Loula Morris nee Sikiotis (Scotis) and her young son Jim attending a wedding at Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in East Melbourne.Early migrants to Australia, including Ithacans, often abbreviated or changed their surnames for ease of pronunciation and to better fit in. Many chose to simplify the spelling or otherwise alter their name to relate it more closely to the English language and pronunciation. One such example is the surname Sikiotis which some families changed to Scotis, Skiotis, Skotis, Siciotis, or anglicised to Scott.A black and white photograph of a lady and little boy standing near a doorway.

Photograph taken during visit by Melbourne Ithacans to Newcastle to catch up with family and friends. Gerry and Marigo Sikiotis have been identified. Newcastle has a strong Ithacan community.A black and white photograph of two ladies and two men standing in front of a car in an open area.

A family group photo outside Evangelismos Church in East Melbourne following the wedding ceremony of Spiro and Effie Cominos nee Raftopoulos in 1951. They are front from L-R: Aspasia Raftopoulos, Spiro and Effie Cominos, Nina Collins, Ioulia and George Raftopoulos (the bride's parents) and Gerasimos and Elly Galatis. Back L-R: Nick Sikiotis holding daughter Athena, Chrisoula Sikiotis, Oreanthi Raftopoulos and on the far right Chrisoula Raftopoulos.A black and white photograph of a wedding group with the bride and groom with family and friends taken outside a church. Information about the photograph has been written on the back.

Photographed from L-R Eleni Paliogiannis, Anthi Chilianis, Artemis Scotis (Sikiotis) at a restaurant whilst on a day trip to regional Victoria organised by the IPS. Events such as day trips and picnics were a very important means through which many Ithacans stayed connected. In particular, for the senior members, activities such as day trips were a welcome social outing. A coloured photograph of three ladies in a restaurant. Two ladies are sitting down and the other is standing behind them talking to one of the women.

Rini Sikiotis (nee Varvarigos) and her daughter Leah at a formal function, most likely an Ithacan ball, which was an annual event on the club's social calendar. A black and white photograph with a white border of two ladies in evening dress standing in front of a double doorway.

A group of Ithacans on an outing to a Melbourne beach. Back - unknown; middle l-r, unknown, Chrisoula Kallinikos-Sikiotis, Nina Black; front Nina Kallinikos-Black.A sepia print of four ladies and one girl standing on steps which are leading to a beach. The names of the people have been written on the back of the photograph. There is a white border surrounding the photo.

A group at a an Ithacan social function. LHS George & Sia Andrews, others unknown. RHS Jim Kandiliotis, unknown, Artemis Sikiotis, Leah Kandiliotis, with other unknown friends.A black and white photograph of five men and seven ladies seated around a table at a social function.

Denis Sikiotis (Skiotis) is the young man who was lifting up his young cousin, Jim Morris (Mortaitis). They are pictured in South Yarra where Jim's family operated a milk bar located on the corner of Osborne Street and Toorak. Denis and his brother Hector were sponsored by their aunt Marigo Sikiotis to come Australia to study at RMIT. Both brothers were born in China where their father had migrated and established a business - more information about the Skiotis family history https://www.ithaca.org.au/images/Historical_Stories/Ed_192_Art_2_Skiotis_of_China.pdfA black and white photograph of a young man lifting a little boy up. They are both under a bare tree in a park.

Photo taken at the 1988 Annual Ithacan Picnic at Ferny Creek, Victoria. Picture from left to right are: Marinos Raftopoulos, Andreas Moraitis, Nakis Raftopoulos, Kassiani Raftopoulos, Sotiris Sikiotis. The Annual Ithacan Picnic is one the most enduring of all social events for the Ithacan Philanthropic Society. A black & white photograph, enlarged of four men and a lady sitting in a park with people walking in the distance. The photo has a white border.Stamped on the back: PROPERTY OF/STATHIS RAFTOPOULOS/POET and ITHACAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC.

