National

On the Eve of Oxi (‘No’) day, Friday, 27 October 2023, the Hellenic Australian Lawyers (SA Chapter) held the 2023 John William Perry AO QC Oration (HAL Oration SA) at the Hilton Hotel in Adelaide, South Australia.

The HAL Oration SA had the privilege of having the Honourable Justice Stephen Gageler AC – High Court of Australia delivering the oration on the topic of “Democracy and Reason”. His Honour’s presentation also included the Aristotelian theory and how it compared to the modern structures of Parliament and the Federal Supreme Court (High Court) within the Australian Constitution.

The HAL Oration SA is an annual dinner celebrating the life and contribution of the late Honourable Justice John William Perry AO QC, who was the first Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia of Hellenic background, who served the Court for 19 years.

The Honourable Justice Melissa Anne Perry, and daughter of the Late John William Perry, also addressed the attendees by reflecting on her father’s life and legacy.

The HAL Oration SA also featured a special cultural performance by the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia Dance Academy (GOCSADA) with the President of the Greek Community of South Australia, Mr Peter Gardiakos, in attendance.

The GOCSADA was formed in 1980 and is one of the longest running and successful dance schools in South Australia. Attendees enjoyed a performance of 4 unique dances from the island of Crete.

Further guests included:

1. The Honourable Tom Koutsantonis MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Minister for Energy and Mining representing The Honourable Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia.
2. The Honourable Andrea Michaels MP, Minister for Small and Family Business, Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs and Minister for Arts.
3. The Honourable Jack Batty MP, representing the Hon. David Spiers MP, Leader of the Opposition.
4. The Honourable Christopher Kourakis, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia.
5. The Honourable Justice Laura Stein of the Supreme Court of South Australia.
6. The Honourable Justice Judith Hughes of the Supreme Court of South Australia.
7. The Honourable Connie Bonaros MLC and the Honourable Laura Henderson MLC, members of the Legislative Council of South Australia.

This year’s John Perry AO QC Oration, held before 170 guests on 27 October at the Adelaide Pavilion, focused on a crucial subject – the “Unification of Greek Communities and its Importance to Maintaining Hellenism in Australia for Future Generations”.

Bill Papastergiadis OAM – Melbourne Managing Partner at Moray & Agnew and the President of the Greek Community of Melbourne & Victoria – delivered the Oration.

This annual dinner and oration hosted by the South Australian Chapter of HAL celebrates the life and contribution of the late Honourable Justice Perry, who served as a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia for 19 years and was the first judge of that Court with an Hellenic background.

In this year’s Oration, Mr Papastergiadis spoke to his personal insights and with profound optimism for the future of Hellenism in Australia, drawing on his experiences, successes and practical initiatives.

The Greek City Times reported Mr Papastergiadis saying “the Greek diaspora has a critical role in ensuring the relevance of the community for future generations and that this can only be done by a mindset focused on progress and action.”

Reflecting on the event, HAL SA Chapter Co-Chair Peter Tantalos told The Greek City Times that “through events such as these, and with leaders like Bill Papastergiadis championing Hellenism and charting the path forward, we can ensure that the Greek diaspora maintain their cultural spirit and actively engage with their communities to ensure the preservation of Hellenism for future generations”.

Guests included:

• The Honourable Tom Koutsantonis MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Minister for Energy and Mining representing The Honourable Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia.
• Mr George Psiachas, The Consul General of Greece for Adelaide.
• The Honourable Nikolaos Chardalias, Deputy Minister of National Defence of the Hellenic Republic.
• Vice Admiral Efthymios Mikros, Director of the Military Office, as Representative of Her Excellency Katerina Sakellaropoulou, President of the Hellenic Republic accompanied by the Presidential Guard of the Hellenic Republic.

The Hellenic Presidential Guard (Evzones) also attended the Oration. This distinguished and culturally significant unit of the Hellenic Army has its origins as an elite infantry and mountain fighting unit established by royal decree on 12 December 1868. With the express consent of the President of Greece, Her Excellency Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the Presidential Guard was permitted to visit Adelaide and join OXI NO Day celebrations at the Oration.