Greek names among 2,181 added to National Monument of Migration

Some of the key figures who spoke at the unveiling ceremony were Craig Madden Metropolitan Land Council, from left, SBS Presenter Virginia Langeberg, Effy Alexakis, Simon Chan Museum Foundation Director, Violet Roumeliotis, Daina Fletcher and Hedayat Oysan. Photo: Marinco Kojdanovski #seamuseum

.- The unveiling of 1,281 new names that represent 73 nationalities on the National Monument to Migration took place on Sunday, 20 March, at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney.

The unveiling of the new names, that included 91 Greek names, was held on the eve of Harmony Day at the National Monument to Migration which carries the names of 30,000 migrants to Australia on a series of bronze panels that are on display at the waterfront facing Darling Harbour and Pyrmont Bay.

Three unveiling ceremonies were held during the day. The president of the Kytherian Association, Emmanuel Alfieris, spoke in the morning ceremony. The CEO of Settlement Services International, Violet Roumeliotis and Effie Alexakis (speaking on behalf of Fr Nektarios) each spoke during the midday ceremony and Ms Roumeliotis spoke again in afternoon ceremony.

Mr Alfieris spoke about the special Greek Bicentenary Fund set up by the Greek-Australian community working closely with the Greek Welfare Centre and the Australian National Maritime Museum to commemorate last year’s 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence. The fund also aims to honour the contribution of the Greek-Australians in building the Australian nation.

Author and photographer Effie Alexakis, left, with CEO of Settlement Services International Violet Roumeliotis and Elizabeth Gervey. Photo: Marinco Kojdanovski #seamuseum

“A target of $100,000 has been set to include the names of 200 fellow Greeks on the monument in a special partnership with the Greek Welfare Centre. For each $500 raised under the fund, the name of a Greek migrant will be added to the monument. To date $18,200 has been raised allowing for the inclusion of 32 names. The fund closes on 30 June. (For more information visit the museum’s link to the Greek Bicentenary Fund: www.sea.museum/greek-campaign)
The Greek community has the third-largest representation of names on the monument that includes over 200 nationalities. Sunday’s unveiling included for the first times names from Afghanistan, Gabon, Sierra Leone and Somalia.

“The arrival of waves of migrants on Australian shores is a key story in our national maritime history. The National Monument to Migration honours the migrants who have helped shape our nation and, collectively, their stories speak to who we are as a nation. It is a celebration of multicultural Australia,” said Tanya Bush, the museum’s Interim Director.

“The experiences of the names inscribed on the Monument speak to universal themes such as love, adventure, family, safety and striving for a better life. Some are journey of loss and sadness some of triumph but, ultimately, all speak of hope.”

“We are grateful to our donors to the Migration Heritage Fund, which supports the museum’s ongoing commitment to telling the nation’s migration story.”

Among those attending the unveiling ceremony for the new set of names on the National Monument to Migration on Sunday were Greek teacher Giota Hrissis, front row, right, and her family. Photo: Marinco Kojdanovski #seamuseum

A spokesperson said the museum was accepting names for the next panel on the monument before the next closing date of 30 June.

Donors are asked to contribute a brief story about the person being honoured and this will appear as a biographical note on the museum website. The spokesperson said the museum was gathering a selection of stories from these names that in turn would contribute to the story of modern Australia.

The wall was established in the 1990s as the Welcome Wall but was renamed the National Monument to Migration in March last year.

♦ For more information go to www.sea.museum/support/national-monument