Australia's Federation Guard
- Minister |
- Navy |
- Army |
- Air Force |
- Department
Greek Ambassador hosts Australian Army Lieutenant
The Embassy of Greece in Canberra recently hosted a visit from Australian Army Lieutenant Luke Haitas to discuss upcoming ceremonies for the 70th anniversary of the Battle for Greece and Crete.
Lieutenant Haitas visited the embassy on 3 May to discuss his role in leading a contingent of Australian soldiers, sailors and airmen from Australia’s Federation Guard to Greece later this month for the ceremonies.
The Greek Ambassador, his Excellency Alexios Christopoulos, said the fact that Lieutenant Haitas is a Greek-Australian Officer reinforces the special bond between Australia and Greece that was forged in both World Wars as well as the early European migration to Australia.
“It is particularly fitting that Luke is the contingent commander for this delegation to Greece and Crete both because he is Greek-Australian and because his family has a special connection to Crete; his family fighting for the liberation of the island in the 19th century as well as his Australian forefathers defending it in 1941,” Ambassador Christopoulos said.
“It demonstrates the multiculturalism of Australia and that all who call Australia home can serve their country with pride, and the Greek community is certainly proud of Luke.”
Lieutenant Haitas said that it is a privilege to be part of the Australian and Greek communities.
“The historical connections between the two are very significant and it is clear there is a strong bond between us,” Lieutenant Haitas said.
“At the time of the WWII German invasion of Greece, Australia’s Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies said ‘we cannot leave Greece in the lurch’, and I think this highlights how close our two nations were and still are to this day.
“The strong relationship between Australia and Greece was also evident in WWI when the Greek government granted the island of Limnos to allied forces during the Gallipoli Campaign.
“The island’s beaches were used to train our soldiers for the ANZAC Day landing and its harbours were used to deploy our ships to Turkey on 15 April 1915.
“Numerous ANZAC's lie in the two cemeteries on the island and ANZAC Day commemorations are still held there each year.”
While in Greece, the tri-Service Australian Defence Force contingent will support up to 16 ceremonial activities at Australian, Allied and Axis memorials.
