On Monday the 2^nd of September I was honoured to be invited to a state dinner at the Krystal Function Centre in Port Adelaide, in honour of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia.

The state dinner was attended by many dignitaries including: Steven Marshall the Premier of South Australia, the opposition leader Peter Malanauskas, Tom Koustantonis, Steve Georganas, the Governor of South Australia and his wife, the Archbishop of Adelaide, his eminence Nikandros and all the Priests from the South Australian parishes along with 350 invited guests.

My invitation came about as a result of my involvement with the Greek community of Berri. I was the inaugural female President of the community, I am the secretary of the Berri Greek Ladies Auxiliary and the Principal of the Berri Afternoon Greek School. The dinner was a meet and greet for his Eminence as he has just been appointed as the head of the Greek Orthodox Church of Australia due to the passing of the former head, his Eminence Stylianos. His Eminence is touring all of the Australian states to meet as many of his parishioners as he can.

Personally it was a once in a life time experience and I would like to take this opportunity firstly to thank the current committee for honouring me and asking me to attend and secondly to my principal Mat Evans for releasing me from my school duties so I could attend. By Athina Papametis