Greek Australian Roxy Museum completes the Roxy masterpiece
Photograph, (left to right). Max Eastcott, General Manager, Gwydir Shire Council, Russell Magee, Convergence Associates, Boyce Pizzey, Convergence Associates, Jenni Klempfner, Convergence Associates, Peter Prineas, Museum Curator, The Roxy Greek Museum Committee, Leeah Daley, Deputy General Manager, Gwydir Shire Council, George Poulos, The Roxy Greek Museum Committee.
With less than one week until the opening of The Roxy Greek Museum, anticipation is building for the big reveal.
“There is certainly a buzz amongst the local community as well as the Greek community across Australia” said John Wearne, Roxy Greek Museum Committee Member. I think people are going to be absolutely amazed when they finally get a chance to see it, we knew the museum was going to be special, but it has exceeded our expectations” said Mr Wearne.
Made possible by a $94,000 grant from the New South Wales Ministry for Arts and several substantial donations from the Greek Australian Community, the museum will be officially opened on Saturday 5 April 2014 by Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales, with an opening as grand as the Roxy itself.
As part of the two-day event there will be guided tours of the museum, movie screenings in the beautiful Roxy theatre, talks by special guests and antique car displays.
The highlight of the weekend will be the Gala Dinner held on the Saturday evening. Bringing the glamour of the 1930s back to Bingara, the dinner will be an unforgettable evening of Greek feasting and fes¬tivity under the stars.
Guests will be invited to dance the night away to the live band Ha Va Le, one of the best Greek party bands performing in the country.
No Greek celebration would be complete without the smashing of plates, and the Gala Dinner will be no exception.
With only a few days to the opening of the Greek Museum, locals are urged to secure their tickets for the dinner to avoid disappointment.
The festivities continue on the Sunday with stalls and the launch of the Greek Immigration Olive grove which will be marked by a tree planting ceremony to be held on Cunningham Street near the Roxy Cafe. The olive trees will be planted in recognition of Greek Immigration to Australia.
Local community members and visitors will have the opportunity to pay tribute to a Greek family or friend who has made the journey to Australia by purchasing an olive tree for $100.00. Participants are then required to provide a name and a brief description about the family member or friend which will appear on the Greek Museum website, and a tree will then be planted in tribute.
The first tree planted as part of the launch will be dedicated to the three Greek men who built the Roxy Theatre in 1936 - Emanuel Aroney, Peter Feros and George Psaltis. Peter Prineas, the grandson of Peter Feros and also the Greek museum curator, will plant the tree in their honour. Six of the trees will be planted on Cunningham Street with the remainder to be planted at The Living Classroom.
The Roxy Museum is dedicated to the history of Greek settlement in rural Australia. It is envisioned the museum will become a place of national significance that conserves and protects the important cultural associations between people and place.
It will pay tribute to the remarkable legacy of the Greek cafe and cinema operators, ensuring the impact they made on the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of people is not forgotten.
“The Greek Australian commu¬nity is passionate about the Roxy because it is a living and working memorial to every Greek Australian who has migrated to Australia since 1817,” said George Poulos, Roxy Greek Museum Committee and Secretary of the Kytherian Association of Australia.
“Eventually it will become a place of pilgrimage for every Greek in Australia and inevitably the world” said George.
For more information or tickets to the event please call the Bingara Visitor Information Centre on (02) 6724 0066 or visit the Roxy website http://www.roxybingara.com.au/museum-opening/
