Signing of a Memorandum for the recording of the oral history of the Greeks of Australia

The Memorandum of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides for the systematic and methodical recording of the personal stories and adventures of the people of the Greek community in Australia, mainly the first immigrants, through the - non-profit - program "Our People Their Stories" of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. The purpose of the program is to tell their personal stories, the struggle they gave to settle down, create a family, venture into an unknown country, but keeping their ties with the motherland strong. By recording their oral history, important aspects of the presence of Hellenism in the fifth continent will be illuminated, highlighting their valuable contribution to the formation of the modern Australian state.

The program "Our People Their Stories" under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
As Lina Mendoni stated, "We accepted the honorable proposal of the Archdiocese to place the program "Our People Their Stories" under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, because it essentially contributes to the rescue, preservation and promotion of the Greek cultural heritage in Australia. The creation of the valuable historical archive is a particularly important initiative, personally of Archbishop Makarios, who works systematically, tirelessly and with a lot of love to preserve the close ties of our compatriots with the homeland, through language, traditions, our culture. It is a great contribution to the coming generations, to the ubiquitous Hellenism, but also to the researchers of the future, the recording of the testimonies of the Greek immigrants in Australia, who constitute one of the strongest and most dynamic national communities, on the distant continent. Australian Greeks, third and fourth generation, who were born and raised in Australia, were taught to speak the Greek language, to be connected to Greek education, to be interested in their roots. We are proud of what their parents have achieved but also of their own progress and success".

The Archbishop of Australia Mr. Makarios stated that "It was with great joy and emotion that we co-signed the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Holy Archdiocese of Australia with the responsible Minister Lina Mendonis, regarding our initiative to create a living museum, in which the stories and adventures of the immigrants of the fifth continent. This cooperation practically proves the sensitivity of both the Greek Government and the Minister for the issues of the Greeks in the diaspora, but above all it demonstrates, in the most practical way, the respect we all have for the Greeks living abroad. I want to thank Ms. Mendoni for this collaboration, to congratulate her for the excellent work she is doing at the Ministry of Culture and to wish that this collaboration will only be the beginning of many things that will follow in the future."

All personal stories, recorded digitally, with sound and image, in Greek and English, as well as a valuable archive with rare, anecdotal photographic material, will be accessible on the internet and will henceforth be the property of the Greek Community and, more broadly, of of everywhere Hellenism. It is noted that the results of the "Our People Their Stories" program will be presented on a special website as well as in all publications and media mentioned in the program.da.gr/politismos/yppo-proforiki-istoria-ellinon-tis-aystralias"