Macquarie University’s celebration of four decades of Hellenism

2 days ago 19

The enduring people that Hellenism has near connected Macquarie University implicit the past 40 years was celebrated with the unveiling of an accumulation astatine the institution’s campus.

The accumulation titled ‘Παροικία: MUGA & Hellenism astatine Macquarie’ officially opened connected September 17, and presented photographs, artworks, memorabilia and artefacts that honour the profound publication of Hellenism to the university.

“The narration of Hellenism and Macquarie University has ever been ongoing – overmuch similar the conception of Hellenism itself,” said Angela Parsons, impermanent curator of the exhibition, to Neos Kosmos.

“The accumulation showcases this continuity: from past artefacts to videos capturing the taste beingness of Greek-Australian students today.”

Parsons, a erstwhile Macquarie student, noted the thought for the accumulation came astir 4 months agone pursuing talks with curator Leonard Janiszewski, with it motivated by student radical MUGA (Macquarie University Greek Association) celebrating its 40th day past year.

“It felt similar the cleanable infinitesimal to observe this milestone and honour the power of Greek-Australian students connected field life,” Parsons, who has Kastellorizian heritage, said.

The show includes works by ethnographic lensman Effy Alexakis, and artworks by renowned Australian creator George Raftopoulos from the university’s creation collection, arsenic well as, past Greek artefacts from the Macquarie University Gale Museum.

In the accumulation were besides idiosyncratic and assemblage items, including MUGA memorabilia, clothing, photographs, and day publications of MUGA’s Chronos magazine.

“In curating the exhibition, I spoke with erstwhile MUGA presidents and galore radical progressive successful Greek Studies astatine Macquarie to stitchery their stories,” Parsons said.

The curator highlighted however her acquisition working connected this illuminated to her the immense interaction MUGA has had and continues to have.

“The biggest takeaway was realising however 1 person’s vision tin spark lasting change. In this case, it was Vasilis Georgiou, whose determination led to the founding of MUGA and laid the groundwork for aboriginal initiatives successful Greek civilization and studies astatine Macquarie,” she said.

“What surprised maine astir was discovering that the Greek Association is still thriving and, successful fact, is the largest student radical connected field successful 2025!” Parsons said. She besides noted that institutions similar the Macquarie Greek Studies Foundation and the Greek-Australian Society tin beryllium traced straight to the university.

The aboriginal of Modern Greek studies astatine Macquarie has been notably reported arsenic coming to an end, which Parsons argued makes it each the much due such an accumulation exists that tin wage tribute to the bequest of Hellenism astatine the tertiary institution.

“Although the programme is nary longer offered, it influenced the university’s world and taste beingness for years with initiatives similar summertime schools successful Greece and planetary conferences.”

“The work of scholars, including erstwhile Head of Modern Greek Studies, Dr Elizabeth Kefallinos, and existent Lecturer successful Global Cultures and Languages, Dr Patricia Koromvokis, continues to strengthen ties with Greece, ensuring that the bequest of Modern Greek remains portion of the university’s history.”

The accumulation will beryllium connected show astatine Macquarie University Waranara Library accumulation space until November 5.