Sydney turns blue and white as Greek Fest brings Brighton-le-Sands to life
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
On Sunday, November 16, A sea of blue and white flooded the shores of Sydney’s GREEK FEST at Brighton-le-sands as Greek dancers, bouzouki players and families of all descriptions, proud ‘yiayiades’ and ‘papoudes’, suburban mums and dads with their toddlers, and young people of all ages and persuasions, celebrated Sunday’s Sydney Greek Fest.
The annual springtime festival was held on the renowned Bay Street in historical Botany Bay’s Brighton-le-Sands, for the second consecutive year.
Closed off to cars, the main drag of Bay St became awash with uplifting revelry as the day brought together a diverse crowd for a fun-packed day of entertainment, with numerous street stalls, Greek-food huts, a massive main stage, and a second stage area for the many dance groups.
A perfect day for the beach, which was less than 200 metres away, the hot sun was relentless, but by the early afternoon, the mainstage was actually the most moving. IHOS NYX, the impressive seven piece Greek-Australian band, breathed originality into the day and were joined by the Pontian Dancing Troupe.
Chair envy became palpable as people scrambled to get comfy before the official speeches began. An Aboriginal elder did a moving Welcome to Country and performed a Smoking Ceremony. As the burning eucalyptus leaves passed through the crowd, many people who were moved by the sacredness of this event crossed themselves like before an icon.
NSW Greek Orthodox Community President Harry Danalis welcomed all and thanked the many sponsors. Many of the political speeches touched on the successful integration of Greek migrants into Multicultural Australia. The sharing of their Greek food, the Greek music and their ability to have a good time.
Representing the Australian Prime Minister, local MP Matt Thistlewaite stressed that Greeks in Australia are the “backbone of multiculturalism”. The newly appointed Greek Consul of NSW, George Skemperis, made an earnest plea to all, but particularly parents, to “keep speaking Greek”.
Festival Organiser Nia Karteris added that it was very rewarding to “see fourth-generation Greeks proudly embracing their Greek cultural heritage”.
After the speeches, feet started tapping and hips started swinging as not one, not two, but three bouzoukia took to the mainstage as Greek-Australian singer Maria Maroulis lit up the stage. The sentiment and nostalgia were strong for many in the huge crowd.
“We don’t get to hear live Greek music at all, that’s why we are here today”, mother and daughter Yiannoula and Anna Politis from Conells Point said.
Maria Maroulis gave a resounding set that offered Greek pop songs and more traditional ballads. By sunset the sea breeze rolled into Brighton-le-Sands. With the Greek elders mostly gone home, the younger Greek Australians took over Bay Street, converting it into an enormous Greek island dance party, Mykonos style. With DJ Georgie G at the decks, the latest Greek dance tracks mixed in classic songs to transport to Greek Summer glories.
Emcee, comedian Anthony Locasio made the endless Greek dance groups feel fresh and alert, as his one-liners kept the huge crowds laughing.
The Greek dance groups included the Hellenic Lyceum dance group, the Cyprus Community dance group, the Kogarah School of Greek Dancers, the Greek comm. of Newcastle Dancers, Nikolaos Vasilas’ Zeimbekiko Journey, the Pontian dance group and the Cretan dance group.
Many of the young Greek dancers excitedly took to the stage for the first time as the audience got to travel through Greece through the various regional dances.
Young couple Nena Timonidis and Dragon Athanasios, both born in Greece and have lived in Australia for the last three years. They came to the Greek Fest to meet up with friends and to ‘smell’ Greece. First to acknowledge that migrating had many challenges, they now face the dilemma of many migrants – that both countries, Australia and Greece, offer positives and negatives. Nena’s dad, who was born in Melbourne, allowed her to have Australian citizenship.
Bachelor friends and practical jokers, Kon Bebelidis and Dimitris Momatzis from Mytilene, were keen to talk to Neos Kosmos and “find a wife” or “maybe a nurse to look after them”.
Their friend, Nikos Ava from Evia, said, “We are here because we are patriots and we enjoy celebrating Greek culture – under every stone you turn you will find a Greek”.
Evil-eyes were the staple of a variety of typical stalls, tea towels, entry mats, candles, icons, but the Kytherian World Heritage Fund stall had a book sale. Staffed by a range of volunteers, the book sale proceeds go to future book projects including a cookbook.
With a huge team of festival volunteers, the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW successfully offered a cultural touchstone that would have made Captain Cook declare OPA!
The original article: belongs to NEOS KOSMOS .
