Masterclass 2004 Chairman, Eugenia Mitrakas, addressing the Conference.

The Greek Conference, chaired by well-known Melbourne lawyer held a major Australian event last weekend at Melbourne's historic Windsor Hotel.

Under the heading "Masterclass 2004", after an introduction from the Greek Consul General in Melbourne, Eleftherios Kouvaritakis, a high profile panel addressed issues on equal opportunity, with important contributions from Chief Justice Diana Bryant of the Family Court of Australia and from The Hon Rob Hulls MP, the Victorian Attorney-General.

"We had a strong profile of academics, lawyers, doctors and policy administrators from both Victoria and interstate present", said Miss Mitrakas, "and there was a very interesting panel debate, which included Professor Panos Ioannou from the Royal Children's Hospital and Dr Nick Lolatgis from Monash".

"I was delighted with the participation and the support we received", she said, commenting that apart from professional support, active sponsorship from the National Bank of Greece, the National Australia Bank and from Panos Margaritis at Parthenon Marble.

Masterclass 2004 concluded with a gala dinner at the Windsor's Grand Ballroom, at which Miss Mitrakas presented a substantial donation to Professor Panos Ioannou of the Royal Children's Hospital, for their Gene & Cell Therapy Unit's research work into the causes of thalassaemia.

"The Greek Conference is a not-for-profit organization and we are delighted to be supporting the Hospital in their research activities", said Miss Mitrakas, who concluded, "We will be meeting again in September 2005, this time in Mykonos, and I do hope that the event next September will also result in a significant contribution towards the Hospital's important work".