Greek Community of Box Hill celebrates 56 years of service and achievement
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
Last Sunday, the Greek Community of Box Hill honoured its seven founding members with a commemorative plaque.
The seven included the late – Panagiotis Alexopoulos, Petros Kirmos, Anastasios Tingiris, Lori Toulis, and Kyriakos Chatzianthasiou, and surviving members, Sarantis Andreopoulos and Dimitrios Efstratiadis.
“The seed we planted on June 21, 1968, has grown into a tree and borne fruit,” said Sarantis Andreopoulos.
After the divine liturgy, Father Dionysios led a blessing, a memorial service for the deceased, and a prayer for the health of the surviving founding members.
The plaque was unveiled by the community’s president, Nikos Farlekas,accompanied by members of the board.

During the community-hosted lunch, Farlekas thanked the founders for their brilliant idea of establishing the community and acknowledged the challenges they faced in the 1960s.
He expressed gratitude to his “collaborators” and “supporters of the community”, including George Stoupas, Thanasis Gerostathis, and Giannis Moschoulis, and praised his two-decade-long collaboration with Father Dionysios, the board, and community groups.
Farlekas highlighted the significant contribution of Dimitris Froutzis, the community’s treasurer, referring to him as the community’s “right-hand man” and a “jack-of-all-trades.”
“However, the backbone of our community is our volunteers, whose help we greatly appreciate,” Farlekas explained.
The idea to establish the community originated on the evening of June 21, 1968, atTakis Efstratiadis home. Three of the founders were from Egypt, two from Cyprus, and the other two from Kalamata.

The original seven founders were later joined by another seven, forming a strong foundation. “We are proud of all of you and continue to move forward,” added Andreopoulos.
Father Dionysios echoed this sentiment, stating, “Our church is under the Holy Archdiocese and works closely with the community.”
Commemorative plaques were also awarded to Andreas Panagiotopoulos, Argyris Tsiachos, Fotis Tsikas, Theodoros Kostogannis, Giannis Tortsios, Andreas Koutsos, Argyroula Fella, Papamakarios, Sarantos Andreopoulos, Vlasis Mavraganis, Georgia Theodorou, Giannis Moschoulis, Theodora Argyri, and Maria Farlekas.
The community operates a Greek Language and Culture School every Friday from 5-8pm at the newly built Cultural Center next to the church at 86 Carrington Road, Box Hill.
The Box Hill community may be unique in not charging tuition fees. Attendance is free.
The school is recognised by the Ministry of Education and the VCAA, and students of all ages and levels (from kindergarten to VCE) attend.
For more information, contact the school principal, Despina Athanasaki, at school.gocbhd@gmail.com.
The original article: NEOS KOSMOS .
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