Meet the backstage crew keeping Melbourne’s Antipodes Festival running
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
Hundreds of third generation Greek youth are working and volunteering at this year’s Antipodes Festival, using Melbourne’s public celebration as a way to meet fellow Greeks and enjoy their culture.
Melissa is a first-time ground crew member manning the #LoveLonsdale stage. She is half Greek and half Italian, and has always been more focused on Italian traditions through her mum, she tells Neos Kosmos.
“It’s been really nice to reconnect with the Greek side through this festival. Everyone in the community comes, people even come from interstate. It’s been awesome to evolve the Greek in myself.”
Crew members can be spotted weaving amongst the crowd wearing red Antipodes Festival tee shirts — doing everything from crowd support to stacking chairs to sound design.
Also at the #LoveLonsdale stage is Sofia, who is the producer of the cooking demonstrations. Her first session today was with chef Phillip Vakos, ex Masterchef contestant and owner of Bahari restaurant in Richmond.
For Sofia, the Antipodes Festival is a family affair. Her dad is the festival’s director, and she grew up watching her older brother work as a grounds crew member. “When I was old enough to do it too, I joined as a crew member,” she says.
“Everyone who works here once comes back multiple times. It’s super friendly.”
Vangelis and Athanasios are two new friends who met today, working backstage and “bunking together for the weekend”.
Their role is to “help to set up the area and make sure everything is running according to plan.”
Outside of the Antipodes Festival, Athanasios studies at university and helps out teaching at Greek schools. “It’s good that I can balance that work with this job here.”
This is Vangelis’ fourth year working the event, and he says the camaraderie between the team keeps him coming back. “The culture is super strong here… the [crew] are all in this together.”
At the Greek Community Melbourne (GCM) stall are Phillip and Lily, who are chatting with festival goers about different Greek courses the community offers, like modern Greek and ancient Greek for beginners.
Phillip works in the events industry and is often at major events around Melbourne, but says being half Greek and half Croatian he has a soft spot for the Antipodes Festival.
Even the higher-ups are donning their red t-shirts and joining the crew on-ground, with board member on the education and cultural committee Tas helping out with emergency operations.
“I love Antipodes because it brings the whole community together,” he tells Neos Kosmos.
“It shares Greek culture with the broader community, and it’s just a joyous time for everyone.”
16-year-old crew member George says the atmosphere is his favourite part of the festival, and getting to spend time with his friends and the broader Greek community. For his long-time friend Stephen, his highlight is what we’re all thinking: “going around and buying food.”
The original article: belongs to NEOS KOSMOS .
