With more than 200,000 persons of Greek origin, Melbourne has one of the largest, and also one of the most vibrant, Greek migrant communities in the world. This book examines in a unique manner the activities and contributions of the Greek community in Melbourne in many different areas. It includes interviews with 100 influential Greek-Australians – from the Greek Orthodox Archbishop and politicians to distinguished business people, professionals, artists, academics, writers and leading sports personalities. It discusses their background, achievements, attitudes, hopes and fears. Many others who have contributed to the evolution of the Greek community are also mentioned. The book concludes with an examination of current trends and an overall assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the Greek community in Melbourne. (back cover)



CONTENTS:

Contents page v. Foreword vii.

Chapter 1: General outline of modern Greek history p1. Independence of Greece; The monarchy p1. Reforms of Prime Minister Trikoupis, economic woes and emigration p2. Eleftherios Venizelos; The Balkan wars p3. Acquisition of territory; World War One p4. Paris Peace Conference; The inter-war years p5. Prime Minister Metaxas p7. World War Two p8. Civil War p9. Reconstruction p10. The 1967 coup p12. The Karamanlis regime p14. The rise of PASOK and Andreas Papandreou p15. Mitsotakis and Papandreou’s final act p16. References p18.

Chapter 2: Greek settlement in Australia and in Melbourne p19. Greek settlement to World War One p19. World War One and Greek loyalty p22. Settlement from 1916 to early 1950s p23. Greek immigration from 1952 to the early 1970s: the great leap forward p25. From monoculturalism to multiculturalism p28. Reverse migration p31. References p34.

Chapter 3: The Greek Consulate in Melbourne p35. Profiles: George Veis, Consul-General p36. Eleftheria Giannakou, Consul; Polyxeni Petropoulou, Consul (until January 1996) p38. Babbis Gianakopoulos, Head of Information Office; References p39.

Chapter 4: The Greek Orthodox Church p40. Profiles: Stylianos Harkianakis, Archbishop and Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia p44. Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis, Bishop in Melbourne and Assistant Bishop to Archbishop p45. Father Nicholas Moutafis, Rector of the Greek Orthodox Community, Oakleigh and district p46. References p47.

Chapter 5: Greek welfare and community organisations p49. Profiles: Con Constantinou, President of the Australian Greek Society for Care of the Elderly and medical practitioner p55. George Fountas, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria p57. Areti Gavrilidis, Administrator and General Manager of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Association p58. Peter Jasonides, President, Pan Macedonian Associations p60. Voula Messimeri-Kianidis, Executive Director, Australian Greek Welfare Society p61. Alex Panagiotidis, President of the Pontian Association and solicitor p62. Aggie Polygenis, Coordinator for AGAPI Respite Care Centre p64. References p65.

Chapter 6: Parliament, government and the judiciary p68. Profiles: Alex Adrianopoulos MLA, Labor member of the Legislative Assembly for Mill Park, Victorian Parliament p70. Demetri Dollis MLA, Victorian Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Planning and Major Projects p72. Petro Georgiou MHR, Member of House of Representatives (Liberal) for Kooyong p73. John Pandazopoulos MLA, Member for Dandenong in the Victorian Parliament, Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation, Consumer Affairs p75. Nicholas Papas, former Chief Magistrate, barrister and legal commentator p78. Andrew Theophanous MHR, Member of House of Representative (Labor) for Calwell p79. Maria Vamvakinou, Electorate Officer for Victorian Senator in federal parliament p81. References p82.

