Renee Coffey (Griffith, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last Wednesday Greek communities in Brisbane and around the world marked Greek Independence Day. In Griffith that day carries a particular resonance because the story of Greek migration, community and contribution is written into the life of our neighbourhoods. In South Brisbane, West End, High Gate Hill and surrounding suburbs, Greek families helped shape the character of this part of Brisbane, and that legacy remains part of who we are today. Greek Independence Day is a celebration of freedom, courage and national pride. It's a day to remember the revolutionaries who put their lives on the line for liberty. It's also a chance for us all in Australia to reflect on the deep bond between our countries and to celebrate the extraordinary contribution Greek Australians have made to our national story.

In Griffith, the contribution of Greek Australians is part of the fabric of everyday life. It is there in the community institutions built over generations, in family businesses created through hard work and persistence and in the culture, warmth and hospitality that has enriched our local neighbourhoods. Greek traditions have not only been preserved here, but also shared, celebrated and woven into the broader story of Brisbane. St George's Greek Orthodox Church stands as an enduring sign of that history, and the Greek Orthodox community of St George, established in 1929, remains the oldest Greek Orthodox community in south-east Queensland. Across the road from Musgrave Park in West End, the Greek Club continues to be one of those gathering places that tells a bigger story about belonging, continuity and community.

Of course, culture is carried forward in smaller, everyday ways as well. In Coorparoo, Baked by M&G is a beautiful and delicious example of that. Twin sisters Mel and Georgia have built an artisanal bakehouse around age old family recipes, baking fresh to order and sharing the flavours so many of us love from baklava to kourabiedes and much more. This story of this thriving bakery goes back to 1956, when Mel and Georgia's grandmother from Athens. Surviving the hardships of war, their grandmother taught the sisters some simple but heartwarming lessons: to never take good food for granted, cook with love and care and, most importantly, never leave a crumb sitting on their plates. After graduating from Loretto College, Mel and Georgia opened up Baked by M&G in honour of their grandmother, who sadly passed away in 2017—a truly beautiful story and one that fills my heart every time I drop into the store.

In West End, Kafenio Brisbane brings that same spirit in its own way. It is a small Greek and Cypriot cafe on Vulture Street full of warmth and welcoming faces. Petro has built something really special there, a place where people come to play tavli and cards, talking and slowly sipping ouzo. It's no wonder that people describe Kafenio as a place where you feel as though you're sitting in the back of a friend's house somewhere in the Greek isles.

And if you are in need of some dried fruits, olives, cheeses or, of course, fresh nuts, I cannot recommend Mick's Nuts on Hardgrave Road in West End enough. It was established in 1972, and it's barely changed since then. My family absolutely loves brothers George and Emmanuel and their family.

Paniyiri deserves a special mention because it's one of the clearest expressions of the Greek contribution to Brisbane's cultural life. The Paniyiri Festival is Queensland's longest running cultural festival and the largest Greek festival in Australia. In 2026 Paniyiri will celebrate its 50th anniversary, and organisers have told me that it will be their biggest and most spectacular celebration yet. What began in 1976 as a simple Sunday picnic in Musgrave Park has grown into one of Brisbane's most loved cultural festivals, bringing people together though the heart, soul and spirit of Greece and attracting up to 50,000 people each year. The Paniyiri Festival is also part of the rhythm of South Brisbane and West End. It's the smell of honey puffs and grilled food drifting through Musgrave Park. It's the children learning steps from generations before them. It's families returning year after year and neighbours from every background coming together to celebrate the heart, soul and spirit of Greece. I look forward to joining the Paniyiri Festival in May. My spirit, and if I'm being honest, my stomach can hardly wait for the joyful celebration of culture, community and extraordinary food. Tonight I want to say thank you to our Greek Australian community. On Greek Independence Day, we celebrate a great nation born in freedom. We honour those who fought so bravely for liberty and, really importantly, here in Australia we celebrate the ongoing contribution of Greek Australians to our great nation.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Efharisto, member for Griffith.