Tomorrow night Glen Alpine will come alive to the sound of traditional Greek music and the smashing of plates. Actually, there won’t be any smashing of plates in the Glen Alpine community hall where Macarthur Greeks Inc will be holding their Greek Taverna Night from 7pm.
But there will be plenty of traditional Greek music by a bouzouki band. And there certainly will be some smashing Greek dancing by a talented group based in south west Sydney.
Indeed the Glen Alpine Hall on the corner of Heritage Way and Englorie Drive will be transformed into a Greek style tavern for the evening.
The function has been sold out for some time.
Dinner will be served family style in the tradition of an authentic Greek tavern atmosphere and will include traditional appetizers, salad, Greek lamb and traditional desserts.
Immediately following dinner, those attending will be dazzled by the energetic music of a live Greek band and a dancing showcase of Greek modern and folk dances, including a theatre act.
Macarthur Greeks Inc was established late last year with the aim of nurturing an appreciation of Hellenic culture, language and cuisine in the Macarthur region.
It is also helping connect local residents of Greek background.
Macarthur Greeks Inc founder John Tsekas estimates that there are between 3,000 and 4,000 people of Greek background in the Macarthur region.
“We Greeks have some historic roots in this region, so we just need to reignite the flame of Greek culture, cuisine and language,’’ says Mr Tsekas.
The first Macarthur region Greek was Antonis Manolis, who was sent here as a convict after being arrested for piracy with a group of four other Greeks.
When they were pardoned, Manolis was the only one who decided not to return to Greece. He spent his remaining years in the Picton district and is buried in the town’s Old Anglican Cemetery, overlooking the fields he had cultivated for decades.
Tickets to the Glen Alpine Taverna Night were only available to members of Macarthur Greeks Inc and their families, as the Glen Alpine Hall has a limited capacity.
There are plans for similar functions later this year at bigger venues.
If you would like to know more about Macarthur Greeks Inc or wish to become a member, please visit their website.
