Melbourne remembers on 50th anniversary of Turkish invasion of ...

Melbourne’s cold weather and the potential rainfall did not stop the Cypriots, Greeks and Philhellenes from gathering at Federation Square on Sunday afternoon to mark 50 years since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

Hundreds turned up to unite, demand action and remember those lost and missing and to stand in solidarity for a free, unified island.

It was a sight to behold, hundreds of Cypriot flags across from the bustling Flinders Street Station, hundreds of people yelling “δεν ξεχνώ” (I don’t forget).

There was a flag-raising ceremony, a minute silence, national anthems and wreath laying, which was followed by speeches from special guests.

The proceedings also featured a choir and well-known singer Marios Charalambous.

Federation Square filled up with Hellenes and Philhellenes. Photo: Con Deves

Special guests and speakers included Pavlos Andronikos, President of SEKA Victoria; Theo Theophanous, President of the Cypriot Community of Melbourne and Victoria; Bill Shorten, MP and Minister for the NDIS; Antonis Sammoutis, High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, Eugene Hawryszko, Director of the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria; Anthie Sidiropoulos, Greek Community of Melbourne Vice President; Emmanuel Kakavelakis, Consul General of Greece; Steve Dimopoulos MP, Kat Theophanous MP, Dean Kalimniou, Matthew Guy MP and more.

Representatives from other long suffering communities, Armenian, Assyrian, Kurdish and Ukrainian were also present to support Cypriots.

Photo: Con Deves

Theo Theophanous was taken aback by the turnout, thanking all the diplomats and leaders who attended but most importantly the community.

“Wow what a wonderful turnout to support our jewel in the Mediterranean, our Cyprus,” he said.

“Today’s a day when we request, no, we demand, after 50 years, the reunification of Cyprus. We make it clear that we will never accept a permanent partition of our beloved island.”

“We felt it here on the 20th of July 1974, when the Turkish aircraft began bombing Cyprus. We felt it here in faraway Australia. It was like they were bombing us because they were bombing our people.”

Photo: Con Deves

When Turkey invaded Cyprus, around 37 per cent of the territory of the country fell to the Turkish military and almost one third of the population, some roughly 175,000 Greek Cypriots were forcibly uprooted from their homes and their villages.

Pavlos Andronikos stressed that Turkey has begun campaigning to persuade governments to recognise the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and that we all must prevent this from happening.

No country other than Turkey recognises the self-declared state, including Australia.

Photo: Con Deves

Bill Shorten MP said he is grateful to represent the Australian Government in commemorating the tragic events that have “left a wound in the hearts of the sons and daughters of Cyprus.”

“Australia proudly hosts the second largest Cypriot diaspora in the world. It is the foundation of the strong and enduring ties of friendship between our peoples.

“It is why we have a deep understanding of the ongoing sadness that is carried for a homeland divided.”

Greek Community vice president Anthie Sidiropoulos remembered her late father Theo Sidiropoulos, who was the first Greek born member of an Australian parliament, and how he would never miss a march for Cyprus.

“I grew up with the word Cyprus in my memory. What did I know? I was just a little girl who was born in Melbourne,” she said.

“This is what we encourage our future generations not to forget, because I have the inheritance of pain. I have the inheritance of a Pontian lineage and I can empathise with the mothers and the sisters that are here today with their kinship to their hearts.

“Lest we forget. Justice for Cyprus.”

On behalf of the GOCMV she reminded attendees of their commitment to the cause to keep the memory of the tragic event alive and work towards a brighter future for Cyprus.

Neos Kosmos also spoke to some of the attendees about why they attended the event.

Chris, a second generation Cypriot Australian said that even though his parents were in Australia when Cyprus was invaded, it had forever saddened them to see their homeland divided.

“I’m here because mum and dad always reminded us, their kids and grandkids, about how Turkey invaded Cyprus,” he said.

“Mum remembered when she was a child and lived in the village with young Turkish kids, those days are long gone.

“I did my compulsory army service in Cyprus when we went back to live there for brief period when I was younger, so I feel a need to always represent where I come from.”

As a Greek, attendee Andriana felt that all Hellenes should stand together with their Cypriot friends.

“Greeks and Cypriots, we’re all Hellenes who share the same language, religion and heritage,” she said.

“We have to be here for them and stand together.”

Photo: Neos Kosmos

As the event continued into the afternoon, you could see and hear protests in the city from other communities.

Justice was the theme of the day.

Many curious people found their way walking through as Hellenes gathered, some stopping to take photos and looking on to see what was happening.

One of them was a young Chinese woman, Lucy. She and her friend did not know what the gathering was for but when told, she sympathised.

A big part of the day is to remember what happened in Cyprus, and call for change but it can also inform others who will share the message.