year 10 student, with her creative and colourful depiction of Greeks in national costume on a ship firing cannon at the shore. Sofia's work is pictured above.

 “As the Co-ordinator of the competition and the sister school program, I was delighted with the response, as well as with the standard of the entries we received. These types of activities keep alive the historical memory, help cultivate the Greek language and further motivate and inspire students to feel proud of their Hellenic heritage” Ms Despoteris said.

Thank you to the Principal, Mr Stylianos Karagiannis and Ms Theodora Lymperi, the co-coordinator of the program who work tirelessly throughout the year encouraging students, preparing presentations, and organizing special events and Zoom sessions between the two schools.

We all hope that the time will come when the Lemnian school visits Melbourne and when the students from Albert Park will be able to travel to Greece to cement the relationship that they have developed over the last few years.

The LGCC will provide a book prize – Jim Claven’s Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed – A Pictorial History of the Anzacs in the Aegean, 1915-16, for the two winners.