EVENTS

September of 1999, saw the Pan-Arcadian Federation of Australia hold some very successful and very interesting events to commemorate the 178th anniversary of the greatest victory in the War of Independence. The 23rd of September 1821, when Tripolis(Arcadia) was liberated from the Ottomans.

The program consisted of some highly regarded speakers in our Greek community Dr. Anastasios Tamis, Mr. Mimi Sophocleous and Mrs. Erma Vasileiou.

The first talk where over 150 Arcadians came and listened to

Dr. Anastasios Tamis talk about the Tsakonian dialect. He outlined that it's a dialect deriving from the ancient Doric language, which is still being spoken in a region of Arcadia, Kynouria today. Also how many people from the region of Kynouria who immigrated to other parts of the world, like Australia, Canada, America and the region of the Black Sea still spoke the ancient dialect. Dr. Tamis outlined the importance of maintaining the Greek language and the Tsakoniki dialect,

Over 150 Arcadians attended to listen to the next speaker Mr. Mimis Sophocleous talk about the Indigenous Arcadians. He mentioned many sources which proved that the Arcadians were the first inhabitants of the region in the Peloponnese. They were first to develop community groups, the mythological Gods and the various Games they held in honour of Lykaios Zeus. Another startling piece of information that Mr. Sophocleous mentioned was about how a young Arcadian man arrived in Australia around 1892 on a ship.

On the 19th of September, the Pan-Arcadian Federation of Australia held a Church Memorial service at Axion Esti Monastery. At the Memorial the representative of the Greek Consul in Melbourne, Mr. Karabatsos, Mr. Vasilis Giavris and other dignitries of the Greek Melbourne Community laid wreaths for all the people who gave their lives for the Liberation of Tripoli(Arcadia) and for all of Greece. At the Arkadia Centre many hundreds of Arcadians attended to listen to the President Mr. Vasilis Giavris speak about the significance of the Liberation of Tripoli (Arcadia). The representative of the Greek Consul in Melbourne Mr A.Karabatsos delivered his well wishes from the Greek Consul Mr. Anninos and the Secretary of the Pan-Arcadian Federation of Australia, Mr. Nikos Kolendrianos, also spoke about the importance of the day.

The Annual Ball was held at the Arkadia Centre on the 25th of September. More than 400 people attended and the majority were Arcadian youth. Present were the Minister Mr. Pandazopoulos, the representative of the Greek Consul Mr. Arthur Karabatsos, Mr. Arthur Tsouhantaris Vice-President of SAE Oceania, Mr Vasilis Gonopoulos ELOMME President and other dignitries of other Greek Organisations of Melbourne.

They all commented about the large presence of the Arcadian Youth at the functions of the Federation. There were many messages from Greek and Australian politicians and from the other Pan-Arcadian Federations wishing the Australian Federation all the very best for its activities and events. During the evening the Pan-Arcadian Federation of Australia also awarded the Excellence Award of Modern Greek to a young lady who received the highest mark in Greek across Victoria.

The final activity was the talk presented by Mrs. Erma Vasileiou. This was attended by many Arcadians and Cypriots. She mentioned the strong ties and bonds that Arcadians have with the Cypriots. A startling piece of evidence is the Arcadio-cypriot dialect that exists between the two communities and the many towns and villages in Cyprus having similar or the same names as towns and villages in Arcadia.

Congratulations should go to the young second and third generation Arcadian youth who make up the Executive Committee of the Pan-Arcadian Federation of Australia. The youth with help from the first generation Arcadians, organised these highly successful cultural events which benefited the Arcadian Community of Australia and the Greek Community as a whole. Well done to all the Arcadian Associations which supported the functions ie:

Kynourian , Louka , Gortynian, Vourvourian, Kandila, Prasino, Hotousa, Panagitsa, Nestani and Blaherna Associations.

The 6th National Conference of the Pan-Arcadian Federation of Australia held in Melbourne was a huge success. Some important forums discussed at the Conference were about Education and the teaching of Greek, Greek Lobby and the Greek Elderly. At the Dinner Dance there were representations from the State Government, the Greek Orthodox Church, other Greek Organisations and the Greek Media. At the dance there was a large presence of young people. The Presidency was handed to the young committee of the Pan-Arcadian Federation of South Australia. We all wish them well in their endeavors.