The Consulate General of Greece in Sydney and the Cretan Association of Sydney & NSW jointly held a ceremony on Friday, May 16, to mark the 84th anniversary of the Battle of Crete. The event took place at the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park.
Vice Admiral Theodoros Mikropoulos, Deputy Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, attended the ceremony. He is leading a Greek defence delegation visiting Sydney.
In his keynote address, Vice Admiral Mikropoulos spoke about the strong bonds formed between Australian and Greek soldiers and civilians during the Battle of Crete. He described these ties as being based on sacrifice, compassion, and shared values. He said these bonds still unite Greece and Australia today.
Professor Peter Monteath from Flinders University gave the keynote presentation. He provided a detailed history of the ANZACs’ role in the Battle of Crete. He highlighted the close friendship that grew between the ANZAC soldiers and the Cretan people. This friendship was forged through hardship and mutual acts of bravery.
The ceremony also honored descendants of ANZACs who fought in Crete and the wider Greek Campaign. Many of these descendants attended the event.
Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, thanked the Cretan Association of Sydney and NSW for co-hosting the ceremony. He praised their ongoing efforts to maintain and promote the ties between Greece and Australia.
During the event, Professor Monteath received a formal gift from Vice Admiral Mikropoulos, the Consul General, and the Cretan Association. Commemorative gifts were also presented to Rear Admiral Chris Smith AM, CSM, who represented the Commander of the Australian Fleet; Commodore Anita Williams, Director General Surface Combatants & Aviation Branch of the Royal Australian Navy; and Commodore John Stavridis, Commodore Training of the Royal Australian Navy.
Other notable attendees included Commander Dimitrios Lekkakos of the Greek Navy, Colonel Kyriakos Kyriakakos, Defence Attaché of the Greek Embassy in Canberra, Emmanuel Vitetzakis, President of the Cretan Association of Sydney & NSW, and Emmanuel Mountakis, President of the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand.
The event was a respectful and meaningful tribute to an important moment in Greek and Australian military history. It also served as a reminder of the enduring friendship between the two nations.
