Tuesday, 28 November 2023

Oakleigh Glendi

Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (13:37): I have recently had the great pleasure of celebrating the Oakleigh Glendi festival. It was an absolute joy to be part of an event that truly encapsulated the vibrant spirit of the Oakleigh Greek community. Alongside the member-elect for Mulgrave Eden Foster, the member for Bentleigh, the member for Chisholm Dr Carina Garland and the federal Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs the Honourable Andrew Giles, we enjoyed the festival’s tapestry of experiences, including the authentic Greek food stalls, captivating dance performances and traditional music. As a representative of this incredible community I take immense pride in acknowledging the unwavering support of our Allan Labor government. The $100,000 funding per year for four years was instrumental in ensuring the resounding success of this event, a celebration that brings our community closer together. I also want to thank Monash council for its extraordinary support of this festival. Moreover, this festival held special significance as it coincided with the historic Greek national day known as Ohi, a historic moment when Greece courageously said no to the fascism of the axis powers during the Second World War.

This festival holds a special place in my heart as it reaffirms Oakleigh and Melbourne’s strong Greek identity. For me Oakleigh embodies a profound sense of community akin to a large Greek village. It is a place where familiar faces abound and meaningful conversations thrive. It is a testament to the multiculturalism of the Victorian community, which our government fully embraces and celebrates through supporting festivals like the Oakleigh Glendi. I extend my congratulations to the Greek Orthodox community of Oakleigh, Chris Damatopoulos, Oakleigh Grammar and the whole community, including Monash council, for putting on this outstanding festival.