Dimitri Sofianos is seated in foreground of the photograph with his two children, Nina and Spiro (Pip). They are at an annual Ithacan picnic which they always attended as a family. The annual Ithacan Philanthropic Society's picnic is a very popular event on the club's social calendar as has been the case for many years. A partly faded black and white photograph of a group of people at a picnic. In the foreground a man has his arms around a little boy and girl. A table set out with food is in the background on the RHS of the phoptograph

Photo is possibly at an Ithacan Ball. From L- R: Dennis Varigos, Rita Varigos, Alma Paizis, Spiro Paizis, Loula Kostos, Mike Kostos.A sepia photograph of three couples dressed formally at a social event.

The group is photographed at an IPS picnic at Bacchus Marsh, from L-R: Spiro Papadopoulos, (Skiomenos) Chrisaida Paizi and Alkinoos Paizis. Chrisaida was the aunt of Irene Pappas.A copy of a black and white photograph of a lady and man at a picnic. The lady and one of the men are sitting on chairs while the older man is standing behind them. Other people are in the background as well as a car and table set out with food.

Tasia Paizis pictured at a Grecian ball dressed in a Greek national costume was part of the Olympic Club Greek dancing group which performed at the ball. Spiro Paizis is partially hidden on the right. A black and white photograph of a young lady wearing national costume.

The Merbein shops were originally owned by Spiros Raftopoulos (Levendi) who migrated from Kolieri, Ithaca, Greece. The family conducted a business in Merbein during the 1930s before relocating to Melbourne.Some Greeks who migrated to Australia during the first half of the twentieth century settled in larger country towns throughout regional Victoria.A coloured photograph of the exterior view of a group of single storey shops with a verandah across the front of the buildings. The words 'Beauty Salon' and 'The Family Shoe Store' are written across the top of the verandah awnings. A white sedan is angle-parked outside one of the shops.

IPS committee members and special guest Spiros Arion (seated with his partner) at an Ithacan dinner dance held a The Acropol. Spiros was a well known wrestler in Australia. The Acropol was a reception business located on the top of floor of Ithaca House (level 2). The IPS club rooms were located on the first floor. Dinner dances were held at the Acropol. From L-R: Jim Kandiliotis, Stathi Raftopoulos, Alkinos Paizis (IPS president), Anastasia (Sia) Fatouros-Beasley (president of the social committee), Evangelos Metaxas?, Kiki Razos, Dennis Lourantos. Spiros arrived in Australia in July 1964 and was know in the wrestling scene under the name of 'The Golden Greek'. He joined f World Championship Wrestling where he wrestled until its end in 1978. He was a favorite among Greek wrestling fans.A black and white photograph with a crinkled edge of seven men and two ladies at a social gathering. A couple are seated at a table and the others are standing behind.

The photo is taken of a group of Ithacans, most of whom are related and from the village of Kioni, at an annual Ithacan picnic. Standing l-r: Spiros Papadopoulos (Skiomenos), Calypso Sofianos, Katerini ? (Palaitou), sisters-in-law Thalia, Florence and Dimitra Paapdopoulos, Marika Paizis, Nelly, Ruby Paizis, Spiros Danias (Korokis). Seated l-r: Gerasimos Papadopoulos (Tsinis), Jim Sofianos, John (Yiannis) Papadopoulos (Soufi), Yiannis Raftopoulos (Tsagaris), Alkinoos Paizis (Kaleris), Gerasimos Koutsouvelis, unknown. Children l-r: Nick Papas, Irini Pappas, Tasia Paizis (Alpitsis), Kaleris Paizis.The annual picnic was an important event on the Ithacan Philanthropic Society's calendar as it provided an opportunity for families and friends to get together in a relaxed environment away from work and businesses. A mounted black & white photo of a picnic group. There are 8 ladies, 9 men and 4 children.They are sitting and standing in front of some trees.Written on the back in Greek: Present from Alkinoos Paizis 1936

Pictured at a family gathering celebrating the baptism of Colin Lucas, son of Freda Lucas (nee Benias) and Spiro Lucas. from L-R: Stathi Vlass, Nick Lucas (Lekatsas), Con and Helen Vlass and Annie Vlass. A black and white photograph with a white border, of five people, three men and two ladies, sitting on a long form at a social function.

The photo was taken at a Grecian Ball at which the Olympic Club Dancing Group dressed in national costumes performed Greek traditional dances. The couple on the left is Madelaine Cosmas and Spiro Paizis; the on right in the foreground are Irini Pappas and Nick Lappas.The maintenance of traditional Greek dancing has been an important in retaining traditional culture within expatriate Greek communities.A print of a black and white photograph of two ladies and two menders in Greek traditional costume and dancing. Two musicians, a violinist and a piano accordion player are providing the music for the dancers.

In 1966 Stathi and Kassiani Raftopoulos together with their children, Leah, Rena, Angela and Spiros travelled to Greece and Ithaca. The family photograph was taken on board the Patris as they approached Aden. They final destination was the Greek port of Piraeus before heading to Ithaca.A scanned photograph with white surrounds mounted on a cardboard. It is a photograph of a family on the deck of a ship. One of the children is holding a doll in front of her.Written in Greek underneath the photograph and translated: THE FIRST TRIP WITH FAMILY NEAR ADEN ON PATRIS TO GREECE. ITHACA/1966.travelling, marine transport

The photograph is of George Kallinikos who was one of the members of the Kallinikos family from the village of Ag Yianni Ithaca who migrated to Australia and settled in Melbourne in the first half of the twentieth century. Spiros Kallinikos was the first member of that family to migrate to Australia in 1910.A studio portrait photograph of a smartly young man. The photograph has a cream border.

