The contrast couldn't have been sharper between the laid back scenes in Greek community hubs across Australia and the violence on the streets of Athens.
Fifteen thousand kilometres away from the violence, the cafe tables are being dominated by discussion about the financial problems plaguing Greece.
"I am very sorry for the trouble over there", one man says.
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"It is better than bankruptcy. If we had the bankruptcy the debt is going to be much much larger and bigger", argues another.
Amongst the group, there's no sympathy for the country's politicians blamed for immersing Greece further into its financial quagmire.
While Greek Australians can only watch from afar with sadness the turbulence in their homeland, some believe the austerity measures will prove a harsh but necessary wake-up call for a country which they say has been living beyond its means.
Gareth Boreham has more.
