CANBERRA, October 2026 — The Evzones of the Hellenic Presidential Guard visited Parliament House on Wednesday for an Oxi Day morning tea, during their first official visit to the national capital.
The Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra hosted the Evzones at Parliament House, while the Hellenic Club of Canberra sponsored the visit. Clergy, including His Grace Bishop Athenagoras, also attended.
John Loukadellis, president of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, said the visit carried deep meaning.
“For the Greek Australian community, this visit is not simply ceremonial,” Loukadellis said. “It is deeply emotional and profoundly symbolic.”
Seeing the Evzones in Canberra is “a moment of immense pride” for Australians of Greek heritage, Loukadellis said. He added that it “brings our history to life” and strengthens the connection between generations.
Loukadellis also paid tribute to Les Cook, the last surviving ANZAC of the Battle of Crete. Cook lived in Canberra and died earlier this year aged 103.
Evzones at Parliament House
House of Representatives Speaker Milton Dick welcomed the Evzones to Parliament House. “More than 424,000 Australians claim Greek ancestry, and generations of Greek Australians have made outstanding contributions to our nation’s economic, cultural, civic, public and political life,” Dick said.
Clare O’Neil, Minister for Housing, Homelessness and Cities and co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Greek Australians, lives in Oakleigh. She said the community “enriches the life of me and my family every single day”.
Recalling 28 October 1940, O’Neil said: “That is the day that Greeks stood up and said no. Oxi. No to fascism.”
Similarly, former Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, Member for Riverina, has Greek heritage through his grandfather. “We love traditions here in Australia, but of course, nobody does tradition like the Greeks,” McCormack said.
Video: Kosta Velanis
Dr Monique Ryan MP and Senator Andrew McLachlan CSC attended, as did Ambassador of Greece Stavros Venizelos and High Commissioner of Cyprus Haralambos Kafkarides.
In addition, the Hellenic Club of NSW, the Greek Community of Melbourne, PRONIA, Fronditha Care, The Hellenic Initiative Australia and Oakleigh Cannons FC sent representatives.
Oxi Day and the Battle of Crete
Oxi Day marks 28 October 1940, when Greece rejected Fascist Italy’s ultimatum. Later, in 1941, about 34,000 Australians and New Zealanders fought alongside Greeks in Greece and on Crete.
This year marks the 86th anniversary of Oxi Day and the 85th of the Battle of Crete.
The Evzones, who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens, are visiting Sydney and Canberra from 22 to 29 October.
After leaving Parliament House, the Evzones laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial on Wednesday afternoon. Then, at 6:30pm, the Guard is due to march into the Hellenic Club of Canberra in Woden.
Source: Greek City Times
Video: Greek City Times
Photo gallery of the Evzones at Parliament House in Canberra
[envira-gallery id=”609806″]
All photos are copyrighted by Nick Bourdaniotis for Greek City Times