Wednesday, 21 June 2023

Imbros and Gallipoli exhibition

Lee TARLAMIS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (09:44): Recently it was my pleasure to represent the Minister for Veterans to launch the Imbros and Gallipoli exhibition at the Parkdale Greek Orthodox church hall. The launch was well attended, with many Imvrians Society members joining with consular, government and community representatives. In particular I note the presence of Ms Anne Holland, whose grandfather Brunswick-born Alec Holland served as an Anzac on Imbros. The exhibition, curated by historian Jim Claven, vividly depicts the role of the northern Aegean island of Imbros in the Gallipoli campaign. Its waters saw the Anzacs prepare for the landings; its bays were home to hundreds of naval vessels. The shore of Kehpalos Bay and its hinterland were transformed by piers and navigational aids, medical facilities, supply stores, bakeries and camps. It was also the location of the campaign headquarters.

The story of Imbros and Gallipoli is also one of interaction with the local people, who were overwhelmingly Greek. Many travelled to the island and visited its towns, as South Yarra’s Lieutenant William Ross depicted in his photograph of children playing with soldiers. Other Victorian connections to Imbros revealed in the exhibition include Melbourne’s Colonel John Monash, Hawthorn journalist Phillip Schuler, West Melbourne-born Private Harold Wilkinson and Yarraville’s Private Claude Coleman of the 14th Battalion, who all came to Imbros.

Extending and enriching the narrative of Australia’s Anzac story, as this exhibition does, provides more evidence of Anzac’s multicultural aspect and enshrines the diversity of our own community in giving it its rightful place in that narrative. Congratulations to the Imvrians Society of Melbourne for this important project, in particular president Arthur Pinirou, vice-president Gina Asimoglou, secretary Kaye Lafyati and project coordinator George Xinos. Finally, to the society of volunteers for providing such wonderful delicacies – (Time expired)