The photograph was taken at the wedding of Jim Kandiliotis and Dimitra (Toula) Makris. Photographed is the bride Toula Makris with bridesmaids from l-r Eutichia Vlassopoulos and Loula Sikiotis (Kostos), and flower girl Danae Kandiliotis.A sepia photograph of a studio photograph of a wedding party showing the bride with her two bridesmaids and a flower girl. The group are standing in front of two white trellis screens.

The five women photographed are from L-R: Vicky Black nee Raftopoulos, . . .?. . . . , Effie Cominos nee Raftopoulos, Ioulia Raftopoulos nee Sikiotis and Aspasia Paxinos. Ioulia was the mother of Effie and the aunt of Vicki Black.A black and white photograph of five women standing in front of a house in a garden. The names of the woman in the photograph have been written on the back. sicotis

The photograph was taken at a family picnic. The group are clockwise from the little girl in the front: Effie Raftopoulos, Ioulia Raftopoulos, Koula Paxinos, George Paxinos, Marigo Sikiotis, Aspasia Paxinos, Nina (Regina) Black and Rita (Marguerita) Black. A black and white photograph of a picnic group seated around a table in a park.

Dimitri (JIm) and Leah (nee Sikiotis) Kandiliotis ran the Trentwood Dry Cleaning business in Doncaster Road, North Balwyn. Jim was very active in the Ithacan Philanthropic Society; he was president from 1965-1966 and is an Honorary Life Member.Leah's parents Costa and Reene (nee Varvarigos) Sikiotis operated Pullars Dry Cleaning in Rathdowne Street Carlton in the 1950s. Jim learnt the trade from his father-in-law and, together with Leah, carried on the family tradition establishing the dry cleaning business in North Balwyn.A coloured polaroid photograph of the exterior views of a Dry Cleaning business in a suburban street. The photograph has a white border with a black square on its reverse side. Printed on the back: 10778121539/ POLAROIDpullards dry cleaning

Pictured left to right are: Stathi Raftopoulos, Sotiris Sikiotis, Anthi Chilianis and Stratos Paizis all of whom are Honorary Life Member of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society. The photo is taken at the clubrooms at a New Year's Eve function and they are cutting the traditional New Year 'Vasilopita' cake. A coloured photograph of a lady and three men standing behind a table. One of the men is preparing to cut a traditional New Year's cake. Hanging on the wall behind is a large photograph of Vathi.

The photo taken in 1926 on board ship is of family members welcoming their maternal grandmother and great grandmother, Theodora Lekatsas (Lucas) on her arrival from Ithaca Greece. Theodora was the mother of Giannoula Varvarigos, Nick Lucas, Tom Lucas, Joyia Sikiotis and Ekaterini Athanitis. It was common for family members to be able to board ships to greet family on the arrival or farewell them prior to the departure. Up until the 1950s very few Ithacans departed travelled back to Greece. A black and white photograph with o white border of four women and a boy and a girl standing on a ship's deck.

The following information was written on the back in Greek and translated into English: Johannesburg 28 April 1940: My dear cousin Rene, hello. I am well and wish the same to you. I am pleased to send you a photo as a memento. I wish you a Happy Easter, regards to your husband, my cousin Kosta. With much love I send regards, your cousin Spyros Mavromatis. The portrait style photograph was sent to Rene (Ekaterini) Sikiotis (nee Varvarigos). Rene in Australia in 1926 at the age of 16 to join her parents Ioannis and Giannoula Varvarigos who had migrated in 1914. Rene married Kosta Sikiotis and had two children, Efthalia (Leah) and John. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries many Ithacan Greeks migrated to the British colonies of Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Canada, as well as the United States of America. A studio photograph of two men. One is seated on a chair and the younger one is standing beside him.

The seven people on the deck of a ship at Station Pier some time in 1955 are: Front L-R: Arthur and Sia (Aspasia) Koutsouvelis, George and Ioulia Raftopoulos and Effie Cominos. George and Ioulia Raftopoulos are the parents of Sia and Effie. Back L-R: Chrisoula Raftopoulos and Nick Sikiotis. Family would go to Station Pier to either welcome or farewell relatives who departing to or arriving from Greece. Very few of the early Ithacan migrants returned to their homeland. It wasn't until the 1950s and 60s that travel back home to visit family became more common. Today generations born in Australia to return to Ithaca on a regular basis.A black and white photograph of seven people standing on the deck of a ship. A partial view of a tugboat can be seen in the background.

