Greek Australians Join Effort to Help Fire Victims

The Greek community in Australia has joined efforts of the Federal government, aid organizations and government and communities around the world to help victims of the bushfires which are currently devastating multiple areas across the country.

“We are going through the most difficult moments in the history of Australia,” the president of the Greek community of Melbourne, Vasilis Papastergiadis, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency radio station ‘Praktoreio 104.9 FM’ on Tuesday.

The Greek community has undertaken actions to assist in the efforts to deal with the devastating fires that have been ravaging Australia since September.

“We often hear our compatriots from Greece express their support and we thank them,” Papastergiadis said, adding that the Greek Community of Melbourne was undertaking fundraising events to raise the needed monies.

The Greek Community of Melbourne has announced it’s organizing a bushfire victim fundraiser on Friday, January 17 at “Chasers” night club where some of the best Australian Greek talent will be performing.

Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Australia Makarios made an appeal on Saturday to raise money through donations for the victims of the devastating fires.

Greek Australians like Peter Sinodinos, owner of Defi II and CEO of a successful transport and logistics company, want to use their unique position to directly assist those affected by the fires.

“Due to the devastating situation in the country now, and my massive following, I thought I would get this done. I want to fill containers and send them to the areas direct from our Greek community,” said Sinodinos.

Sinodinos is using his own transportation services to organize the collection and distribution of supplies, as well as all other logistical concerns, to help alleviate the pressure on firefighters. He will also be transporting the items directly to the victims in need.