The new management of the Pan-Cretan Union of Melbourne-Australia takes over the promotion of the Cretan products in Australia. The Union takes the initiative to bring together and proceed to fraternization with the Chambers of Commerce of Crete and the two big Australian-Greek Chambers of Commerce in Australia so as businesspeople who work in Crete and the Greek businesspeople, whose companies are located in Australia, promote Cretan Diet widely in the Australian society and in Asian countries.
The above was underlined by the new president of the Pan-Cretan Union of Melbourne, Mr. Antonis Tsourdalakis, in an interview to «In-On» magazine.
These kinds of initiatives -he continued- will widen the scope of import and export transactions between Australia and Greece due to the increase of exportation of the Cretan products. Until now, this occurs in a limited scope and the aim of the new Board of Directors is to hold a «CRETAN BUSINESS FORUM», only for the Cretans. He also stressed that they have already asked the regional counselor of Crete and the four prefects to organize exhibitions in Australia, apart from Europe and America for a better promotion of the Cretan products.
At the same time, the main aim of the new Board of Directors for the next four years -as Mr. Tsourdalakis mentions- is for hundred of Cretans in Victoria to embrace the Pan-Cretan Union of Melbourne and until the end 2009, to have more than 2000 active members, participating over 1000 men and women of Cretan origins.
Question: what are the new plans of the new Board of Directors for the Greek people who live in Australia?
Answer: My initial idea was to have a Board of Directors which would constitute of young people of Cretan immigrants that were born in Australia. Eventually, this idea was realized when the new Board of Directors was elected, since 17 counselors out of the 21 belong to this category.
Additionally, the new Board of Directors aims at projecting Cretan civilization and also proceeds to the continuation of the already established ceremonies such as: Holy Water rituals, New Years Cake, the battle of Crete, the Holocaust of Arkadi etc. For the first time this year in Australia, we will project Cretan Cuisine for a whole week all over Melbourne and in November the first Cretan Musical-Dance Concert for the Aborigines.
Furthermore, during 2009 the visits of children (8–17years of age) from Greeks who live in Australia to Crete will continue. The children will be hosted by members of the Prefectures of Crete, while in 2010 the first tour of the Dance Group of the Pan-Cretan Union will be realized.
During 2009 the formal presentation of the book entitled «The Cretans of Oceania since 19th century», will be realized. The publisher is the Pan-Cretan Union of Melbourne and the author is Mr. Socrates Tsourdalakis (My father). The presentation of the book will be held in Crete in May 2009.
During 2009 in Australia, some dancing groups from Crete will be hosted, the first being the Vrakofori group of Crete.
Finally, we will found the Cretan Music and Dance School so as our children learn Cretan musical instruments and dances.
Question: what is the role of women Department and the Youth Department in the contacts with the relevant organizations of the immigrants around the world?
Answer: The role of the women Department is auxiliary towards the Board of Directors, even though we do not exclude women to be members in the Board of Directors. The members of the women Department want to assist the acts of the Union in every possible way. The Youth Department has to play a greater role in the Association since our young people are being prepared to participate in the Future Board of Directors. This offer, on behalf of young people, is important because being a President at this Department for three years; I have gained significant experience, which undoubtedly helps till today in my new post.
Curriculum Vitae
Mr.Antonis Tsourdalakis, is the son of Socrates and Anna Tsourdalakis, born in Melbourne in July 1970.
He was born in a traditional Cretan family, getting from his parents the necessary stimuli to love Tradition and Crete.
Since his childhood, and under parental guidance, he took his first lessons at Cretan Dances. He continued dance lessons with the dance teacher Mrs. Eleni Kafkalaki and later with Maria Kourmadia. From his early years, he was wearing the traditional costumes of Crete dancing in numerous dancing groups in our community.
Later as a teenager, he participates in the dance groups of «St. Vassilos», Brunswick Schools, the Rethymnian Association «ΑRKADΙ» and the Cretan Association of Melbourne.
His activities as a dance teacher
1988 – 1990 He was a dance teacher in the Chanian Association of Melbourne & Victoria.
1990 – 1995 He was a dance teacher at the Cretan Association of Melbourne & Victoria Association & Βικτώριας.
