This Podcast is in Greek.
Mr Hawke was Labor’s longest-serving PM and one of the most popular political leaders in Australia. This popularity carried through to the Greek community who had showed, in big numbers, its support for Mr Hawke over the years.
As the president of the ACTU in the Autumn of 1974, Mr Hawke, along with then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, received Andreas Papandreou, the resistance leader against the Greek junta. The two met again in the mid-80s in Athens, both of them Prime Ministers by then.
One of the last Greek-Australian events that Mr Hawke attended was the book launch of Professor Anastasios Tamis, at Marrickville Town Hall, during the 30th Greek Festival of Sydney in 2012.
Bob Hawke, Andreas Papandreou, Gough Whitlam Source: National Australian Archives
During his prime ministership he often accepted invitations by Greek community organisations and there are many photographs of him, and his then wife Hazel, taking part in Greek dances.
He entered parliament in 1980, winning the seat of Wills, which had many Greek-origin constituents and quite a few of them took part in his election campaign. He served as Prime minister from 1983 till 1991.
Mr Hawke died peacefully at his Sydney home on Thursday night, his wife Blanche d'Alpuget has confirmed in a statement.
"Today we lost Bob Hawke, a great Australian - many would say the greatest Australian of the post-war era," she said.
"Bob Hawke and Paul Keating and their governments modernised the Australian economy, paving the way for an unprecedented period of recession-free economic growth and job creation."
Ms d'Alpuget will hold a private funeral with his children Sue, Stephen, Rosslyn and stepson, Louis, and his grandchildren.
A memorial service for Australia's 23rd prime minister will be held in Sydney in coming weeks.
Leaders from across the political spectrum have paid tribute. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Mr Hawke was "one of Australia's great prime ministers and certainly Labor's greatest prime minister".
"His achievements will be spoken of in the days ahead but the thing Australians will remember most about him was the bloke," he said, adding, "He made Australia stronger through his contribution to public life. He had a great intellect. He had enormous passion and he had courage."
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said, "tonight the nation and Labor are in mourning".
"We have lost a favourite son," he told reporters.
"Bob Hawke loved Australia and Australia loved Bob Hawke. But his legacy will endure forever. Bob Hawke changed Australia for the better.
"He brought people together, he brought Australia together, he modernised our economy, he transformed our society, he protected our environment," said the Labor leader.
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