The Committee of Thessaloniki Association is currently working on several important projects (May - June 2008): Marble Stele to be erected in the Greek Presinct of the City of Melbourne. The Stele will carry two mosaics. One depicting Alexander the Great hunting, 4th century B.C. replica from the original in Pella Greece and the other depicting the patron Saint Demetrios of Thessaloniki, 7th century Byzantine replica found where the church was built. At this stage we're engaged into discussions with the Victorian Multicultural Commission, the Perfecture of Thessaloniki and the designers and architects of the project, as well as the City of Melbourne for a suitable position for the Stele. Working on organising two photographic exhibitions in the heart of the City of Melbourne. One to portray many tens of photographs from functions of the Greek community in Melbourne in the past 20 years. These photographs have been snapped and belong to the community photographer Kostas Deves. The second exhibition will be depicting commemorative plaques and monuments built in Greece for those Australian diggers who lost their lives in Greece. The photographic material here belongs to Garrie Hutchison who's a lecturer at RMIT University, a photographer, a journalist and a writer. Garrie has accompanied the 10 students who have won the Victorian Premier's Spirit of ANZAC award, to Greece. Working on assisting the Hellenic Community in Melbourne to better organise wider community involvement of the many cultural, community and locality groups. We're calling on all community organisations to support our drive for the community to participate in the multicultural society that makes up Melbourne and Australia. We want to encourage involvement in functions away from the confined space of the Hellenic Community. To this effect we're calling the organisations to come to our premises on Friday 20th June at 7.30pm and participate in the committee which will have the sole purpose of promoting the Greek Culture into the whole of the Australian community. Working in organising the visit of the Prefect of Thessaloniki Mr P. Psomiades to Melbourne to take part in the 24th Anniversary of Sister-City relationship celebrations in November. The Prefect of Thessaloniki is known for his straight forward character, his humour, his many talents and finally his dominant personality in and around the city of Thessaloniki. He has been here before (in 2004) and obviously he hasn't regretted it. Working on organising an essay competition with all schools where Greek is taught in Victoria. This is organised with the co-operation of the Greek-Teachers Association of Victoria and we expect a large percentage of the more than 3000 students who are learning the Greek language in Primary and Secondary schools to participate. Prizes will be presented to the students by the Prefect of Thessaloniki Mr Panagiotis Psomiades. Working on bringing over 3 students from the Experimental School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. These students have won their awards last year in the essay competition and we're organising accommodation and site seeing for the winners. Thessaloniki Association is paying for all of their expenses to come to Melbourne from Greece and during their stay. Working on the program for the Annual Festival which will be held at the prestigious centre, the Federation Square. Those who are not in Australia can watch us through the Fed Square camera on the 9th of November. It is bound to be one of the most memorable Festivals of Melbourne's Greek community. With this opportunity we're calling on all Community Groups, all Dancing Groups, all Cultural Groups to put their name down for being present at this Gala Event. The Primary sponsors of this event are the City of Melbourne, the Victorian Multicultural Commission and the Bank of Cyprus in Australia. The live band on the day will be "The Melburnians". Working on a book exhibition for promoting writers, publishers and artists from within the Greek community in Melbourne. Like each year, this year we will hold the annual Book Exhibition. All writers who wish to take part with their books are welcome.

Thessaloniki Association Committee

This page is dedicated to all those who have given parts of their lives in order for this community group to be active, to be a service as well as a link between the port city that we came from and the port city that has so generously welcomed us. Here are the current presiding members of the Thessaloniki Association Committe: President Paul Mavroudis Vice-President Makis Xanthis Secretary Iakovos Garivaldis Assistant Secretary Georgia Margaritis Treasurer Mark Tsounias Assistant Treasurer Theodore Asimopoulos Public Relations Menelaos Zaganidis Assistant Pub Relations Euripedes Gavriilidis Building Officer Vaso Katsela Fuctions Officer Maria Paximadas Committee Member Pashalis Nasiagas Committee Member George Papaioannou Committee Member Aggelos Haritou Runner up A' George Vlahopoulos Runner up B' Michael Kfeilatis      webmaster Iakovos Garivaldis  You may also check the Thessaloniki Association Dancing Group OPA by following the link below Thessaloniki Association "The White Tower" Dancing Group OPA!