What is the collective noun for dolmades? A munch? A plate? A roll?

This was the question circulating Darwin's Greek community hall as grandmothers, mothers, wives and sisters filed in to start preparing dolmades for the city's annual Glenti Festival.

Thousands of grapevine leaves were handwashed and mince was mixed with spices before 50 sets of hands began rolling the traditional savoury treat.

Vakina Poniris orchestrated the ceremony and said this was her 11th year supporting the event, which helps raise funds for children's charity Give Me 5 For Kids.

Ms Thorbjornsen often describes dolmades as "Greek sushi". ( ABC News: Gabrielle Lyons )

"Our volunteers who come to roll never let us down; they finish their church service then walk into the community hall, tie on their apron and get started rolling," she said.

"We get up to 70 or 100 women who come in to help us out. They're incredibly passionate about our Greek heritage.

"By the time the festival kicks off, we will have half a tonne of meat dolmades and around 100 kilos of vegetarian options — it's a lot of preparation work, but also a great opportunity for all of us to gossip."

This is how we roll

Elleni Thorbjornsen, who describes dolmades as "Greek sushi", said this was her first time attending the rolling ceremony.

"A lot of Greeks in Darwin call them a fila, not dolmades — you will hear that name used interchangeably, but the leaf itself is a filo leaf which comes from the grapevine," she said.

As soon as the church service ended, the women hurried into the hall to begin rolling. ( ABC News: Gabrielle Lyons )

The 26-year-old said she was likely the youngest person in the room, but that it was the older generations who held the most pride in their rolling expertise.

"It's these older women that have been here since the beginning of Greek immigrants and the beginning of the Glenti Greek festival," she said.

"They are so dedicated to come here and roll hundreds and thousands of dolmades. They have so much pride for their community and so much love in giving and cooking food for the community."

Ms Thorbjornsen said her family had been based in Darwin for three generations and that the Glenti festival demonstrated the strength of the Greek community in the Top End.

"The Greek wives of Darwin know food and they know how to share love — that's what the wrapping of the vines is all about."

Ms Gomatas says she hopes the younger generation will keep the festival going from strength to strength. ( Supplied: In The Lens Photography )

Athens of the north

Lillian Gomatos said she had planned to visit Darwin for six months back in 1967; she's now called the Top End home for more than 50 years.

It was the tightknit community and integrated cultures that influenced her to start the Glenti Festival.

"The community in Darwin is so welcoming and so open to all cultures — 52 years later and now I have grandchildren that call Darwin home too," she said.

"My committee in 1988 started the Glenti celebration. On that first festival we thought it would be a simple barbecue but 8,000 people attended.

"It has grown ever since and this year we are expecting nearly 50,000 visitors."

She said the festival was a prime example of the transient and exciting culture of Darwin.

"Yes, we want to share Greek culture, and yes, we want people to eat and smile, but what the support from greater Darwin truly shows is how open we are to all cultures and traditions.

"I am so incredibly proud of our Greek community and the city we call home."