The Spirit of Hellenism Award is a competition run by Hellenism Victoria that is open to all Victorian students currently in Year 9 in 2016 (in Year 10 in 2017). The competition winner received two return tickets to Greece.
As part of their research, the students were required to speak or come into contact with at least one primary source who could provide direct or first-hand evidence about the topic. This includes personal accounts via
family or friends' interviews, and sources such as those found at historical societies.
Two of the winners were Kyriaki Gillina and Zach Smyrnis; She wrote a poem, he drew a painting!
KIKI GILLINA'S POEM: 'MY EXPERIENCE'
Eighteen years young leaving my family behind,
With my sisters and my brothers,
To start a new life,
Aboard we go on a ship called Patrice,
I hope we make it to Australia in one piece,
Nineteen sixty-six was the year I left,
The home I grew up in I'll never forget,
From Greece to the streets,
Sewing on machines,
Something my mother had taught me,
Honesty, kindness and hard work,
Some things my dad told me that always work,
My friends, my family, I all miss,
What I had to sacrifice to live like this,
Sixty-seven and going strong,
I still go back to visit where I belong,
Three beautiful kids and six grandchildren,
Living healthy and happy,
All thanks to a trip overseas,
Australia is where it all happened for me.
ZACH SMYRNIS'S DRAWING: ATHENA, GODDESS OF WISDOM
Greek Australian Zaharias Smirnis's painting Source: Supplied
