The Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias will visit Australia, accepting an invitation extended by the Government of South Australia, so as to attend the events organized by the Diaspora for the celebration of the “OHI” Day, and the inauguration ceremony of the new Monument to the Fallen Freedom Fighters, in Adelaide.

Moreover, in the context of enhancing Greek-Australian bilateral relations, and informing the Diaspora on a series of matters, the Deputy Minister of National Defence will have a series of bilateral meetings, from Saturday 22 to Saturday 29 October 2022, in Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide, with senior federal and state officials, and with delegates of local Greek and Cypriot communities, and he will attend social events and festivities organized by the dynamic Diaspora community.

The programme of the Deputy Minister of National Defence Mr. Hardalias will be, unless changed, the following:

Melbourne (22 – 23 October)

– He will meet with:

• The Prime Minister of Victoria Mr. Daniel Andrews.

• The Consul General of Greece Mr. Emmanouil Kakavelakis.

• His Grace Bishop Kyriakos of Sozopolis.

• The President of the Greek-Australian Veterans Mr. Manuel Karvelas.

• The President of the Greek Reserve Officers Mr. Peter Dourios.

– He will visit:

• The Greek-Australian Monument, where he will attend the memorial and lay a wreath, on the occasion of the celebrations for the 195^th anniversary since the Battle of Navarino, in the presence of delegates of the Federal and State Government, Greek MPs, delegates from the Municipality, and Associations of Greek Veterans, Retired Officers and Reserve Officers.

• The Greek Museum, where he will be toured at its installations and meet with the personnel.

– He will make a speech at the celebrations of the Greek Festival “ΑNΤΙPODES 2022”, which will be attended by all Organisations of the Greek Diaspora.

– He will attend:

• The renaming ceremony of street “Kalamata Place”, with the Mayor of Kalamata Mr. Athanassios Vassilopoulos.

• A working lunch hosted by the Pammessinian Association “Papaflessas”, and the “Kalamata 23 March” Association.

• A working lunch with Greek businessmen in Melbourne.

• A working lunch with the members of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria Associations.

– He will have interviews at:

• The radiostation “3XY-Radio Hellas”.

• The newspaper “NEOS KOSMOS”.

Canberra (24 – 25 October)

– He will meet with:

• The Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, and Defence Minister Mr. Richard Marles.

• The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Mr. Matt Keogh.

• The Assistant Minister for Defence, Veterans’ Affairs and the Republic Mr. Matt Thistlethwaite.

• The Secretary of the Department of Defence Mr. Greg Moriarty.

• The Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force Vice Admiral David Johnston.

• The federal member of the House of Representatives, Chair of Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth, and member of the Board of Directors of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association Mr. Steve Georganas.

– He will make a speech at the Federal Parliament and he will inform the members of the Defence Committee of the Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Commerce.

– He will visit:

• The Australian War Memorial, where he will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier and the Stone of Remembrance at the Wing on the Battle of Crete.

• The Greek-Australian Monument, where he will lay a wreath.

• The Embassy of Greece in Australia, where he will attend a working dinner with the Greek Ambassador Mr. Georgios Papakostas and the members ofour diplomatic and military delegation.

– He will attend a working lunch with Greek businessmen of the Dinos Nikias OAM & Hellenic Club.

Adelaide (26 – 29 October)

– He will meet with:

• The Prime Minister of South Australia Mr. Peter Malinauskas.

• The Minister for Infrastructure & Transport and (Minister for) Energy & Mining Mr. Tom Koutsantonis.

• The Greek Consul General Mr. Georgios Psiahas.

• His Grace Bishop Silouanos of Sinopi.

• The members of the Boards of Directors of the Greek and Cypriot Community.

– He will visit:

• The Migration Museum.

• The Greek assisted living facility “Basil’s Nursing Home”.

– He will attend:

• The celebrations for Saint Demetrius’ day at the Holy Church of Saint Demetrius, in the presence of delegate of H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic, members of the State Government, local MPs and members of the Federal Parliament, and with the participation of Evzones of the Presidential Guard.

• The celebrations for the 28^th October 1940 at the Holy Church of Saint Georgios, with the participation of Evzones of the Presidential Guard.

• The celebrations for the 28^th October 1940 at the War Memorial, with the participation of Evzones of the Presidential Guard.

• A working lunch with prominent Greek businessmen of Adelaide.

• A working dinner hosted by the Hellenic Australian Lawyers Association.

– He will inaugurate, unveil and lay a wreath at the new Monument to the Fallen Freedom Fighters, in the presence of delegate of H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic and the Australian Minister for Infrastructure & Transport, and for Energy and Mining Mr. Tom Koutsantonis.