1995 – 2005 He established the Cretan Folklore Association of Australia, in which he was the Director and dance teacher until 2005.
2000 – 2002 He was a dance teacher at the Rethymnian Association of Melbourne, «ΑRKADΙ» His activities in the Greek community.
1989 – He established the Greek Students Association in the University of Victoria, where he was the president until 1991, while participating in the National Union of Hellenic-Australian Students.
1990 – He established the Federation of the Hellenic Youth of Australia with 34 organizations of young people, where he was a President until 1993.
1995 – He becomes a member of the Australian Greek Council and the Co-ordination Committee of the Cypriot Fight (Lobby for National Issues).
1996 – He becomes a member of the Parade Committee for our National Day, in which he was also an Assistant Secretary.
His actions for the Cretan Family
1991 – He is the President of the Youth in the Cretan Association of Melbourne and Victoria.
1994 – He is elected as Secretary General in the Cretan Association of Melbourne and Victoria.
1998 – He participates for the first time in the presiding Board of Directors of the Cretan Association of Australia & New Zealand at the post of the person in charge of Public Relations.
1999 – He chairs in the establishment of Cretan Youth Association of Australia &New Zealand in a Pan-Australian scale.
2000 – He takes over the full organization of the Historical Association of the Rethymnians of Melbourne «ΑRKADΙ», from the post of the President.
2003 – He participates for the second time in the presiding Board of Directors of the Cretan Association of Australia & New Zealand at the post of vice-president.
2009 – He takes over the Presidency of the biggest Cretan Association in Oceania, the Pan-Cretan Association of Melbourne- Australia.
The Board of Directors of the Pan-Cretan Association in Melbourne
PRESIDENT: TSOURDALAKIS ANTONIS – A young man of Cretan origins, born in Australia, aged 38.
VICE-PRESIDENT: PAPADIMITRAKIS DIMITRIS – Born in Asratego, Chania, he came to Australia during the 60s.
2nd VICE-PRESIDENT: DEDES MANOLIS – A young man of Cretan origins, born in Australia, aged 40.
SECRETARY: VANTARAKIS MANOLIS – Born in Karoti, Rethymnon, he came to Australia during the 90s.
2nd SECRETARY: HARITAKIS MIHALIS – A young man of Cretan origins, born in Australia, aged 32.
CASHIER: LEONTAKIS GEORGOS – A young man of Cretan origins, born in Australia, aged 41.
2nd CASHIER: DALAKIS MICHALIS – A young man of Cretan origins, born in Australia, aged 45.
PUBLIC RELATIONS: NIKOLAKAKIS IOANNIS – A young man of Cretan origins, born in Australia, aged 42.
PUBLIC RELATIONS: KOUKOUVITAKIS NIKOS – A young man of Cretan origins, born in Australia, aged 37.
PUBLIC RELATIONS: STARAKIS MANOLIS ΣΤΑΡΑΚΗΣ – A young man of Cretan origins, born in Australia, aged 38
MEMBERS:
KARAMITOS MICHALIS – A young man of Cretan origins, born in Australia, aged 40.
KONTOUDAKIS GEORGIOS – Born in Therisso, Kydonia, Chania, he came to Australia during the 50s.
KONTEKAKIS IOANNIS – Born in Kamaria, Selinou ,Chania, he came to Australia during the 60s.
LYGIDAKIS IOANNIS – Born in Akrotiri, Chania, he came to Australia during the 60s.
MARAKIS GIORGOS – Born in Myriokefala, Rethymnon, he came to Australia during the 80s.
BADOGIANNIS EVAGGELOS – Born in Chania, Crete he came to Australia during the 60s.
MICHELAKIS NIKOS – Born in Sembrona, Chania he came to Australia during the 50s.
MICHELAKIS PANTELIS – Born in Sembrona, Chania he came to Australia during the 50s.
PATERAKIS DIMITRIS – A young man of Cretan origins, born in Australia, aged 42.
RALLAKIS NIKOS – A young man of Cretan origins, born in Australia, aged 40.
RERAKIS IOANNIS – A young man of Cretan origins, born in Australia, aged 43.