The Deputy Minister of National Defense Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias travels to Australia, accepting an invitation from the Government of South Australia, in order to attend the Community events to celebrate “NO” day and the opening ceremony of the new Memorial of Fallen Fighters for Freedom, in Adelaide.

Additionally, in the context of strengthening the bilateral relations between Greece and Australia and informing the Community about a series of issues, the Deputy Minister of National Defense from Saturday 22 to Saturday 29 October 2022, will hold a series of bilateral meetings in Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide with high-ranking federal and state officials, contacts with representatives of the local Greek and Cypriot Communities, and will attend social and celebratory events of the dynamic Diaspora Community.

The program of the Deputy Minister of National Defense Mr. Hardalia, so far, is structured as follows:

Melbourne (October 22 – 23)

– Will meet with:

• The Prime Minister of Victoria Mr. Daniel Andrews.

• The Greek Consul General Mr. Emmanuel Kakavelaki.

• Theophilastatos Bishop of Sozopol, Mr. Sunday.

• The President of the Greek-Australian Veterans Mr. Manuel Karvelas.

• Tthe President of the Greek Reserves Mr. Peter Dourios.

– He will visit:

• The Greek-Australian Memorial, where he will attend a memorial service and lay a wreath, on the occasion of the celebration of the 195th anniversary of the Battle of Navarino, in the presence of representatives of the Federal and State Governments, Greek MPs, representatives of the Municipality, Associations of Veterans, Apostates and Greek Military Reserves.

• The Hellenic Museum, where he will tour its premises and meet with its executives.

– He will make a speech at the Hellinikon events Festival “ANWHATPODES 2022″ with the participation of all the Organizations of Greeks in the Diaspora.

– He will attend:

• At the street renaming ceremony “Kalamata Place” together with the Mayor of Kalamata Mr. Athanasios Vassilopoulos.

• At a working lunch that will be presented by the Pan-Messenian Brotherhood “Papaflessas” and the “Kalamata 23 March” Association.

• At a working lunch with Greek businessmen from Melbourne.

• At a working dinner with the members of the organizations of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria.

– He will grant interviews:

• At the radio station “3XY–Radio Hellas“.

• In the newspaper “NEOS KOSMOS”.

Canberra (24 – 25 October)

– Will meet with:

• The Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Minister of Defense Mr. Richard Marles.

• The Minister for Veterans Affairs Mr. Matt Keogh.

• The Deputy Minister of Defense, Veterans Affairs and the Public Mr. Matt Thistlethwaite.

• The Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense Mr. Greg Moriarty.

• The Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Australian Armed Forces Vice Admiral David Johnston.

• The federal member of the House of Representatives, President of the Joint Standing Committee for the development of Trade and Investments and member of the Board of Directors of the World Interparliamentary Union of Hellenism, Mr. Steve Georganas.

– He will make a speech in the Federal Parliament and will inform the members of the Defense Committee of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade.

– He will visit:

• The Australian War Museum, where he will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the votive column commemorating the dead in the Battle of Crete Wing.

• The Hellenic-Australian Memorial, where he will lay a wreath.

• The Embassy of Greece in Australia, where he will sit next to a working dinner with the Greek Ambassador, Mr. Georgios Papakostas and the officers of our diplomatic and military delegation.

– He will participate at a working lunch with his Greek businessmen Dinos Nikias OAM & Hellenic Club.

Adelaide (October 26 – 29)

– Will meet with:

• The Prime Minister of South Australia Mr. Peter Malinauskas.

• The Minister of Infrastructure & Transport and (Minister of) Energy & Mines Mr. Tom Koutsantonis.

• The Greek Consul General Mr. George Psiaha.

• The Theophilus Bishop of Sinop, Mr. Siluano.

• The members of the Boards of Directors of the Organizations of the Greek and Cypriot communities.

– He will visit:

• The Migration Museum.

• The Greek nursing homeBasil‘s Nursing Home“.

– He will attend:

• At the event celebrating Saint Demetrius at the Holy Church of the same name, in the presence of a representative of A.E. President of the Hellenic Republic, members of the State Government, local Members of Parliament and members of the Federal Parliament and with the participation of the Presidential Guard.

• In the celebration events of October 28, 1940 at the Holy Church of Agios Georgios with the participation of Evzones of the Presidential Guard.

• At the commemoration of 28 October 1940 at the War Memorial, with the participation of Evzons of the Presidential Guard.

• At a working lunch with prominent Greeks in the Adelaide business community.

• At a working dinner hosted by the Greek-Australian Lawyers Association.

– It will launch, will perform the unveiling and lay a wreath at the new Memorial of Fallen Freedom Fighters, in the presence of the representative of A.E. President of the Hellenic Republic and the Australian Minister of Infrastructure, Energy & Mines Mr. Tom Koutsantonis.