A bouzouki player, costumed dancers, traditional sweets and a festival atmosphere greeted the residents of Fronditha Care’s Hippocrates facility last week.
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The facility, which caters to culturally diverse elderly residents in the Newcastle area, celebrated OXI Day _ a commemorative day for Greeks around the world.
It marks the day the Greek government told the Italian forces a very firm "No!” (Oxi!), when they demanded Greece’s surrender during WWII.
The Hippocrates facility has around 15 Greek residents in its 66 strong cohort, who were very impressed with the spectacle.
Facility Manager Judith Cornish says the rich cultural activity program gives residents a chance to get a flavour of different cultures.
“It makes the residents from other cultural backgrounds extremely happy,” Ms Cornish says. “It’s written all over their faces. They love to participate in something that has lots of music, movement and colour.”
The facility is working on expanding its cultural activity program with a new activity team leader starting in November.
The activity program is also made possible by the generosity of volunteers in the community. The Greek community of Newcastle and the auxiliary played a hand in the OXI Day celebration, bringing in freshly baked traditional sweets and dressing up in traditional costumes.
In partnership with the Hippocrates Australian Greek Aged Persons Association, the Fronditha Care opened in 2011
For more information, visit frondithacare.org.au or call (02) 4016 4160 to organise a facility tour.