Evzones at the Australian War Memorial Honour War Dead

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Evzones at the Australian War Memorial Honour War Dead


CANBERRA, October 2026 — Evzones at the Australian War Memorial honoured the war dead of Australia, Greece and Cyprus on Wednesday 28 October, then marched to the Australian Hellenic Memorial on Anzac Parade.

Australians and Greeks gathered in their hundreds to watch the Evzones at the Australian War Memorial, a detachment of the Hellenic Presidential Guard. It was the Guard’s first official visit to Canberra, the Hellenic Club of Canberra said.

Stavros Venizelos, Greece’s ambassador to Australia, and Colonel Kyriakos Kyriakakos, the Greek military attaché, laid the first wreaths. Cyprus High Commissioner Haralambos Kafkarides and John Loukadellis, president of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, followed.

Two Evzones in white foustanella escorted by uniformed officers beside the Pool of Reflection at the Australian War Memorial
Evzones are escorted past the Pool of Reflection at the Australian War Memorial. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

“Warm congratulations to Ambassador Stavros Venizelos and Community President John Loukadellis for all the events on Tuesday and Wednesday marking National Day,” Kafkarides said.

Read more: Evzones Arrive in Sydney for OXI Day Celebrations and Canberra Visit

“The presence of the Evzones was a great honour, for the first time in the Australian capital city,” he said.

Greek Ambassador Stavros Venizelos and Colonel Kyriakos Kyriakakos carrying wreaths to the Tomb in the Hall of Memory, Australian War Memorial, as guests look on
Greek Ambassador Stavros Venizelos and Military Attaché Colonel Kyriakos Kyriakakos lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier in the Hall of Memory. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Kafkarides said Oxi Day carries particular meaning for Cyprus:

“For our Cyprus, the day the Hellenic people said OXI (NO) to fascism means a great deal because the people of Cyprus gave a great deal to the struggle for the freedom of all peoples. Thousands of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots fought on the side of the Allies, while hundreds lost their lives. Honour and glory to all our heroes in Greece and Cyprus during World War Two and during the resistance to the occupiers.”

Haralambos Kafkarides, High Commissioner of Cyprus

Two men bowing as a wreath of flowers is placed at the Tomb in the Hall of Memory, Australian War Memorial, with guests standing behind
Cyprus High Commissioner Haralambos Kafkarides and John Loukadellis, president of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, place a wreath at the Tomb. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Evzones at the Australian War Memorial

Their tsarouchia echoed off the stone walls as the Evzones marched past the Pool of Reflection and the Eternal Flame. Nearby, the Roll of Honour carries the names of more than 103,000 Australians who died in war service, among them Greek Australians.

Entering the Hall of Memory, the Evzones filed past the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier and stood guard beneath the dome, which resembles those of Orthodox churches.

In silence, the Guard and guests honoured the sacrifices of those who came before them.

Portrait view of Evzones standing in the Hall of Memory behind the Tomb, with fresh floral wreaths laid on the floor in the foreground
Floral tributes lie at the Tomb as the Evzones stand watch in the Hall of Memory. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

The Guard visited the Greek Embassy in Canberra on Tuesday and attended a reception at Parliament House earlier on Wednesday.

Video of the Evzones at the Australian War Memorial is below.

Evzones at the Australian War Memorial Honour War Dead
The traditional Evzone high-step in front of the Australian War Memorial’s dome. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis
Evzones in white foustanella standing in the foreground with flags flying and the view along Anzac Parade stretching away from the Australian War Memorial
Evzones on the terrace of the Australian War Memorial with flags and Anzac Parade behind. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Video: Greek City Times

Evzones in foustanella and red caps walking along a stone wall on the grounds of the Australian War Memorial, with flags and the Memorial building behind
Evzones walk the grounds of the Australian War Memorial. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis
Evzones in white foustanella walking on the lawn of the Australian War Memorial past uniformed officers and children watching
Visitors watch as the Evzones walk through the Australian War Memorial grounds. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Hellenic Memorial on Anzac Parade

A long line of Evzones, officials and uniformed personnel standing in front of the column at the Australian Hellenic Memorial
Officials and Evzones line up at the Australian Hellenic Memorial. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

The Presidential Guard then marched across the broad expanse outside the Australian War Memorial and over Anzac Parade to the Australian Hellenic Memorial.

Evzones in foustanella standing in a line on the stone paving in front of a tall column at the Australian Hellenic Memorial
Evzones stand in formation at the Australian Hellenic Memorial, Canberra. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Prime Minister Bob Hawke and Greek Deputy Prime Minister Yannis Haralambopoulos dedicated the memorial on 21 May 1988. Since then, it has served as the focal point of commemoration for Canberra’s Hellenic community.

Guests in suits and uniforms gathered on the stone plaza of the Australian Hellenic Memorial in front of cypress trees as Evzones stand to one side
Official guests gather on the plaza at the Australian Hellenic Memorial. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

The Guard stood at attention while those present sang the Greek national anthem, the Hymn to Liberty.

Greek Ambassador Stavros Venizelos speaks at the Australian Hellenic Memorial in Canberra
Greek Ambassador Stavros Venizelos speaks at the Australian Hellenic Memorial. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis
Group photograph of Evzones, Australian Defence Force personnel and guests in front of the column at the Australian Hellenic Memorial in Canberra
Group photo at the Australian Hellenic Memorial in Canberra. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis
A large group of Evzones, military personnel and community members posed in front of the column at the Australian Hellenic Memorial
The Evzones with Canberra’s community and guests at the Australian Hellenic Memorial. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis
Close portrait of an Evzone in foustanella and red cap with Australian Defence Force personnel in army and navy uniform speaking behind him at the Australian Hellenic Memorial
An Evzone with Australian Defence Force personnel at the Australian Hellenic Memorial. Photo: Nick Bourdaniotis

Video of the Guard at the Hellenic Memorial is below.

Video: Greek City Times

All photos are copyrighted by Nick Bourdaniotis for Greek City Times

Tags:
Anzac Parade, Athens, Australian Hellenic Memorial, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Cyprus High Commission, Evzones, Greece, Greece news, Greek Embassy in Canberra, Greek news, greek news now, greek news on demand, greek news today, Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, Haralambos Kafkarides, Hellenic Club of Canberra, Hellenic Memorial, Hellenic Presidential Guard, John Loukadellis, Kyriakos Kyriakakos, Nick Bourdaniotis, OXI day, OXI Day 2026, Presidential Guard, Stavros Venizelos

Nick Bourdaniotis

Director of Photography & Video / Writer

In 2016, Nick Bourdaniotis joined Greek City Times, as a photographer. His talent behind the lens was quickly recognised, and within a year, he became the Director of Photography and Videography. Nick also contributes articles to the events he covers for Greek City Times.

Nick is international recognized for exhibiting his collection of photographs featuring The Greek Presidential Guard (Evzones), in a photographic exhibition titled “The Evzones Collection by Nick Bourdaniotis” which are prominently displayed in the Presidential Palace and Head Quarters of the Presidential Guard (Evzones) in Athens Greece.








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