The Greek Australian Cultural League launched George Athanasiou’s second poetry collection, “Tales of Light and Darkness” in front of a capacity crowd on Sunday 21st September, 2008, at the Pan- Arcadian Association of Melbourne and Victoria, in North Melbourne.
Dean Kalimniou introduced the book and spoke in-depth and analytically about all the messages and the symbols embodied in George’s latest work. Dean referred to the importance of the collection as a constant battle between light against the powers of darkness, whether these come in the form of narcotics, the destruction of our natural environment or the latest new age provocations. But what dominates the majority of the works is the essence of love that permeates throughout.
The crowd was treated to some poetry readings and a musical interlude featuring a selection of songs by some of Greece’s best known composers as performed by Anthea Sidiropoulos and George Athanasiou, as well as “The Lucky Country”, a poem that George had written in his previous poetry collection “An Observor’s Tales”, that Anthea has put to music. The author’s wife Monika lent her voice in Greek to one of the songs.
Cathy Alexopoulos, President of the Greek Australian Cultural League, was the master of ceremonies for the afternoon. Both Cathy and Dean praised Athanasiou for his voluntary work in the League and his work as an inspiring and aspiring writer.