On 5 October 2022 Ελλάδα στην καρδιά μας (Greece in our Heart) - the Star TV program dedicated to showcasing the beauty and culture of Greece and the Greek Diaspora worldwide - had a decidedly Australian flavour.
The online program, hosted by the experienced journalist Babis Petrakis, featured the well-known Greek lawyer, John Tripidakis, who has established a law office in Melbourne to assist Australian-Greeks with all their Greek legal matters, from wills to property and citizenship. John explained the nature of the professional legal services that his office can provide,
Also in the studio were George Vardas and Elly Symons of the Australian Parthenon Association who were recently in Athens for an international conference on the Parthenon and Democracy They also attended meetings to discuss strategies and ideas in the campaign for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures that were taken by Lord Elgin more than 200 years ago and which still sadly languish in the British Museum.
Elly Symons, originally from Melbourne but now living in Athens, spoke about her undying love of Greece and its people and her passion for the marbles as an ardent campaigner and activist in the ongoing international campaign for the reunification of the sculptures.
George Vardas, Elly's co-Vice President on the Australian Committee and a seasoned campaigner and cultural heritage advocate, reaffirmed that love of Hellas. He also spoke of recent developments in the campaign that may lead to the eventual return of the incomparable sculptures that once adorned the Parthenon despite the historically intransigent position adopted by the British Museum and the UK cultural establishment.
Elly and George are also members of the the Acropolis Research Group, a boutique cultural heritage coalition with colleagues in the UK, Austria, Greece and Australia, which is seeking to raise the campaign to a higher and more professional level.
Babis Petrakis also enquired about the guests’ connection with the leading online English language Greek magazine, Greek City Times.
John Tripidakis explained that his law firm’s profile within the diaspora has been greatly assisted by his online presence with Greek City Times.
Elly Symons provides social media content for Greek City Times and one of her recent video clips – shot in the Panathenaic Stadium – was aired on the show. A recent example is her video presentation at the Acropolis at dusk
George Vardas contributes articles and op-ed pieces to Greek City Times in his capacity as Arts & Culture Editor and is excited by the wide reach of the magazine's readership across three continents.
Greece is truly in their hearts.
This post was last modified on October 8, 2022 3:42 pm