The Tragic Events of 1974 and the Lobbying Power of the United Greek Cypriot Community and Greek Communities in Australia’

Event Details

The Greek Studies Program of the Department of Languages and Cultures at La Trobe University, the Dardalis Archives of the Hellenic Diaspora and the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria are co-organising a series of lectures entitled: ‘The History of the Greeks in Australia based on the contents of the collection’. As part of this series, Peter Yiannoudes JP, OAM will reflect upon his efforts concerning the Cypriot issue. It serves as a timely reminder given that next year is the 50th Anniversary of the invasion.

Mr Yiannoudes, one of many community members who worked tirelessly after the treacherous coup and the barbaric invasion of Cyprus by Turkey, will refer to the tragic events of July 1974. He will describe the meetings with Australian politicians in Canberra, the visit of Haris Siamaris, Kostas Zintilis and Panagiotis Yiannoudes to Cyprus on 21 August 1974, the meetings with Cypriot politicians, the visits to the refugee settlements at Dasaki Achnas, and Kolossi, the meetings with Greek politicians in Athens, and the historic and very moving meeting with Archbishop Makarios in London, and Makarios’ message to the Hellenic diaspora of Australia.

Scenes will be shown of the mass rallies for Cyprus from October 1974, July 1975, the participation in the first Congress in Cyprus of 1976, the women’s protest march in Cyprus, the premieres of documentaries such as “How Cyprus was betrayed” and “Makarios: The Long Journey”, and the funeral of Makarios. Photographs with various Australian politicians will be shown, along with the visits of Cypriot and Greek personalities at the anniversary events of the invasion, and other events from Mr Yiannoudes’ enduring community involvement.

There will also be a display of rare photographs from the sites of the occupied territory.

Event Info
When: Wednesday, 4 October 2023, 7pm
Where: The Greek Centre, Greek Community of Melbourne
Lecture series coordinator: Dr. Stavroula Nikoloudis, Greek Studies Program Coordinator, La Trobe University

*Images may be subject to copyright.