Chapter 7: The business community p83. Profiles: Stella Axarlis, Managing Director of Bilcon Engineering Pty Ltd and internationally acclaimed soprano p88. George Camakaris, project consultant p90. Spiro Condos, Director, Communications Networks International p92. Frank Cox, film distributor and exhibitor p93. Zissis Dardalis, businessman and philanthropist p95. Manny Galanos, Director, Melbourne Property Services Pty Ltd p96. George Kotses, General Manager of Southern Motors Pty Ltd and sponsor of various clubs and associations p97. Elly Lukas, founder, Elly Lukas Beauty Therapy Modelling and Deportment College p98. John Manterakis, banker p100. Nick Meletis, home builder and Director of Grandville Homes Pty Ltd p101. Dennis Milonas, importer of Greek books p102. Dennis Paphitis, producer and exporter of alternative cosmetic products p103. Aggelos Sardelis, partner in A & J Motors, Electrical and Body Works Pty Ltd, philanthropist and founding member of ENOSY p105. Christos Saristavros, founder of Poseidon and Black Swan Dips p106. Michael Spartels, property developer and investor p107. Spiro Stamoulis, entrepreneur and media proprietor p108. Agape Stratigis, Marketing Manager, Glaxo Wellcome p110. John Thomas, Director of Foodlife Services Australia and President of the Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry p111. Tony Toumbourou, Managing Director, Travellers Apparel, and fund raiser p113. Victoria Triantafyllou, fashion designer p115. Teena Varigos, fashion designer p116. Ellen Walker, fashion designer p118. References p119.

Chapter 8: The professions p121. Profiles: Anthy Akritidis, architect p122. Chris Dolkas, solicitor and entrepreneur p124. Jim Economo, school principal p125. Nicholas Grambas, major projects lawyer p126. Con Heliotis QC, barrister p128. Sam Karanikolopoulos, accountant p130. Nonda Katsalidis, architect p131. Steven Klimidis, clinical psychologist p133. Monica Lazongas, organisational psychologist p134. Nicholas Lolatgis, obstetrician and gynaecologist p135. Eugenia Mitrakas, solicitor and Chairperson of Greek / Australian International Legal and Medical Conference p137. Stella Moraitis, barrister p140. Despina Mouratides, psychiatrist p141. Dimitrios Paikopoulos, civil engineer p142. Terry Paule, financial and management consultant p144. Elias Rallis, barrister and Chairman of the Antipodes Festival p145. James Tatoulis, heart surgeon p146. Theana Thompson, solicitor p147. Peter Zaparas, solicitor p149. References p150.

Chapter 9: Greek media and journalists p152. Profiles: Tricia Drivas, Editorial Assistant (Finance), Herald Sun p155. Rena Frangioudakis, broadcaster and journalist p156. Dimitri Gogos, founding member and General Editor of Neos Kosmos p157. Vivienne Morris, journalist and President of Greek-Australian Cultural League of Melbourne p159. Christos Mourikis, magazine publisher p161. Peter Souvatzis, General Manager of Ta Nea and 3XY p162. Parthena Stavropoulos, court reporter p164. Sakis Zafiropoulos, Manager, SBS Radio p165. References p166.

Chapter 10: Writers and academics p167. Profiles: Stathis Gauntlett, Associate Professor and Head of Department of Language Studies, Melbourne University p169. Ioanna Laikakou, writer and Secretary of the Greek Writers’ Association p171. Helen Nickas, university lecturer, publisher and writer p172. Nikos Nomikos, poet and ink drawer p173. George Papadopoulos, lecturer and former Chairman of the Victorian Ethnic Affairs Commission p174. Aristidis Paradissis, writer and former university lecturer, La Trobe University p176. Efstathios Raftopoulos MBE, oral poet and pioneer of Greek films in Australia p178. Anastasios Tamis, writer and senior lecturer, Department of Hellenic Studies, La Trobe University p180. Koula Teo, writer p182. Dimitris Tsaloumas, poet p183. Hermione Vassiliou, writer p184. References p186.

