Why Greek guards with pom-pom shoes and skirts are in Australia

Guards, also known as 'Evzones' or 'Tsoliades', are touring major cities in Australia.<br /><br />The Hellenic Presidential Guard have visited Parliament House, The Australian War Memorial, Sydney's Martin Place and many other community events. The Prime Minister also attended one of them. <br><br><br>The Greek delegation are here to mark 'Oxi Day' commemorations and a series of cultural events celebrating the bond between Greece and Australia. Oxi Day means 'No Day', the moment the PM at the time rejected an ultimatum from Italian dictator Benito Mussolini demanding the occupation of strategic Greek territories. Greeks flooded the streets and chanted 'No'. <br><br><br><br>Winston Churchilll later praised the Greek resistance during World War Two saying "Hence, we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks."<br><br><br><br>In this episode:<br><br><ul><li>Their unique uniform and duties explained</li><li>The rhythmic sounds of their iconic marching</li><li>What the visit means to Greek Australians</li></ul>SBS News in Depth is a news analysis podcast from SBS, going behind the headlines with reporting and interviews on the stories shaping Australia and the world.<br><br><br><br>Listen to more episodes of <u>SBS News in Depth</u>, and follow the show on the <u>SBS Audio app</u>, <u>Apple Podcasts</u>, <u>Spotify</u> or wherever you get your podcasts.<br><br><br><br>For the latest news from Australia and around the world, visit <u>SBS News</u> and follow us on <u>YouTube</u>, <u>TikTok</u>, <u>Instagram</u>, <u>Facebook</u> and <u>X</u>.