Chrisoula Kallinikos and Nicholas Sikiotis were married in 1937. Chrisoula is pictured arriving at the church with her father is Spiro Kallinikos. George Kallinikos, Spiros' younger brother is standing behind the couple. The wedding was celebrated at Evangelismos Church in East Melbourne. Until the 1950s it was the only Greek Orthodox Church in Victoria.A sepia photograph of a bride being escorted into the church by her father.

A photograph of the original members of the Daughters of Penelope, a chapter of AHEPA formed in the 1950s. Pictured bBack L- R: Dorothy Lucas, Royal Stratou, Maria Mangos, Sia Athanis, Poppy Sikiotis. Front L-R: Anna Stratou, Margaret Marmaras, Nina Black, Katina Canis, Olive Coligas AHEPA is Greek organisation that encourages the retention of Greek language and culture. It is the largest Hellenic Association in the world with chapters in the United States, Canada, Greece, Cyprus, Australia and New Zealand. It was established in 1922 by Greek Americans to protect Hellenes from prejudice and discrimination. AHEPA was founded in Australia in 1934.A black and white photograph of ten ladies dressed in formal evening attire standing in a room.

The photograph is taken on board an ocean liner heading for Greece. Those in Greek costumes are paseengers; the two men in civilian clothes crew members. Fourth and fifth from the left respectively are cousins Penelope Billiter (nee Kallinikos) and Athena Sikiotis. Penelope 's father Spiro Kallinikos and Athena's mother Chrisoula were siblings.Many Australian born people of Greek heritage have made trips back to their parents' homeland in a bid to learn more about their heritage and to meet family. A black and white photograph of a group some of whom are dressed in Greek national dress. The 10 women in the photograph are all in national costume; of the five men three are wearing traditional dress.

The photo is taken an annual Ithacan picnic at Bacchus Marsh in the 1970's. The women are from left to right: seated Mary Psoras (nee Levis), Orianthi Raftopoulos, Elpida Levis (Mavrokefalos) and Ioulia Raftopoulos (nee Sikiotis). Mary is the daughter of Elpida Levis. The three elderly ladies are of the first generation of Ithacan women who migrated to Australia in the early 1920s.A coloured photograph with rounded edges of four ladies in a park .here is a white sedan and a small picnic rotunda behind them.

The photo is taken an annual Ithacan picnic at Bacchus Marsh in the 1970's. The women are from left to right: seated Mary Psoras (nee Levis), Orianthi Raftopoulos, Elpida Levis (Mavrokefalos) and Ioulia Raftopoulos (nee Sikiotis). Mary is the daughter of Elpida Levis. The three elderly ladies are of the first generation of Ithacan women who migrated to Australia in the early 1920s. Coloured photograph with rounded corners of 4 ladies in a parkland setting, with a white car and picnic rotunda in the background.

The fruit shop photographed was owned and run by Spiros Kallinikos and was one of the many similar businesses that Ithacans, who had settled in Melbourne during the first half of the twentieth century, operated within the CBD and surrounding suburbs. Pictured us Spiro's wife Evrilikia holding her daughter Calliope together with her Spiro's sister Chrisoula Sikiotis (nee Kallinikos). A black and white photograph of two ladies standing in the doorway of a suburban fruit shop. One of the ladies is holding a little child. The display window is attractively stocked with a variety of fruit and vegetables. There are also cauliflowers stacked on the right side of the doorway, and fruit in boxes on the left.

