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48th NATIONAL CONVENTION - Australasia PRESS RELEASE - October 2002 The 48th National Convention of AHEPA Australasia was held in Darwin from the 12th to 18th October 2002. The Convention was opened by The Hon Kon Vatskalis MLA on behalf of the Chief Minister, Ms Clare Martin who was unable to attend due to the Bali Bombings. The following are the salient points of the Convention. 1. AHEPA forwarded a Press Release to the Chief Minister condemning the disaster at Bali. “The members of the National Convention of AHEPA (Australian Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) held in Darwin 12th to 18th October condemns the unprovoked attack on the peoples of Bali and those tourists who were holidaying on the Island at the time of the blasts. The great and useless loss of life and the number of injured caused by this catastrophe is an aberration of everything the free world holds dear. We pray and hope that such a total useless loss of life and injury is never repeated. May God give courage to those injured and to the families of those who have lost loved ones. Zafiris
Vachlas At a reception hosted by His Honour, John Anictomatis AO, Administrator of the Northern Territory a donation of $2000 was made to Dr Len Notaras, Medical Superintendent of the Royal Darwin Hospital to assist the victims of this disaster. 2. AHEPA supported a resolution concerning Cyprus’s entrance to the European Union. “That the AHEPA National Convention held in Darwin on 12th to 18th October 2002, support the initiatives of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, to find a permanent and peaceful solution during the bi-communal talks under the auspices of the United Nations. AHEPA also supports and acknowledges the decision of the European Union that Cyprus will join the other 9 European countries for the expansion and hope that all people of Cyprus will benefit from that membership in the EU family. AHEPA will continue to work with PSEKA-PASEKA and SEKA until a permanent solution can be found.” Peter Yiannoudis (VIC) has been appointed National Chairman of the AHEPA Justice for Cyprus Committees. 3. At the reception hosted by The Hon Kon Vatskalis MLA in the absence of the Chief Minister a cheque was presented to Prof David Brewster head of Paediatrics at the Royal Darwin Hospital, being the annual donation of $1400 made by AHEPA to a Childrens Hospital in the city which holds the National Convention. 4. Members of AHEPA joined a Walk in support of Breast Cancer which was organised by Mrs Jeanette Anictomatis, wife of the Administrator, an amount of $350 was collected from the participants of the National Convention to sponsor the walkers. 5. The results of the elections held at the National Convention are – Supreme President Helen Katsaros (NSW), Supreme Vice President John Elisseos (QLD) Members – QLD – Esther Lakis, NSW – Jim Antonakos, Beverley Finos, Tony Georgiadis, George Lianos, Christine Lynch, George Tsioutsias, Despina Vanos, ACT – Michael Xirakis, Anthony Katheklakis, VIC – Dennis Patisteas, Paul Theodore, SA Tony Bougessis, Peter Privopoulos, WA – Tom Gougoulis, Peter Metaxas. 6. Elections were held for AHEPA International and those elected are: Supreme President, Helen Katsaros – Chair Tasha Vanos, Christine Lynch and Zafiris Vachlas. The National Convention endorsed the action of the AHEPA International President Pete Kostambasis in appointing Emanuel J Comino OAM, international spokesman for the Parthenon Marbles. 7. In the year 2001/2002 AHEPA donated an amount of $36,500 to various charities throughout Australia. For the first time a women was elected as Supreme President. AHEPA would like to thank the Hellenic Community of Darwin for their warm hospitality and friendship. Helen
KatHelen Katsaros |
