2/7th Memorial planned

Press  Release:    from  PanCretan  Associaton  of  Melbourne
Nov  12    2012.  For  immediate  use

Greek and Indigenous community unite to mark Anzac story in WWII

Celebrity  Cretan  lute  play,  Yiorgos  Xylouris  will  perform  in  the  BMW  Edge,  Federation  Square  on  14   December  in  a  special  concert  to  raise  funds  for  an  ANZAC  memorial  in  Crete.  A  leading  local  Indigenous   act  is  also  being  lined  up  to  play.
The  concert  is  an  initiative  of  the  PanCretan  Associaton  of  Melbourne  and  promises  to  be  an  enthralling   night  of  music  and  rich  cross-­‐cultural  celebration.
The  42nd  Street  memorial  is  the  brainchild  of  Glenda  Humes  -­‐  the  eldest  daughter  of  Victorian  Aboriginal   ANZAC  Reg  Saunders  MBE  who  fought  in  the  Battle  of  Crete  with  the  Australian  2/7th  Battalion  and  was   hidden  from  the  Nazis  by  villagers  after  Crete’s  occupation.

42nd  Street  was  the  Diggers’  name  for  a  road  near  Chania,  Crete  during  WWII.  The  site  was  where  an   important  battle  took  place  between  German  and  Anzac  troops  on  27  May  1941.  Saunders  took  part  in  the   battle  along  with  other  mainly  Victorian  soldiers  and  NZ  Maori  units.

What  became  known  as  ‘the  charge  at  42nd  Street’  saw  the  Anzacs  push  the  Nazis  into  retreat;  one  of  the   few  occasions  during  the  Battle  of  Crete  where  the  occupiers  were  forced  backwards  -­‐  buying  time  for   other  British  Commonwealth  troops  to  evacuate  from  Crete’s  south  coast.  The  site  has  been  totally   unmarked  for  over  70  years.

Cretan  authorites  have  given  their  backing  to  the  project  though  because  of  the  Greek  economic  crisis,  are   unlikely  to  offer  funding.  The  bronze  memorial  plaque  will  be  produced  in  Australia.  Organisers  have   targeted  the  raising  of  $28,0000  to  cover  all  production,  shipping  and  installation  costs.

John  Rerakis,  Vice  President  of  the  PanCretan  Association  of  Melbourne  said  that  the  Association  is   delighted  to  offer  its  support  to  the  project.

“We’re  very  grateful  to  Yiorgos  and  his  world-­‐famous  Ensemble  for  suppor3ng  this  ini3a3ve.  It  promises   to  be  a  very  special  night,”  said  Mr  Rerakis.

“We’re  also  grateful  to  the  family  of  Reg  Saunders,  and  Reg’s  eldest  daughter  Glenda  for  geUng  the  42nd   Street  memorial  project  up  and  running.

“It’s  an  important  cause.  The  concert  is  going  to  help  mark  a  crucial  part  of  the  ANZAC  story  in  Greece   for  future  generations.”

Earlier  this  year  Glenda  Humes,  President  of  the  42nd  Street  Memorial  Trust  established  a  trust  to  manage   the  project.

Glenda  Humes  said:

“This  is  a  tremendous  show  of  support  from  the  Cretan  and  Greek  community  in   Victoria  and  I  want  to  thank  the  artists,  sponsors  and  Fed  Square  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart  for  coming   together  to  make  this  happen.
“It’s  going  to  be  a  wonderful  night.  Funds  raised  from  this  concert  will  make  a  huge  difference  to  our   campaign  to  have  42nd  Street  finally  marked  for  posterity.”

The  Xylouris  Ensemble  was  conceived  in  the  early  1990s  in  Melbourne  and  released  five  albums  over  a  ten   year  period,  two  of  them  ARIA-­‐nominated.    The  last  decade  has  witnessed    a  new  spurt  of  growth  in  the   Ensemble’s  life,  with  old  hands  being  joined  by  a  new  generation  of  musicians  -­‐  children  of  the  original   members.

All  media  enquiries:  John  Rerakis  0402  211110      Mike  Sweet    0401  553787

More about the battle here