“Historical Walks” journeys to the other side of the world, to Australia, to explore the migration of Greeks – a phenomenon with its own distinctive traits, quite different from the Greek experience in America, Germany, or Belgium. We look at when it began, the reasons behind it, and why Australia remains home to some of the largest Greek communities outside Greece.
Guiding us through this journey is historian and author Kostas Katsapis, who teaches Cultural History of Postwar Greece at Panteion University and Public History at the Hellenic Open University. In his books “Αυστραλία, 10 Ιστορίες” (Australia: 10 Stories) and “Αυστραλία. Η Επιστροφή” (Australia: The Return), he blends history with literature, illuminating the paths of migrants and the ways exile shapes experiences and emotions—even within the same family.
The tribute of “Historical Walks” to the Greeks of Australia will unfold across three episodes; In Part I, we turn back to the 19th century, to the early days of migration, to discover how the Australian state was formed and how the first Greeks found their way there. The broadcast is enriched with migration songs from Greece, along with music from Australia of the time, evoking the atmosphere and experiences of those whose stories are shared.
Produced and presented by Marilena Katsimi