Chapter 11: The Greek festivals, the stage, music and art p187. Profiles: Anastasia Bekos, naïve painter p190. Irini Cassimatis, opera singer p191. Mary Coustas, actress p193. Elizabeth Exintaris, music composer p195. Tassos Ioannides, music composer and Managing Director of The Facility Pty Ltd p196. Barbara Karanicolas, administrator in cultural affairs and part-time theatre director and author p197. Paul Laspagis, painter p199. Diane Mantzaris, computer artist p200. Niko Mourtzakis, painter and art lecturer at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology p202. Arhonda Papadopoulos-Orestia, sculptor p203. Irini Pappas, actress p205. Anthie Sidiropoulos, singer p207. Nikos Skiadopoulos, stage director and actor p209. Kostas Tsikaderis, composer, guitarist, singer p211. Irene Vela, composer p213. Katherine Vlassopoulos, dancer p214. Toula Yannis, actress p216. References p217.

Chapter 12: The world of sport p218. Profiles: Ang Christou, Carlton Football Club, half-back and utility player p219. Arthur Euriniadis, Chief Executive Officer of Collingwood Warriors Soccer Club p220. Yiannis Kouros, world record holder for super-marathons p221. Anthony Koutoufides, Carlton Football Club, wing and utility player p223. George Vasilopoulos, President of South Melbourne Hellas Soccer Club and bank manager p224. Lydia Zakkas, Australian taekwondo champion p225. References p227.

Chapter 13: Current trends in Melbourne’s Greek community p228. References p232.

Appendix 1: Other Greek Australians: a list of other Greek Australians living in Melbourne p233-300. Bibliography p301. Index p304.



ILLUSTRATIONS (selected):

The Greek Consul-General, George Veis, opening exhibition of Greek-Australian artist, Nikos Soulakis p24. Arrival of President Karamanlis in Melbourne p25. Greek-Australian being congratulated on his one hundredth birthday by former Federal Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, Senator Nick Bolkus, Dimitri Gogos, General Editor of Neos Kosmos, is on the left p54. Archbishop Stylianos Harkianakis, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia p56. Blessing of the waters (Bishop Ezekiel in the background) p56. Father Nicholas Moutafis, Rector of the Greek Orthodox community, Oakleigh and District p57. Piraeus, Greece p57. National Guard (from Athens) at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance p70. Petro Georgiou, Member of the House of Representatives, Australian Parliament p74. Nicholas Pappas p77. Demetri Dollis, Deputy Leader of the Victorian Opposition, with his son Yianni p77. Stella Axarlis in the role of The Marschallin, Princess von Werdenberg, in Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier p89. Tony Toumbourou at work p114. Eugenia Mitrakas, solicitor p139. James Tatoulis, cardiothoracic surgeon p146. A selection of Greek newspapers in Melbourne p154. Vivienne Morris and former Prime Minister, Bob Hawke p159. Sakis Zafiropoulos, Lord Mayor of Fitzroy, 1992-3 p166. Anastasios Tamis receiving a contribution from Zissis Dardalis at the opening of the Department of Hellenic Studies, La Trobe University p181. Dimitris Tsaloumas p183. Gough Whitlam, former Prime Minister of Australia; Jeff Kennett, Premier of Victoria; George Fountas, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, and Elias Rallis, Chairman of the Antipodes Festival p184. The faithful attending a lecture at the Archdiocesan Church of Saint Efstathios p184. Stathis Raftopoulos p185. Anthony Koutoufides taking a mark for Carlton p185. Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke enjoying Greek dancing p189. Irini Cassimatis p191. Mary Coustas playing the role of ‘Sapphire’ in ‘Wogarama’ p194. Diane Mantzaris p200. Diane Mantzaris’ ‘Every girl’s dream (a Western wedding)’, computer-generated lithograph, 1988 p201. Arhonda Papadopoulos-Orestia in a performance of ‘The wedding dress’ p204. Folklore dancing p208. Scene from Euripides’ ‘Bacchae’ p209. Kostas Tsikaderis p212. Mark Phillippoussis is jubilant after defeating top seed Pete Sampras in the Australian Open Tennis Championship, Melbourne, 20 January 1996 p216. Christella Demetrious’s ‘Alfonsina’s walk’ (painting) p217. ‘Landscape’ (painting) by Paul Laspagis p217. Yiannis Kouros p222. South Melbourne Hellas Soccer Club p224.



