Sydney’s Cretan community came out in full force on Friday July 29 for a Youth Taverna night at the Greek Community Club in Lakemba to raise funds for new traditional dance costumes.

At the evening, organized by the Cretan Youth Association of Sydney & NSW, a total of $62,108.76 was raised through a number of generous donations such as 20,000 Euros from the Crete Region Government.

There were over 100 people present at the event, including a number of prominent members of the Greek community.

They were the President of the Athenian Association of NSW, Cathy Valis; the president of the Greek League for Services rendered, Peter Tsigounis; the president of Panagia Soumela Sydney, Peter Papoulidis; President of Pontoxeniteas Sydney, Maria Anthony; representing Sydney’s Hellenic Lyceum, Tella Sorotou; representing the Kalymnian Association of NSW, Peter Tsenkas; and Vasilis Vasilas of Syndesmos Connecting People and Their Stories.

All of these attendees, along with many families and young people, enjoyed the delicious Greek cuisine while mingling and listening to speeches by the president of the Cretan Youth Association, Chris Townsend, and the president of the Cretan Association of Sydney. and NSW, Terry Saviolakis.

In his speech, Mr Townsend thanked everyone for attending the tavern night and said it was ‘a real achievement that we received so much money’.

Afterwards, the Association’s young dance group performed a number of dances to the loud applause of the crowd. Young people singing and playing on Cretan instruments provided the perfect backdrop for the performances.

The evening ended with everyone on the dance floor, as well as a call for raffle tickets and an auction of a number of Cretan-themed items.

“We would like to sincerely thank everyone who attended our Youth Committee Tavern Night fundraiser Friday night. We thank everyone who donated overnight and the overwhelming support from the community,” Saviolakis said. The Greek Herald after the event.

“Overnight we broke the incredible news that the Crete region government was offering €20,000 for the costumes. We would like to thank the Governor of Crete, Mr. Stavros Arnaoutakis and all those who made this possible.

“It sends a clear message to our community that Crete appreciates everything we do to maintain Cretan culture in the diaspora. After this incredible news, we are very happy to announce that we have reached our fundraising goal.