Melbourne celebrates Protomayia festival with flowers, dance and community spirit

Under a agleam autumn sun that felt much similar a Mediterranean spring, the Hellenic Women’s Federation of Victoria hosted the yearly Protomayia Festival connected May 1 astatine All Nations Park successful Northcote.

The celebration, rooted successful Greek tradition arsenic some a tribute to nature’s renewal and to workers’ rights, drew hundreds from crossed Melbourne’s Greek and wider community.

Official guests and committee.

The time began with a infinitesimal of soundlessness successful honour of the precocious Sofia Mastoris OAM, the Federation’s founding president, who passed distant successful January. It marked the archetypal Protomayia without her—25 years aft she organised the inaugural event. Her son, Nonda Mastoris, helped coordinate the day’s proceedings, keeping her spirit live done assemblage and celebration.

Thekla Scarsella – founding committee member.

Among the authoritative guests were national MP Ged Kearney and state MP for Northcote Kat Theophanous, some of whom joined successful the dancing and festivities. Also successful attendance was veteran Neos Kosmos writer and assemblage person Claire Gazis OAM, whose long-standing engagement successful the Federation traces backmost to its inception astatine the offices of Neos Kosmos.

Elizabeth Williams 91 (on the close with pinkish scarf).

In her address, Kearney reflected connected the day’s dual meaning: “Protomayia is simply a solemnisation of community, taste pride, and workers’ rights—values profoundly rooted successful some quality and the labour movement.” Theophanous echoed the sentiment, saying, “Beyond the flowers, Protomayia is astir family. It’s astir the ties that hindrance us—across oceans and generations.”

Best dancers and youngest participant.

The parkland bloomed with flowers, balloons, and traditional euphony by DJ Lefkios. The Federation provided homemade sweets including tsourekia, tiropites, and shamishi, lovingly prepared by committee members.

Special angiosperm creation with baskets. Photos: Supplied

Highlights included a traditional creation with angiosperm baskets, prizes for champion dressed and champion dancers, and awards for the youngest and oldest attendees.

– Best dancers were Anthoula and Antonia

– Best dressed were sisters Alexandra and Elizabeth

– Eldest idiosyncratic successful attendance was Elizabeth Williams astatine 91 years of property and when asked which acquisition would you similar to take – she chose the wine which drew laughter and suggestions that it’s the concealed to a agelong and steadfast life.

– Youngest idiosyncratic was Amalia

Claire Gazis reminded the assemblage of the planetary past down May 1, citing the 1886 workers’ strikes successful the US and the Eureka Rebellion successful Ballarat arsenic foundational moments successful the labour movement.

The lawsuit organising committee.

Though section Darebin councillors could not be owed to the caller passing of Cr Gaetano Greco, the City’s support was acknowledged.

As flowers and tradition filled the air, the time was a vibrant reminder of the enduring powerfulness of Hellenic civilization and community.

Younger generations – participants from Transfiguration of our Lord playgroup. Photos: Supplied