Battle of Kalamata 75th Anniversary Commemorative Service was held at 12.30 pm on Sunday 15th May 2016, Australian Hellenic Memorial, Domain Gardens, Government House Drive. It was the first ever commemoration service held in Melbourne. 

 The memorial service was commemorating the battle of Kalamata in 1941 and all who served and sadly died there. A number of veterans families were present.

Master of Ceremonies, Mr Peter Andrinopoulos

 WELCOME SPEECH 

Mr Theo Kalyvas, President, Society of Kalamata “23 March”

 OFFICIAL SPEECHES 

Mr Steve Dimopoulos MP, representing the Hon John Eren, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

Ms Maria Vamvakinou MP, representing the Hon Bill Shorten, Leader of the Federal Opposition

Mr Murray Thompson MP, Member for Sandringham, representing the Hon Matthew Guy, Leader of the State Opposition

OFFICIAL WREATH LAYING 12.55 pm

RESPONSE 1.25 pm

Mr. Ioannis Michanetzis, Commander (Retd), Hellenic Navy, representing the Hellenic Armed Forces and the Hellenic RSL Sub branch on behalf of the veteran community

The reading of the Ode (All repeat last line)

Mr Ange Kenos, Sub Lieutenant (Retd), RAN, and President, Essendon RSL Sub Branch

Wreath laying service and 

laying of a Blood Red Poppy, symbol of peace and longevity, by guests and others present

Mr Phil Cleary, Television Commentator, ABC TV with Mr Damien O’Connor will have a film crew present during the Commemorative Service filming for a documentary that will be presented on television on the bonds between Greece and Australia during World War II. 

WREATH LAYING

Representing the Hon John Eren, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and the Hon. Jenny Mikakos MP, Minister for Families and Children & Minister for Youth Affairs, the Member for Oakleigh, Mr Steve Dimopoulos MP for Oakleigh

Representing the Hon Bill Shorten, Leader of the Federal Opposition, the Member for Calwell, Ms Maria Vamvakinou MP

Representing the Hon Matthew Guy, Leader of the State Opposition, the Member for Mentone, Mr Murray Thompson MP

Representing the World Hellenic Inter Parliamentary Association, the Secretary General, Hon John Pandazopoulos

Representing the City of Stonnington, the Mayor, Cr Claude Ullin

Representing the City of Hume, the Mayor, Cr Helen Patsikatheodorou

Representing the City of Yarra, Cr Phillip Vlahogiannis

Ms Stefanie Perri, Former Mayor, City of Monash and Labor Candidate for Chisholm

Representing Major General David Coghlan, AM, Land Systems Division, Department of Defence, Colonel John McLean

Representing Captain Stephen Bowater, OAM, Commanding Officer HMAS Cerberus and Senior Naval Officer Victoria, Warrant Officer Brendan Woodsell

Representing the Society of Kalamata “23 March”, the President, Mr Theo Kalyvas

Representing the Melbourne Legacy, the CEO, Ms Mikaela Stafrace, the Past President & Legatee Mr Bryce Phillips, and the Recruitment Officer, Mr Ken Tsirigotis,

Representing the Nurses Memorial Centre, the Vice President, Ms Arlene Bennett, and Board Member and Chair of the Scholarship Committee, Dr Elizabeth Lavender

Representing the War Widows Guild, the Vice President, Ms Kath Banks and Committee Member, Ms Gail Best

Representing the Council of the Battle of Crete and Greek Campaign Commemorative Council, Committee Member and Historian, Mr Jim Claven

Representing the 19th Brigade, Mrs Rosemarie Hart, daughter of Brigadier Alfred Bell, OBE

Representing the 2/2nd Field Regiment Association, the Hon Secretary, Mrs Mel Johnson

Representing the 2/8th Battalion, Mrs Catherine Bell, daughter of Private Syd Grant

Representing the New Zealand-Crete Association, the President, Mr Peter Ford

Representing the Palestine Pioneer Corps, Mr Aron Segal

Representing the Hellenic sub branch of the RSL Lieutenant Colonel Athanasios Masouras (Retd)

Representing the Australian Hellenic Memorial Foundation, Mr Kostas Katsambanis

Representing the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee, the Vice President, Ms Christina Despoteris

Representing the Messinian Federation of Melbourne & Victoria, the President (and the City of Manningham), Mr Jim Grivokostopoulos

Representing the Cretan Federation Australia and New Zealand, the Secretary, Mr Andreas Fliatouras

Representing the Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI), the Chair, Ms. Georgegina Poulos

Representing the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne & Victoria, Board Member, Mr Jim Bossinakis

Representing the Pancretan Association of Melbourne – Australia, the President, Mr. John Nikolakakis

Representing S.E.K.A (the Co ordinating Committee for Justice for Cyprus), PA.S.E.K.A (The national body) and the Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria, the S.E.K.A President, Mr Costas Elisseou

Representing the Ithacan Philanthropic Society “The Ulysses”, the President, Mr Anthony Drakopoulos and the Secretary, Mr Peter Paxinos

Representing the Panarcadian Association of Melbourne – O Kolokotronis), the President, Ms Chrissa Kanatas

Representing the Pontiaki ESTIA, the Public Relations Officer, Ms Litsa Athanasiadis

Representing the Pantrifilian Association of Melbourne and Victoria, the Secretary, Ms Agatha Koroneos, and the Treasurer, Ms Dimitra Christopoulos

Representing the Panpylian Brotherhood Navarino “PAN””, Committee Member, Mr George Sarasiotis

Representing the Pammessinian Brotherhood “Papaflessas”, Committee Member, Ms Maria Grambas

Representing the Pan Corinthian Association of Melbourne and Victoria, the Secretary, Ms Jenny Krasopoulaki and the Treasurer, Ms Effie Tirpkou

Representing the Members, Mrs Helen Mason