204th Anniversary of Greece's National Independence Day

Representing the Premier, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnership and Minister for Multiculturalism, the Honourable Fiona Simpson MP; Executive Councillors and Mr Speaker; Ambassador of Romania to Australia, His Excellency Mr Radu Gabriel Safta; representing the Lord Mayor of Brisbane Councillor Krista Adams; Members of Parliament; Your Honours; His Grace Bishop Bartholomew of Brisbane; Honorary Consul-General of Greece in Queensland, Mr George Mastrocostas and Mrs Ying Mastrocostas; Dean and Members of the Consular Corps in Queensland; distinguished guests.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to any First Nations people here this evening.

Graeme and I are delighted to be with you tonight for this celebration of 204 years of Greek independence.

In 1821, when the revolutionary flag was raised at Agia Lavra, Queensland did not exist, and what is now is now Brisbane was a wild, remote part of the British colony of New South Wales.

But almost four decades later, in 1859, Queensland separated from New South Wales and welcomed its first official Greek immigrant: Contessa Diamantina Di Roma, the wife of our first Governor, Sir George Bowen.

Lady Bowen was aged just 26 when they arrived in Brisbane, but during the eight years that Sir George served as Governor, she earned enduring respect and an honoured place in our history for her compassion, advocacy, and tireless work in support of the poor and vulnerable.

Over the next half-century, that tradition of hard work continued as more Greek immigrants arrived. Some were instrumental in the growth of our sugar and fishing industries; others established the family-run cafes, milk bars, and fish and chip shops that quickly became the focus of community life in towns and cities across the State.

By 1915, there were just 400 Greeks living in Queensland, 50 of them in Brisbane, but after World War II and the ensuing Greek Civil War, a new wave of immigrants arrived here, becoming active in politics and social advocacy, and establishing themselves as business leaders in the construction, hospitality and real estate industries.

Today, there are around 33,000 Queenslanders who claim Greek ancestry – and who proudly tell the stories of those earlier generations whose grit, determination and keen business sense enabled them to succeed, often against the odds, in their adopted country.

The extraordinary story of Harry Corones and his eponymous Charleville hotel is still told more than 50 years after his death, and here in Brisbane, there are few more quintessential Greek immigrant success stories than that of Christy Freeleagus and his nine brothers.

When he arrived in Australia in 1901, young Christy was not quite twelve years old, but he and his brothers would eventually build a family enterprise consisting of seven shops, a major wholesale food company, and the Astoria – an elegant multi-storey café complex on the corner of Edward and Adelaide Streets with seating for 250, a bakehouse, a soda bar – even an ice-cream room!

Through their businesses, the Feeleagus brothers gave jobs to literally hundreds of newly arrived Greek immigrants in Brisbane, and Christy and his son Alex were to provide consular services on behalf of Greece for a combined total of almost 90 years.

As the Greek Consul-General a century ago, Christy was passionately committed to preserving and promoting Greek heritage and culture, and often hosted independence day receptions at his Astoria Café. He would be thrilled to know that, today, the proud tradition of commemorating Greek National Independence Day continues here in Brisbane.

I thank Consul-General Mastrocostas once again for the invitation to join you this evening and wish you all a very happy National Independence Day.