More than 200 people packed Oakleigh’s Apollo Room for a reimagined Greek tavern night celebrating two decades of Monash University’s Hellenic Students’ Society (MHSS), as a record turnout highlighted young Greek Australians’ enthusiasm for their cultural heritage.
Held on Friday, October 16, in collaboration with Caffé Greco Athenian Grill, Tavern Night Reimagined brought together students, young Greek Australians and their friends for an evening of Greek food, music, dancing and socialising.
Organisers had expected 160-180 attendees, but more than 200 turned out for what Co-President Andrew Nicolettou described as the society’s largest tavern night to date.
“It’s just great to bring all young demographic of Greek Australians into one place, to have a good night, to meet new people and to just make great memories,” he told Neos Kosmos.
The atmosphere was lively from the outset, with conversations, music and dancing filling the room. When the committee attempted to address the crowd, the noise and excitement made it difficult to get through the speeches, with organisers having to work to settle the room.
Even the raffle draw, which offered prizes including gift vouchers, dancing lessons and flights to the Gold Coast, struggled to quieten the crowd.
For MHSS, the turnout was more than a successful night out. It reflected growing interest in events that bring young people together through Greek culture.
“This is by far the largest tavern night that the club has had and it really just shows that there’s a great interest in events like this and it really just shows the strength of the Greek cultural community as a whole,” Nicolettou said.
He said other society events throughout the year had also exceeded attendance expectations and received positive feedback.
Bringing Greek culture to a new generation
Co-President Nicholas Koumides said the event was designed to welcome people with different levels of connection to Greek culture, rather than cater exclusively to those already familiar with its traditions.
Traditional Greek dancing remained central to the evening, while DJ Thomas Nico mixed Greek and English music to appeal to a broad audience. A bouzouki player also added a live musical element.
“I think that this event is quite open in terms of the level of Greekness that it allows for in the sense that we obviously have very traditional dancing,” he told Neos Kosmos.
“We have a lot of Greek Australians that maybe aren’t connected to the culture and are using this as a way of integrating themselves more in the Greek culture.”
The event also attracted non-Greek attendees through their friendships with students, reinforcing the society’s aim of making its activities accessible beyond the university’s Greek community.
“It’s not a closed off community. We’re very open to a lot of people,” Koumides said.
The approach reflects the society’s broader efforts to keep Greek culture relevant to younger generations, combining familiar traditions with new ideas and opportunities to participate.
Koumides described 2026 as a record-breaking year for the committee, which has introduced new events and reworked established ones — including the anniversary tavern night.
A year of growth for MHSS
Beyond its social events, the society has also focused on making Greek language learning more accessible.
Nicolettou said MHSS had introduced Greek language classes for students and others who wanted to learn the language, including those who regretted not learning it when they were younger.
The society has also subsidised class costs for members, reducing the financial barrier to participation.
“Monash Greek events as a whole have always had a really good kefi and I think that’s what’s brought people and it’s kept the numbers growing,” he said.
The classes form part of the committee’s broader effort to give members more opportunities to engage with their heritage beyond celebrations and social gatherings.
Social and Cultural Officer Elena Tsilimantou told Neos Kosmos the response to the anniversary event had exceeded her expectations.
“This night has honestly come to way better than I ever expected it to. We were expecting 180 attendees and we have received over 200. Honestly, it’s been such a great turn out,” she said.
Tsilimantou thanked those who attended, saying the strong response had made the work and nerves involved in organising the event worthwhile.
Marketing Officer Rafaella Nerouppos also credited the committee and its partnerships for the society’s achievements throughout the year, particularly its collaboration with the venue which supported both the tavern night and an earlier bar night.
“Our youth here in Victoria truly treasures their cultural heritage and their love celebrating it, and they come together as a community and they’re ready to celebrate it,” Nerouppos said.
As MHSS marks its 20th anniversary, the committee is preparing for its annual general meeting in late October, when a new executive committee will be elected for 2027.
The outgoing committee is encouraging Greek students at Monash to attend, sign up and become involved in the society’s future.
“It’s a great opportunity for anyone who wants to get involved in young Australian Greek culture,” Koumides said.
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