NAMES from the index in alphabetical order by surname:

Spiro Agnew. Anthy Akritidas. Field Marshall Alexander. Alexander, King of Greece. Ali Pasha. Queen Amalia of Oldenburgh. Alex Andrianopoulos. Andreas Andrianopoulos. Yasser Arafat. Evangelos Averoff. Stella Axarlis. Antonios Baxevanidis. Anastasia Bekos. Captain Bellingshausen. Nikolaos Betines. Nick Bolkus. Ghikas Boulgaris. Angelo Bouzis. John Brumby. Maria Callas. George Camakaris. Irini Cassimatis. Ang Christou. Christopher Chronis. Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos. Spiro Condos. Crown Prince Constantine, subsequently Constantine I of the Hellenes. Constantine II, King of the Hellenes. Conn Consantinou. George Constantis. Peter Costello. Mary Coustas. Frank Cox. Robert Curtain. Despena Dalmaris. Archbishop Damaskinos. Zissis Dardalis. Thodoros Deliyannis. Konstantinos Demertzis. Christella Demetriou. Georgios Doikos. Chris Dolkas. Demetri Dollis. Samuel Donnes. Tricia Drivas. Jim Economo. Nikolaos Emellen. Arthur Euriniadis. Gareth Evans. Elizabeth Exintaris. Ezekiel, Bishop of Dervis. Athina Florence. George Fountas. Rena Frangioudakis. Malcolm Fraser. Manny Galanos. Stathis Gauntlett. Areti Gavrilidis. George I, King of Hellenes. George II, King of Hellenes. Petro Georgiou. Gerassimos, Patriarch of Jerusalem. Babbis Gianakopoulos. Eleftheria Giannakou. Nick Giannopoulos. Peter Gogorosis. Dimitri Gogos. Dimitrios Gounaris. Nicholas Grambas. Al Grassby. General Georgios Hadzianestis. Archbishop Stylianos Harkianakis. Bob Hawke. Con Heliotis. John Hewson. Brian Howe. Rev Antonios Imanatidis. Tassos Ioannides. Brigadier Dimitrios Ioannidis. Peter Jasonides. Costa Kallergis. George Kanarakis. Panayiotis Kanellopoulos. Father Athanasios Kantopoulos. Konstantinos Karamanlis. Barbara Karanicolas. Sam Karanikolopoulos. Archimandrite Eirineos Kassimatis. Nonda Katsalidis. Peter Katsambanis. Paul Keating. Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk). Jeff Kennett. Nick Kenos. John Kerr. Steven Klimidis. Christophoros Knitis. Konstantinos Kollias. General Georgios Kondilis. Nick Kongas. Alexandros Koryzis. George Kotses. Nicholas Koubos. Admiral Pavlos Koundouriotis. Yiannis Kouros. Andreas Kourouklis. Anthony Koutoufides. Nikos Kypraios. Spyro Kyriakatis. Constantinos Kyriazopoulos. Emilios Kyrou. Ioanna Laikakou. Paul Laspagis. Monica Lazongas. Andreas Lekatsas. Antonios Lekatsas (A.J. Lucas). Dimitra Liani. Nicholas Lolatgis. Stan Longinidis. Antonios Lucas (formerly Antonios Lekatsas). Ludwig I, King of Bavaria. Elly Lukas. Sultan