Inner West Council Commits to OxI Day Commemoration

Today, Innerwest Council re-elected Mayor Darcy Byrne, who committed to the permanent fixture of OXI day commemorations in the heart of Little Greece, Marrickville. For three years, Innerwest Council has dedicated time and resources to staff to ensure the commemorative event becomes a permanent fixture of Innerwest Council.

Under the Winged Nike at Marrickville Town Hall, prominent politicians, consuls, representatives of the Archdiocese, Geek community leaders, and the public gathered to honour 28 October OXI day. The streets of Marrickville for the past week have flown Greek flags down the main street in anticipation of today's event.

Aunty Jenny Tompson opened the ceremony with a Welcome to Country, drawing parallels between the resistance of First Nations people to invasion and subjugation and their ongoing struggles and that of the Greeks and how she closely relates to and understands this history of brave resistance.

The importance of this event is that it commemorates the shared history of Greece and Australia. OXI Day commemorates Greece’s historic resistance during World War II. The term "OXI" which means "No" in Greek, marks the powerful rejection of an ultimatum by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini in 1940. Mussolini demanded Greece permit Axis forces to occupy strategic locations, effectively surrendering the nation without resistance. The refusal, conveyed by Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas, symbolised Greece's unwavering spirit and commitment to sovereignty. As the Greek Consul General Mr Malikourtis noted, Metaxas' historic event of "OXI" became the citizenship paper of the birth of modern Greece.

Upon Greece's refusal, Italy launched an invasion from Albania, expecting swift victory. However, the Greek army, supported by ordinary citizens, mounted a fierce and effective defence, pushing Italian forces back into Albania. This Greek resistance was one of the first setbacks for the Axis powers and helped shape the course of the war. Their bravery gained international recognition, with Winston Churchill famously remarking, "Hence we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks."

What is less known is the resistance of the Greeks was the trigger that brought the ANZACs onto Greek soil. Together side by side, ANZACS and Greeks did everything in their power to hold back the NAZI war machine as it rolled through Greece, and there stayed a black cloud of death for the next four years, scarring lives for generations.

At the battle of Vevi, the 2^nd ANZAC Corp was formed, the first being in Gallipoli. The ANZACS went through Greece, showing resistance and fighting side by side with the Greece from the North at Tempe to the final resistance in Crete, where many ANZACS were hidden, protected and saved by Greeks who faced horrendous reprisals to hide these soldiers. Many of these soldiers never forgot the bravery of the Greeks.

Many in their speeches today acknowledged the bravery of Greeks and ANZACS that despite being heavily outnumbered and often facing overwhelming odds, the combined efforts of the ANZAC campaign in Greece was to be the first of the shared values of resilience, loyalty, and commitment to freedom of these two countries. 

The importance of Innerwest Councils' commitment to this event is that it gives relevance to young Greek Australians of shared history to be proud of, and this was shown with the strong presence of all the University Greek Societies that laid wreaths today proud of their shared heritage and culture.

This year, the event was run by the new organising committee consisting of the Joint Committee for Commemoration of the Battle of Crete and Greek Campaign, The Pan Macedonian Association NSW and the Cretan Association of NSW, all of whom worked closely with Innerwest Council Staff to deliver a beautiful and moving event and look forward to growing the event and participation every year.

Theodora Giannioits

Principal Lawyer Built Environmental Heritage Group

Solicitor/Heritage Consultant

Photo Gallery of the day's event

Images Copyright Nick Bourdaniotis / Greek City Times

On this day in 1902, the Antikythera Mechanism was discovered