On Thursday, 27 November, the Hellenic Museum Ladies’ Society celebrated an inspiring 2025 Garden Party with special guest Tatiana Blatnik, welcoming more than 230 guests to its much-anticipated annual Garden Party – an elegant afternoon of conversation, culture, and generosity in support of Australia’s only Hellenic Museum.
At this year’s event – hosted at Gardens House in the Royal Botanic Gardens – guests enjoyed a vibrant program including warm acknowledgements from Museum Director Sarah Craig and Board Member Helen Mantzis, who reflected on the transformative impact of the Society’s philanthropy.
The highlight of the afternoon was a deeply moving conversation with special guest Tatiana Blatnik, internationally recognised for her philanthropy and mental health advocacy work. Visiting Australia especially for this event, Blatnik shared thoughtful insights on resilience, wellbeing and the importance of community, drawing on her work with Breathe Hellas, the foundation she established to support mental health awareness and education.
Her heartfelt words resonated with the ethos of HMLS, which since its establishment in 2018 has brought together culturally engaged women united by a commitment to preserving and celebrating Hellenism. In particular, this year’s event saw a marked increase in younger guests, heralding a future generation of the HMLS community.
This year’s Garden Party also marked a significant milestone for the Museum’s future. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of attendees and supporters, the event raised significant funds in support of the Museum’s latest initiative: the upcoming Children’s Gallery & Makerspace, a dedicated space designed to nurture curiosity, creativity and wellbeing in young visitors.
Guests embraced the fundraising spirit with enthusiasm, participating in a range of activities including the ANTON Jewellery raffle, and a curated lucky dip featuring contributions from more than twenty generous businesses. Many attendees praised the afternoon as one of HMLS’s most memorable events – an inspiring blend of heartfelt storytelling, philanthropy and celebration.
The 2025 Garden Party was presented by the Hellenic Museum Ladies’ Society and made possible with the support of many valued partners, including Major Supporters ANTON Jewellery, Rigby Cooke Lawyers, Kay & Burton, NAB Private Wealth & GJK Facility Services.