Mahmud II. Colonel Nikolaos Makarezos. Archbishop Makarios. Spiro Mandylas. Alexander Maniakis. Adonis Manolis. John Manterakis. Diane Mantzaris. Grigorios Matorikos. Nicholas Matsis. Dionysios Mavrokefalos (Dennis Black). Nick Meletis. Robert Menzies. Voula Messimeri-Kianidis. Costa Metaxas. Ioannis Metaxas. Dennis Milonas. Eugenia Mitrakas. Konstantinos Mitsotakis. Spiro Moraitis. Stella Moraitis. Vivienne Morris. Despina Mouratides. Christos Mourikis. Niko Mourtzakis. Nicholas Moutafis. Helen Nickas. Andreas Nikolaides. Nikos Nomikos. Otto of Wittelsbach, King of Greece. Dimitrios Paikopoulos. General Theodoros Pangalos. Alex Panagiotidis. John Pandazopoulos. George Papadopoulos. Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos. Arhonda Papadopoulos-Orestia. General Alexandros Papagos. Andreas Papandreou. Georgios Papandreou. Nicholas Papas. Dennis Paphitis. Andrew Pappas. Irini Pappas. Aristidis Paradissis. Ioannis Paraskevopoulos. Brigadier Stylianos Pattakos. Paul, King of the Hellenes. Terry Paule. Andrew Peacock. John Peters. Costa Petridis. Polyxeni Petropoulou. Mark Phillippoussis. Nikolaos Plastiras. Nick Polites. Thomas Polites. Aggie Polygenis. Jim Racovolis. Efstathios Raftopoulos. Raftopoulos family. Elias Rallis. Georgios Rallis. Tony Roussos. Peter Sampras. Aggelos Sardelis. Christos Saristavros. Christos Sartzetakis. Anthie Sidiropoulos. Theo Sidiropoulos. Kostas Simitis. Theodore Simos. Nikos Skiadopoulos. Themistoklis Sophoulis. Nikos Soulakis. Peter Souvatzis. Michael Spartels. Tony Staley. Spiro Stamoulis. Nick Stamoulas-Karlas. Parthena Stavropoulos. Stephanos Stephanopoulos. Agape Stratigis. Joan Sutherland. Anastasios Tamis. Nadia Tass. Jack Tatoulis. James Tatoulis. Koula Teo. Nick Tetoros. Mikis Theodorakis. Andrew Theophanous. Theo Theophanous. John Thomas. Theana Thompson. Nick Thyssen. Tony Toumbourou. Victoria Triantafyllou. Kharileos Trikoupis. Pierre Trudeau. Dino Tsaldaris. Panayis Tsaldaris. Dimitris Tsaloumas. Konstantinos Tsatsos. Kostas Tsikaderis. Akis Tsochatzopoulos. General Georgios Tsolakoglou. Emmanouil Tsouderos. Markos Vafiades. Maria Vamvakinou. Teena Varigos. George Vasilopoulos. Hermione Vassiliou. George Veis. Irene Vela. Eliftherios Venizelos. Katherine Vlassopoulos. Ludwig Von Armansperg. Herbert Von Karajan. Ellen Walker. Arthur Were. Gough Whitlam. Charlie Yankos. Toula Yannis. Mick Young. Sakis Zafiropoulos. Chryssoula Zakkas. Lydia Zakkas. Peter Zaparas. General Napoleon Zervas. Konstantinos Zographinos. General Georgios Zoitakis. Alex Zotos.



