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CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
DEDICATION CEREMONY OF THE AUSTRALIAN HELLENIC MEMORIAL
CANBERRA 21 MAY 1988
Mr Deputy Prime Minister
Sir William Refshauge
Sir William Keys
Archbishop Stylianos
Ladies and Gentlemen
Today we are dedicating the Australian-Hellenic memorial
which symbolises the bonds of friendship which, in time of
peace and of war, have united Australia and Greece.
our friendship has strong roots stretching over a century
and a half of Greek settlement in Australia.
It was strengthened immeasurably by the ties formed between
Australian and Greek servicemen and women and civilians in
the First and Second world Wars.
Most importantly, it is a friendship nourished by the most
powerful of forces our shared commitment to freedom,
democracy and peace. That commitment is constantly renewed
by the thousands of Australians who visit Greece each year
and by the presence in Australia of a strong, resilient, and
vigorous community of Greek-Australians, who have made and
are making such a tremendous contribution to our country.
on 25 April 1986, as part of my visit to Greece, I had the
moving and memorable experience of speaking at the Anzac Day
ceremony in Athens. As you would yourself recall, Mr Deputy
Prime Minister, it was an occasion full of the memory of the
Battle of Crete, where Australians and Greeks stood side by
side with our allies defending Greece against the invasion.
It was a most appropriate time to announce that
Greek-Australians and Australian ex-service personnel were
joining to build this Memorial. I said then that the
Government had made available this site for the construction
of the memorial, in the vicinicty of the Australian War
memorial. () 0G6585
I was delighted at the encouragement Prime Minister
Papendreou gave to the project. The Greek Government's
contribution of olive trees from Griffith, but of Greek
stock is a singularly fitting gesture. And your presence
here today, Mr Deputy Prime Minister, is a very welcome
further proof of your Government's willingness to assist
this project.
I know, Sir, from our meeting yesterday, that you have warm
personal memories of Australian troops, flowing from your
own distinguished service during the Second world war. I am
gratified by your assurances that even today Greek people
remember the courage and friendship shown by Australian
troops during the war.
This is our Bicentennial year, in which Australians are
reflecting on their achievements over the two hundred years
since Europeans first settled our continent.
our celebrations most recently the opening of tfhe new
Parliament House directly over the lake from us 7. have had,
I believe, a significant impact on our national character.
I think we have become more aware, and more proud, of our
achievements in building in that relatively short span of
time, a nation that is both free and prosperous. At the
same time I believe we have become more humble in
recognising the crucial contribution, made lby those who have
gone before us, to the effort of building this free and
prosperous nation.
This Australian-Hellenic Memorial will play a valuable role
in reminding us of that contribution.
And I hope it will serve as something of an inspiration to
those who will inspect it. Because it is not just a war
memorial but a symbol of the shared sacrifices and the
enduring friendship between the Greek and Australian people. 8