GARSL Special Celebratory Lunch
Duxton Hotel Perth WA
18 May 2025
To celebrate the completion of the Battle of Crete Memorial in Kings Park, and to thank those who helped in the accomplishment of the Project a special celebratory lunch was sponsored by GARSL at the Duxton Hotel.
Present at the lunch was Paul Papalia CSC MLA, Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services; Defence Industries; Veterans; Racing & Gaming, the Consul of Greece in Perth Mrs Eleni Georgopoulou, Father Terry representing Bishop Elpidios of Perth and Richard Sandover patron of the Battle of Crete Memorial Committee.
Father Terry gave a short speech in which he noted that Bishop Elpidios was currently in Greece and hence unable to attend today’s lunch. He gave a blessing, congratulated all those involved and wished everyone well.
Bill Evangel as President of GARSL welcomed everyone to the event and began by thanking Mr Papalia for the significant financial contribution made by the WA State Government through the ANZAC Day Trust and Lotterywest. He also thanked the Consul for the Greek Government’s grant.
He made special note of the contribution of our two Patrons, Richard Sandover and His Eminence Archbishop Makarios Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of Australia.
He welcomed the involvement of other likeminded Greek/Australian organizations in the work of GARSL, a partnership he would like to see strengthened in coming years.
Bill also thanked the members of the Battle of Crete Memorial Committee who valiantly stuck to their guns for nearly nine years to see the completion of the very handsome Memorial. A job very well done!!!
Core Committee members who were present at the lunch included John Yiannakis, Manoli Yeroyianakis, Ken Michael, Phil Orchard, Mike McDonald and John Dombrose. Catherine Papanastasiou was not able to attend due to other important commitments.
The Committee was retired on this day and all remaining issues to do with the memorial will now be managed by GARSL.
The event concluded with tea and coffee and the serving of some very delicious chocolates.
Images Courtesy G Dombrose