FULL INDEX available on library computers: Electronic resources \ Indexes \ Greeks



PLACENAMES, INSTITUTIONS, etc. from the index:

Treaty of Adrianople (1829). Agapi Respite Care Centre / House. Alliance Francaise. Alphington Grammar School. American Revolution. Anglican Church / clergy. Antipodes Festival. Archdiocesan Church of St Efstathios. Arts Council. Aspida conspiracy. Assisted passage. Athens Polytechnic. Australian Embassy, Athens. Australian Greek Association for People with Disabilities. Australian Green Society for Care of the Elderly. Australian Greek Welfare Society. Australian Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA). ‘Bacchae’ (Euripides). ‘Balkan Entente’. Balkan Wars. Treaty of Berlin (1878). Bonegilla Reception Centre. Brotherhoods. Central Powers. Centre Union Party (Greek). Chain migration. Civil War (Greek). Clergy-Laity Congress. Collingwood Warriors Soccer Club. Council of Europe. Coup d’etat (Greece, 1967). Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria. Democratic Army (Greek). Democratic Socialist Party (Greek). Dodecanese. Eastern Orthodox Church. ‘Enosis’. ENOSY. Entente powers, France, Britain and Russia. Epirotic Philanthropic Society ‘Dodoni’. Ethnic radio. European Union. Church of Evangelismos. Federation of Cypriot Communities of Australia. Federation of Greek Communities of Melbourne and Victoria. Ferry Report. Fraser Government. French Revolution. Galbally Report. Global Cultural Diversity Conference. Goethe Institute. Gold Rush. Gorgopotamos viaduct. Great Idea (Megali Idea). Greece, independence. Greek-Australian Cultural Association. Greek-Australian Cultural League of Melbourne. Greek-Australian International Legal and Medical Conference. Greek-Australian Progressive Association (Athens). Greek-Australian Society (Athens). Greek bride ships. Greek Consulate / Consulate-General. Greek Cultural Society. Greek Embassy (Canberra). Greek Festival Week. Greek Organisations of Young Australians (GOYA). Greek Orthodox Church / religion. Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria. Greek Orthodox Community of Oakleigh. Greek Orthodox schools. Greek population (Melbourne). Greek Professionals Association. Greek Rally (Ellinikos Synagermos). Greek Women’s Cultural Association. Hawke Government. Hellenic Association. Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI). Hellenic Business Forum. Hellenic Distinctions. Hellenic Youth Federation. Howard Government. Ilios Trio. Immigration, Australian policy. Ithacan Philanthropic Society. Jewish (Jews). Kastellorizan Society. Keating Government. Treaty of Lausanne (1923). League of Greeks from Egypt and the Middle East (EEAMA). Lebanese Orthodox communities. Lemnian Community of Victoria Ltd. Liberal Party (Greek). Treaty of London (1827). Treaty of London (1913). Lucas Café. Monoculturalism (assimilation). Multiculturalism. National Liberation Front (EAM). National Radical Union. National Republican Greek League (EDES). National Union of Greek Australian Students (NUGAS). Nauplia. Battle of Navarino. Neophytes exhibitions. Neos Kosmos (newspaper). Treaty of Neuilly (1919). New Democracy Party (Greek). North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Occupation of Greece. Ottoman Empire. Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). Pallakonian Brotherhood of Melbourne and Victoria. Pammessinian Brotherhood ‘Papaflessas’. Pan Arcadian Association of Melbourne and Victoria. Pan Cretan Society of Melbourne and Victoria. Pan Dodecanisian Federation of Melbourne and Victoria. Pan Epirotic Federation of Australia. Pan-Hellenic organisations (Melbourne). Panhellenic Federation of Greek-Australian Associations and Societies (Athens). Panhellenic Liberation Movement (PAK). Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK). Pan Lesvian Union of Melbourne and Victoria. Pan Macedonian Associations. Pan Pontian Community of Melbourne and Victoria. Pan Samian Brotherhood of Pythagora. Paris Peace Conference. Patriarchate of Constantinople. Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Peace Treaty, 1947. Peoples National Army of Liberation (ELAS). Peoples Party (Greek). Pontian Association. Racial Vilification Act. Rebetika songs. Reverse migration. Treaty of Sevres (1919). Smyrna, massacre in (1922). South Melbourne Hellas Soccer Club. Special Broadcasting Service (SBS). St John’s Greek Orthodox College, Preston. Sts Anargyri, Oakleigh Greek Orthodox Church. Syrian Orthodox Church. Syrian Orthodox communities. Ta Nea (newspaper). ‘The Habibis’. Trial of the Six. Truman Doctrine. Varkiza Conference (1945). Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit. Vienna Café. Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Welfare, Greek. White Australia Policy. World War One. World War Two. Zurich Agreement (1959).