The Greek flag will fly at CBCity in honor of OXI Day

Canterbury-Bankstown councilors have voted to fly the Greek flag in recognition of the annual OXI Day celebrations.

At last night’s Council meeting (Tuesday 22 October), councilors unanimously approved a notice of proposal to fly the flag in Bankstown, Campsie and Earlwood.

Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek said Greek culture was a significant part of the city’s rich diversity.

“We are fortunate to have so many different cultures to celebrate in CBCity and we will fly the Greek flag in honor of our wonderful Greek and Cypriot community,” said Mayor El Hayek.

“The Greek community has made a very big contribution to the development of the city. This is a community that thrives on hard work and a commitment to family, and boasts some of Australia’s leading entrepreneurs, business people and scientists.”

Celebrated every year, OXI Day (also called Ohi or Ochi) is also known as “No. Day”. The day commemorates General Ioannis Metaxas’ refusal to Italian leader Benito Mussolini to grant Italian troops free access to invade and occupy strategic areas of Greece during World War II. This ultimately led to Greece’s participation in the war on the Allied side.

OXI Day is a cherished national holiday celebrated annually on October 28th in Greece, Cyprus and ancestral communities around the world. On this day, streets and houses are decorated with the Greek flag, and communities watch parades and services.

Mayor El Hayek said Greek Australians made up the seventh largest ethnic group in the country, with more than 22,000 people calling Canterbury-Bankstown home.

Earlwood is home to over 7,000 residents of Greek descent and is one of the largest Greek communities in Australia.