“Greeks in the Far Orient” Launched During the 30th Greek Festival of Sydney

During the 30^th Greek Festival of Sydney, the former Prime Minister of Australia, Hon. Bob Hawke, will be introducing Professor Anastasios Tami’s new book “Greeks in the Far Orient”, on Friday, March 16th, at Marrickville Town Hall. The event will be hosted by the Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales.

The book focuses on Greek emigration to the Far East and includes the description of waves of emigration to Australia, New Zealand and Latin America.

Using interviews and oral statements, as well as Greek diplomatic archives and, with the help of specialised translators, Chinese and Japanese official sources, he has compiled a history of Greeks in China, Japan, Korea and the Philippines. According to the Tami, the first Greeks that ever settled in these aforementioned countries were mostly refugees and expatriated Greeks, victims of social and economic circumstances from Russia, traders from the Balkans and Asia Minor, islanders from Greece, seamen and adventurers, or members of large families seeking work.

The Greek academic refers to numerous examples of famous or unknown Greeks who started their lives anew, based upon interviews, reports by clergy and consular staff, personal records of Greeks who lived there, country records, as well as national libraries and historical and diplomatic records of the time.

In addition to the detailed historical account, the book comprises 480 rare photographs, chronicling the emigration wave from Greece to the Far East, and has been described by Professor Speros Vryonis Jr, expert on Byzantine and Islamic studies (USA), as ‘a major contribution to the historical experience of the Greek people in one of its most dynamic expressions: seafaring and emigration’.

For more information please visit www.greekfestivalofsydney.com.au