Announcement - 2023 Gallipoli Commemorative Services on Lemnos

 

The authorities on Lemnos have announced that this years annual Gallipoli campaign commemorative services may take place in May rather than the usual date prior to Anzac Day.

The Committee received this information from the Sub-Prefect's Office of the Regional Unit of Lemnos today. 

No definite date has been confirmed, however this is likely to take place between 3rd and 9th May 2023.

When we receive further information regarding the events on Lemnos we will publicize it through further blog posts and social media.

Regards

Lee Tarlamis OAM MP President & Jim Claven, Secretary

Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial Repaired

 

A message to all of our members, supporters and friends - the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial has been repaired! Above and below are some photographs of the repaired Memorial taken today by the Secretary, Jim Claven.

Last week our Committee was alerted to damage inflicted on the Memorial by a vandal. The nurse component of the Memorial had been sprayed painted. This is the second time since its unveiling in 2015 that the Memorial has been defaced with paint. Local resident, urban historian and former Mayor and Councillor Janet Bolitho let is know.

Sadly our sculptor - Peter Corlett OAM - on being informed about the damaged, lamented that this is not uncommon on public sculptures. 

The Committee would like to express its thanks to all at the City of Port Phillip who acted so swiftly to repair the damage. We would particularly like to thank Justin Gayner, the Programming & Curatorial Lead at the City of Port Phillip - and of course the restoration workers who completed the repairs. Well done. Thanks to the Council's Sandra Khazam too for her on-going support. The community thanks you for your efforts.

It is important that graffiti or other attention seeking acts like this are removed quickly to limit the "5 minutes of fame" of the perpetrator. They obviously have no appreciation of the work and funds that have gone in to create such a work, all by community volunteers.

As a mark of appreciation for her diligence in alerting us to the damage last week, the Committee has presented Janet Bolitho with a complementary copy of our book - Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed. It is only through local people like Janet that our Memorial can be monitored. Thank you Janet.

And thank you to all our friends and supporters who contacted us to offer assistance and express disgust at the damage to one of the few Memorials in Melbourne to feature a sculpture of a woman.

The Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial again stands proud and ready to host this years commemorative event in August. 

Lee Tarlamis OAM MP, President & Jim Claven, Secretary

Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial Vandalised - Again

 

It is with great sadness that we report that our beautiful Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial at Lemnos Square in Albert Park has again been vandalized with paint.

The vandalism occurred last week. It was brought to the attention of the President by local resident, urban historian and former Mayor & Councillor Janet Bolitho with the City of Port Philip. She supplied us with the above photograph revealing the damage.

It appears that the damage is similar - though more extensive - to the previous graffiti vandalism which the Memorial was subject to in 2020. At that time local residents intervened to minimize the damage and alerted the Committee.

The Secretary has alerted the authorities at the City of Port Philip who will be taking remedial action as soon as possible. The Secretary advised the Council that the sculptor -  Peter Corlett OAM - is willing to assist in the remedial action as he has offered in the past. Sadly Peter stated that such vandalism is not uncommon with statues and memorials.

We have also suggested that the Council might consider enhancing security at Lemnos Square to deter any further attacks on the Memorial (such as the deployment of cameras).

The vandalism is particular disgusting given that the vandal has chosen to interfere with one of the few statues honouring women in Melbourne and this has taken place close to the celebration of Greek Independence Day (25 March).

We look forward to the restoration of our beautiful Memorial in coming days or weeks back to the condition we all love (photo below by Jim Claven, 2018).

On behalf of the Committee we thank Janet for alerting us to this damage.

Jim Claven, Secretary & Lee Tarlamis, OAM MP, President