On the weekend of the 24-25 September 2011, a group of 53 Canberrans travelled to Dubbo by chartered bus to celebrate the special annual feast day of Panagia Myrtidiotissa .
En route to Dubbo the bus stopped at Cowra for a short interlude which included a visit to the Cowra Japanese Gardens. The visit to Cowra coincided with the town’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The town was awash with the colour of spring blossoms with many tourists descending on the town to enjoy a weekend retreat in the region.
Aside from its rich agricultural industry, Cowra is renowned for its World War 11 history, particularly, its Japanese prisoner of war camp. In August 1944, at least 545 Japanese prisoners of war attempted a mass breakout from the camp. During the breakout and subsequent recapture of the prisoners of war, four Australian guards and 231 Japanese died, and 108 prisoners were wounded.
Cowra’s Japanese Gardens have been established to honour the military personnel who were killed during the infamous Cowra breakout.
The gardens have been architecturally designed and prove a real delight to the senses. Picture perfect with five hectares of beautifully maintained grounds with expansive paths allowing for easy access for people of all ages made for a pleasurable encounter with all botanical things Japanese.
Following our arrival in Dubbo, the Old Dubbo Goal provided an insight into the dark days of misery that Australia’s colonial ancestors endured when placed in detention including solitary confinement for wrongdoing. Inside, the Goal gives a realistic and evocative portrayal of life in an early Australian prison and provides a stark reminder of the evolving differences between generational times.
The Dubbo Greek Community and Church welcomed us enthusiastically at the Saturday evening church service (esperino) followed by dinner in the Church hall and again on Sunday morning for church followed by lunch again in the church hall. The community went to great lengths to accommodate a large contingent of patrons from not only Canberra but from Sydney.
Many made the most of the opportunity to reconnect with family and friends and to honour the spirit of our sacred Panagia Myrtidiotissa.

The Committee of the Kytherian Brotherhood of Canberra and Districts