The children in the picture were students at the Greek language school which was run by the Greek Community of Melbourne and were attending the '28th October' Greek national day celebration at the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in East Melbourne. The two women, Alexandra Vrachna and Nina Black were teachers at the school. The Evangelismos Church was the first Greek orthodox Church to be established in Melbourne. The foundation stone was laid in December 1900 and church services commenced in August 1902.

The 28th October is known as 'OHI' DAY', translated meaning NO DAY. It is an important national day celebrated in Greece and the Greek diaspora and commemorates the anniversary when in 1940 the then Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas said “NO” to an ultimatum made by Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini to allow Italian forces to occupy Greece. It marked the beginning of Greece's entry into WW2. The day symbolises values important to the Greek people - freedom, courage and 'filotimo'. The establishment of the Orthodox church in Melbourne in the early years of the twentieth century was was indicative of the number of Greek migrants who came to Australia in those early years of settlement in this country and the desire maintain their religious and cultural traditions. The early Greek migrants were anxious that their Australian born children maintain their language and religion in their adopted country.

A black and white photograph of children with three adults standing outside Evangelismos Church in East Melbourne. Three children in the back row are displaying the Greek and Australian flags.

Written in red underneath the photograph: 28th OCTOBER 1948. OUTSUDE THE GREEK CHURCH IN EAST MELBOURNE/PHOTO PROPERTY OF STATHI RAFTOPOULOS.

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