Friday, 2 MAY 2008

The second annual RETURN TO ANATOLIA Conference began on Friday, 2 May 2008 at the Jika International Hotel in Fairfield, Melbourne. The function took place in the presence of politicians, academics, sponsors and members of the Hellenic, Assyrian and Armenian communities. This year's conference was dedicated to The Women of Anatolia: Tradition, Memory, Family.
The duties of Master of Ceremonies were fulfilled by Mrs Desi Poursanidis.

^{(From left to right) Mrs and Cr Anthony Helou (Moreland), the Hon. Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism, and Mr Con Kotanidis.}

Messages of welcome and best wishes for the success of the conference were expressed by the Consul-General of the Hellenic Republic, His Excellency Christos Salamanis, the Hon. Murray Thompson MP, the representative of the Assyrian community on the organising committee, Mr Jacob Haweil, and the chairperson of the organising committee, Mrs Sofia Kotanidis.
Cultural presentations dedicated to the Women of Anatolia were made by Ms Anthi Sideropoulos and Mr Zaia, both of whom deeply moved those in attendance with their songs in English, Assyrian and Greek.

Amongst those in attendance were the Federal Minister for Tourism, the Hon. Martin Ferguson, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Harry Jenkins, the Hon. Jenny Mikakos MP, the Hon. Lilly D'Ambrosio MP, the Hon. George Seitz MP, the Hon. Nazih Elasmar MP as well as Councillors Anthony Helou (Moreland), Kris Pavlidis (Whittlesea) and Costas Socratous (Brimbank).

^{Consul-General of the Hellenic Republic, His Excellency Christos Salamanis,
and Cr Kris Pavlidis (Whittlesea).}

Official sponsors of the second annual Return to Anatolia Conference include the Victorian Multicultural Commission, the Hon. Jenny Mikakos, Ms Fiona Richardson, Melissa Cakes, Mr John Armen of JNS Plumbing, Mr Con Saristavros of Black Swan Dips, and Mr Tasos Douvartzides of Omiros College.

Saturday, 3 MAY 2008

Speakers