Greece has donated €10,000 (about A$18,000) to the University of Sydney’s Department of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies, The Greek Herald reported.
The donation was announced on Wednesday by Greece’s deputy foreign minister for Greeks abroad, Yiannis Loverdos, during an event at the university’s Chau Chak Wing Museum attended by political officials, diplomats, academics and members of the Greek diaspora.
In his address, Loverdos described the donation as “a very small but heartfelt contribution” from the Greek state, symbolizing its appreciation for efforts in Australia to preserve the Greek language.
“I wish we could give you much more,” he said. “We want to see more chairs of Greek studies across Australia to ensure the Greek language continues to be taught and spoken. Greeks are not only the 10 million living in Greece, but the millions more around the world – especially here in Australia.”
Professor Vrasidas Karalis, chair of Modern Greek Studies at the University of Sydney, thanked the Greek government for the gesture, saying the contribution would directly support teaching and research in Greek language and culture.