Taken at the Ithacan Ball held at Earls Court, St. Kilda in 1948, the photograph is of members of the then Ladies Auxiliary. Pictured are from L-R: Loula Sikiotis-Kostos , Loulou Varvarigos, Ekaterini Sofianos (Pres.) Nancy Paxinos (Vice-president), Nina Varvarigos, Athanasia (Sia) Andrews, Effie Cominos-Raftopoulos. In 1991 Sia Andrews was the first woman to be elected president of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society. Although women were not permitted to become “Active Members” of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society until 1985, they played an important role in maintaining the social cohesion of the Ithacan community. Through organising social events such as the annual ball they also helped to connect the various generations of Ithacans to the Society.A black and white photograph of seven ladies dressed in evening attire and standing in front of a curtain. Stamped on the back : PHOTO CRAFT LABORATORIES PTY.LTD/ 99 NICHOLSON STREET/FOOTSCRAY, W.11./ Previous numbers have been hand written W254/1 S15

The girls' destination was Greece, to visit their parents' place of birth - a trip that many Australian-born of Greek parentage have made. They were on board the Ellinis which was part of the Chandris Shipping Line, a Greek shipping company founded in 1960 that plied between Greece and Australia during the 60s transporting migrants to Australia and returning to Europe with holiday makers. Pictured are cousins Penelope Kallinikos (left) and Athena Sikiotis (third from left).A black and white photograph of four happy young women standing in a crowd with three of the crew, one of whom is the captain of the 'Ellinis' of the Chandris Line. A crowd of people are behind them. Poppy Billiter is standing on the LHS of the group.billeter

Hector Sikiotis (Skiotis) was supervising his cousin, young Jim Morris when he was riding his tricycle outside the family business located on the corner of Osborne Street and Toorak Road, South Yarra. Hector's father established in China where Hector was born. They later returned to Ithaca and migrated to Australia in the 1950s where together with his brother Denis studied at RMIT. For more information of the Skiotis family story go to www.ithaca.org.au/images/Historical_Stories/Ed_192_Art_2_Skiotis_of_China.pdfA black and white photograph of a young man helping a little boy, who is riding a tricycle on a footpath.

Family group photograph at the wedding of Jim Kandiliotis and Dimitra (Toula) Makri which took place in 1949. Standing from L-R: Kleomenis (Clem) and Jean Kandiliotis, Peter Zapatos, Nick Kandiliotis, Loula Kostos (nee Sikiotis), Jim and Toula Kandiliotis, Poppy and Parry Gabriel, Eutichia Vlassopoulos, Marinos Drakopoulos, Vicky and Orpheus Kandiliotis. Front L-R: Chrisostomi Kandiliotis (groom's mother), Danae Kandiliotis, Jim Vlassopoulos and Eustathios Kandiliotis (groom's father)Black and white studio photograph of a family wedding group. There are eight men, seven ladies, a flower girl and a young boy in the group. Two white trellis screens are behind the group.

The photograph of the all male committee of the IPS was taken at Ithaca House in 1976, sixty years after the establishment of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society. At the time, in accordance with the constitution, women were ineligible to be full members and therefore committee members. Pictured L-R, back: Petros Kouratos, Dennis Lourantos, J. Mavromatis, Dennis Katsamas, Naki Raftopoulos, Parry Gabriel; front: Michael Black, (Mavrokefalos) Evangelos Metaxas, Nick Varigos (Varvarigos), Sotiris Sikiotis, Stathy Raftopoulos. A black and white photograph of eleven men, members of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society Committee 1976. They are seated and standing in front of a wall which has a large photograph on it and coat hooks along the wall.

Photo taken at Ithacan picnic as denoted by shield shaped badges worn by some of the group. Photographed: L-R back: Spiros D. Kallinikos holding baby Jack Collins (Kallinikos), Cassie Kallinikos (later Connell) and Kosta (Con) Kallinikos; front Chrisoula Sikiotis (nee Kallinikos), Evriklia Kallinikos (nee Kolaitou married to Sprios D. Kallinikos) and Nina Kallinikos (later Black - married to Nick Black). Spiros, Chrisoula and Kosta are siblings as are their nieces and nephew Nina, Cassie and Jack (the children of Maria and Spiros Kallinikos). Ithacan picnics have always been extremely popular and well attended. They were and continue to be an important event in the yearly social calendar of the Ithacan Society. Today, with an increasingly dispersed and diverse membership, the annual picnic is the ideal opportunity for young and old to gather and reconnectBlack & white family photo of two ladies, two men and three children in a garden setting.