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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-07-22 Daily Xml
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IKARIA, ANNIVERSARY OF LIBERATION

Mr PISONI (Unley) (15:38): Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for your patience, and I also thank the member for Bright, in allowing me to speak very quickly on this issue. On Sunday 20 July 2008 I was honoured to be invited to attend the memorial of the 96th anniversary of Ikaria's liberation from the Ottoman Empire at Ikaros Hall in my electorate of Unley. The memorial speech was presented by Mr John Lesses, acting president of the Pan-Ikarian Brotherhood of Australia, on behalf of the president, Mr Leon Kalamboyias, and the administrative council.

The memorial marked the occasion of the 96th anniversary of Ikaria's liberation from the Ottoman Turks on 12 July 1912. The event also coincided with the Pan-Ikarian Association's golden jubilee celebrations (1958 to 2008), a celebration of 50 years' of contribution to the South Australian community.

Ikaria is a small, mountainous Greek island in the Aegean Sea which endured 400 years of occupation by the Ottoman Empire. Throughout this struggle the Ikarian people retained their long and proud Hellenic identity and culture. Given the absence of exploitable natural resources and natural ports to harbour trading ships, people of the island suffered economic hardship under Turkish rule.

The struggle for modern Greece's independence from the Ottoman Turks commenced on 25 March 1821. Throughout the 19th century the struggle extended from the Peloponnese to the island of Crete and to the mainland of Attica through to the northern most province of the present Macedonia and Thrace.

The major European powers of England, France and Italy gave covert support and fermented revolt in their own ambitions to dismember the Ottoman Empire. In particular, Italy intended to annex 12 islands of the Dodecanese, as well as Samos, Ikaria and the Corsair Islands. However, the Ikarians are renowned for their non-conformity and took care to choose a path best for Ikaria.

It was during the Northern Campaign of early 1912 when Greece was preoccupied in liberating northern Greece and Macedonia that Ikarians resolved to launch their own liberation struggle. The Greeks did not want to annex Ikaria because of the agreed carve up between the three great powers, in particular Italy.

The Ikarians expelled the Turks and initially demanded inclusion in the Greek state. When Greece refused, the Ikarians declared their own Independent Free State of Ikaria. With only a population of 8,500 on a island one-third the size of Kangaroo Island, they maintain their own monetary system and issue postage stamps. This well illustrates the independent and determined Ikarian spirit.

Noting the swift annexation of the Dodecanese Islands by Italy, they entered into negotiations with the Italians to forestall the likelihood of the Ottoman military forces returning, while Ikarian emissaries in Athens awaited the conclusion of hostilities on the Macedonian front to proceed with negotiating the island's annexation by Greece.

The single casualty of the revolt was George Spanos—who happens to be the grandfather-in-law of John Lesses. As part of the leadership group, George Spanos was going from village to village to summon the Ikarians to support the revolt, planned to occur on St Marina's Feast Day (17 July 1912). George Spanos's death serves to remind us all of the sacrifices made not only in the struggle for independence but also in defending the everyday freedoms we take for granted.

In November 1912 Greece finally annexed Ikaria. The 96th anniversary of Ikaria's liberation reminds us of the past sacrifices of many who have chosen to come to South Australia and become part of our multicultural family. From the early 1900s onwards, many young Ikarian men escaped the island's isolation and poverty by migrating to America, Africa, Germany and Australia. In fact, Adelaide has over 300 families who are descended from the Ikarians.

The Ikarian community in South Australia continues to be supported and encouraged to celebrate their cultural roots by grants from Multicultural SA and Unley council in my electorate. The Ikarian Association proudly carries the responsibility of maintaining its cultural identity for future descendants of Ikarian people and the wider community in South Australia.

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