Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, Nick Reece, expressed his pride in the city’s vibrant Greek community during his visit to the renowned Antipodes Festival. As the principal sponsor of the event, the City of Melbourne played a pivotal role in supporting the festival, which is considered one of the largest celebrations of Hellenic culture outside of Greece.
In an interview on 3XY Radio Hellas, Reece shared his personal connection to Greece, revealing his Greek heritage through his wife, Fotini Pantelidis, who is fluent in Greek. Reece spoke about their family’s strong bond to Greek traditions, noting that their children are actively involved in learning the language and participating in local football clubs, including his daughter, who plays for Heidelberg FC.
Reece also highlighted his commitment to fostering stronger cultural and business ties between Melbourne and Greece. He announced plans for a major Melbourne delegation to visit Greece next year, which would focus on celebrating Melbourne’s Greek community and strengthening connections across various sectors, including culture, business, and family.
One of the major highlights of the interview was Reece’s enthusiasm for Melbourne hosting significant sporting events. He expressed his belief that Melbourne should be the host city for an upcoming international basketball tournament featuring teams like Panathinaikos and Partizan, underscoring Melbourne’s status as Australia’s sports capital.
Additionally, Reece shared exciting news about Melbourne’s ongoing sister city relationship with Thessaloniki, mentioning that a new public square in Thessaloniki has been named “Melbourne Square” in honour of the 40th anniversary of their partnership.
With plans for more cultural exchanges and a commitment to further strengthening ties with Greece, Reece’s leadership continues to reflect his deep respect for the Greek community and its influence in shaping Melbourne’s identity.
