La Trobe University Secures Three-Year Funding Boost for Modern Greek Studies

La Trobe University’s Advanced Modern Greek programme has secured a three-year funding commitment from prominent Greek Australian benefactors Peter and Mary Mitrakas, helping safeguard the future of tertiary-level Greek language and cultural studies in Victoria.

The commitment follows efforts by the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), which pledged to underwrite the funding required to keep the programme operating at full capacity while also mobilising its membership and wider network to secure additional support.

The university recognised the contribution at a special morning tea attended by the Mitrakas family, La Trobe University leadership, representatives of the Greek Community of Melbourne and the Consul General of Greece in Victoria, Dimitra Georgantzoglou.

Professor Theo Farrell, Vice-Chancellor of La Trobe University, said the contribution would help protect a distinctive academic programme and ensure students could continue studying Greek language, history and culture at an advanced level.

Read more: Peter and Mary Mitrakas Fund La Trobe Advanced Greek Studies

“La Trobe is proud to be the only university in Victoria offering a comprehensive programme in Modern Greek Studies,” Professor Farrell said.

He described the support from the Greek Community of Melbourne and the Mitrakas family as an important contribution to the university’s future students.

Professor Farrell and Professor Matthew McGuire, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, also highlighted the importance of partnerships between universities and their local communities.

They said the collaboration demonstrated what could be achieved through meaningful relationships and expressed their commitment to further strengthening Greek Studies at La Trobe.

Mitrakas family continues its commitment to Greek language

Peter Mitrakas said he and his wife Mary were proud to commit funding to the Advanced Modern Greek programme for the next three years.

He described the university’s welcome as a great honour and said supporting the teaching and promotion of the Greek language was an important way of preserving Hellenic cultural heritage for future generations.

“The Vice-Chancellor placed significant importance on our donation, without which Modern Greek would have been significantly impacted and may have ceased altogether,” Mr Mitrakas said.

He also recalled becoming involved in fundraising for the Chair of Modern Greek at the University of Melbourne when he was just 14 years old.

According to Mr Mitrakas, Professor Farrell was particularly impressed by his early involvement in supporting Greek language education and the longstanding commitment demonstrated by members of the Greek Australian community.

He also thanked the Modern Greek students who attended the morning tea despite preparing for their examinations, saying their presence was particularly appreciated.

Greek Community of Melbourne plays key role

The Greek Community of Melbourne has been actively advocating for the continuation and expansion of tertiary-level Modern Greek studies, playing a significant role in connecting the Mitrakas family with La Trobe University.

GCM President Bill Papastergiadis thanked Peter and Mary Mitrakas for their generosity, highlighting that their commitment extended beyond the initial financial contribution.

Mr Papastergiadis revealed that the couple had also offered to participate in any subcommittee established to help prevent future funding difficulties for the programme.

“The Greek Community of Melbourne stands with the university to ensure the long-term viability of this programme and once again thanks Peter and Mary for stepping up to save it,” he said.

He added that benefactors such as the Mitrakas family played an important role in supporting the wider Greek Australian community.

The three-year commitment represents an important development for Modern Greek education in Victoria, reinforcing the role of community advocacy and private philanthropy in preserving opportunities for future generations to study the Greek language and explore their cultural heritage.

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