According to a relevant announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Memorandum 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.
"We graciously accepted the honorable proposal of the Archdiocese to put the program "Our People Their Stories" under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Sports 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.
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, is a great contribution to the coming generations, to Hellenism everywhere, but also to the researchers of the future. The Greeks of Australia, third and fourth generation, who were born and raised in Australia, were taught to speak the Greek language, to be connected with 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," said Ms. Mendoni.
"With great joy and emotion, we co-signed with the responsible Minister, Ms. Lina Mendoni, the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Holy Archdiocese of Australia, 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 Mrs. Mendoni for our cooperation, to congratulate her for the excellent work she is doing at the Ministry of Culture and to wish that this cooperation will only be the beginning of many things that will follow in the future", said the Archbishop Australia Mr. Makarios.
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 forms and media mentioned in the program.
Sources:
Ministry of Culture and Sports
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