COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE AND OLIVE TREE LAUNCHED IN PASCOE VALE SOUTH RSL

The Battle of Crete & Greece Commemorative Council of Victoria in conjunction with the State Member for Pascoe Vale, the Hon. Christine Campbell MP, invited local residents to a commemorative service for the 71^st Anniversary of the Battle of Greece and Crete at 10:30am on Friday, 25 May 2012 at the cenotaph at Rogers Reserve, Cumberland Road, Pascoe Vale.

The event was a result of a partnership that Ms Campbell had made with the Battle of Crete & Greece Commemorative Council of Victoria upon returning from Crete in Greece during the 70^th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete events in Hania and Rethymno, were she was accompanied by local Cretan Community Leaders including John Nikolakakis, Tony Tsourdalakis, Christos Polentas as well as other local Parliamentarians John Pantazopoiulos, Lee Tarlamis, Marlene Karouz, Martin Foley, Nazih Elasmar, Bruce Atkinson,Colin Brooks and others.

“There are over 3,000 residents of Greek heritage residing in the Pascoe Vale electorate, and many were deeply affected by World War II battles in Greece and the German prisoner of war camps,” Ms Campbell said. “It would be an honour to welcome those who fought in this battle, or may have a connection to it through a relative or close friend.”  “Frank Cox, past mayor of Coburg, was one of the Australians captured in Greece as they tried to halt the German advance so that other Australian soldiers could be safely evacuated from Crete. He was one of the German P.O.Ws.”

The service included the unveiling of a memorial plaque commemorating the battle, as well as an olive tree planting as a symbol of peace. It was the first memorial commemorating the event away from the Shrine of Remembrance and after the Australian Hellenic Memorial.

Wreaths were laid by the Ambassador of Greece to Australia Mr. Alexios Christopoulos, the Lieutenant Colonel of the Hellenic Defence Forces Mr. Evangelos Apostolakis, Victorian Parliamentarians Christine Campbell and Jenny Mikakos, Mayor of Moreland Mrs Stella Karyofilidis, Cretan Community President Tony Tsourdalakis and Joseph Manatakis as well as other local service organisations.

Following the conclusion of Ceremony, a Cocktail Reception was held for all the guests at the nearby Pascoe Vale RSL Sub Branch.