Photo taken outside the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church, East Melbourne. The bride Katerini (known as Nina or Katherine) is being escorted into the church by her father Spiros Kallinikos together with the bridesmaid, her sister Penelope. Katerini married Marcos Vlasse. A black and white photograph of a bride with her father and bridesmaid preparing to enter the church for the wedding ceremony. billeter

Concerts were held at ten venues in Collins street grand music promenade venues:Baptist Church, St Michaels, ANZ Cathedral Room, 101 Collins Street, Kay Craddock bookshop, Georges Dining Room, Scot's Church, 161 Collins Street, the gold vaults of the Old Treasury Building. Note: It was recorded in the secretary's diary that concerts associated with the Collins Street Grand Music Promenade were held at the Melbourne Athenaeum Theatre all day on Sunday the 6th of November. This festival was organised by Greg Hocking and Peter Marks.Black and white postcard flyer Folder also contains a newspaper article, a venue program, folded poster and various letters of correspondence. One day on a magnificent street with: Roger Woodward, Geoffrey Tozer, Joan Carden, Melbourne String Quartet, Rita Reichman, Australian String Quartet, Elizabeth Campbell, Micheal Kieran Harvey,Rebecca Chambers, Merlyn Quaife, Helen Noonan, Jeannie Marsh, Margaret Haggart, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, Douglas Lawrence, Spiros Rantos, Academy of Melbourne, Geofrey Paine, Brett Kelly, Haydn Chamber Orchestra, The Victorian Chorale, Faye Dumont Singers, David Berlin, Elizabeth Anderson and more ...the collins street grand music promenade, melbourne athenaem theatre

Spiros E. Raftopoulos (Levendis)is seated third from the right at this family gathering. His brother-in-law Demetrios Vlassopoulos (Kopela) is seated first on the left. The photograph may have been taken in Mildura where the Raftopoulos and Vlassopoulos families had businesses.A black and white photograph mounted on cardboard of six men and three ladies at a social gathering seated around a table with food set out in front of them and drinks on the table as well as what looks like a photograph of a woman.

Hariklia Raftopoulos (nee Moraitis) pictured with her sons, Stathi to the left, and Nakis (Nick) to the right. Her husband Spiros Raftopoulos was in Australia at the time the photo was taken. He returned to Ithaca and by 1934 the family eventually all migrated to Australia and settled in Melbourne.A scanned black and white photograph of a mother with her two sons. The mother is sitting on a chair and the boys are standing on either side of her.immigration

The photograph taken in 1927 of young Greek men celebrating the 21st birthday of Bill Florence. One of the men is playing the mandolin, a very popular instrument on the island of Ithaca. It is assumed that some of the men worked at the Golden Key Cafe, possibly Bill Florence, as the truck belonged to the business. Bill was nephew of the proprietors of the cafe. The Golden Key Cafe was established in the 1923 by Demetrios Vlassopoulos (Kopela) and brother-in-law Spiros Raftopoulos (Levendis) in the town of Red Cliffs in the Mildura district. Spiros eventually left and established a business in Merbein. The Golden Key was run by Demetri until the mid 1950s, following which his daughter and son-in-law, Nitsa and Kyriakos Kyriakakis took over the business. Although Ithacan Greeks tended to settle in the capital cities and worked in either catering or food retail areas, some ventured further afield into regional towns where they opened cafes, or worked on farms in the surrounding districts. A black and white photograph of five men enjoying themselves at a picnic. One man is playing a mandolin while another man is pouring a drink into a mug. They are sitting on boxes in front of a small truck which has the words 'The Golden Key' printed on the side of the cabin. There are five bottles of beer on the ground in front of the men.Stamped on the back: ITHACAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY INCORPORATED/ A0027411E/329 ELIZABETH STREET MELBOURNE/VICTORIA 3000/AUSTRALIA/PO BOX 611D MELBOURNE 3001/TELEPHONE (03) 670 0230 Stamped in blue O 384

The photograph of Kalypso Raftopoulos (on the RHS of the group) is taken in Ithaca before she emigrated to Australia in 1936. In 1937 she married Dimitrios Sofianos and they had two children, Spiro and Nina. Kalypso and Dimitrios owned and operated a fish shop in Burwood, Melbourne for close to 30 years. A photograph of three women sitting on a rocky hillside overlooking a village and church in the distance. The girl in the middle of the group is waving to someone. There are mountains in the distance.

Stathis Raftopoulos and family. From left to right: Leah (Koutsounis), Spiro, Stathi, Zaharenia Stamelatos (Kassiani's mother), Kassiani, Rena (Varigos) and Angela (Tsolakis). Kassiani's mother Zaharenia lived most of her life on Ithaca and came to Australia in her twilight years to be with her daughter. A black and white family group photograph featuring parents and their four children and the elderly grandmother. The photograph has a double lined dark blue border around it. The photographer's details are in the bottom RH corner. Printed in blue in the corner: HIONI PHOTO STUDIOS/988 LYGON ST., NORTH CARLTON/PHONE: 38-9824family photographs

Group of seven men at an Ithacan picnic wearing that badges which were given to all as they arrived at the picnic. From L-R: seated - Spiros Kallinikos (Mirtsonis), Andreas Zavitsanos, Andreas Papadopoulos, Kostas Ventouras; standing - Kostas Trilivas, Gerasimos Raftopoulos (Mourlotos), Sprios Paizis-Danias.Black & White photograph mounted on cardboard of Men's Picnic Group Stamped in bottom right hand corner with the insignia and details of the IHS.Stamped beneath photo: PROPERTY OF/ STATHIS RAFTOPOULOS/ POET

The mandolin orchestra was from Ithaca where that instrument along with the guitar is a favourite. The cantada style music of Ithaca is very lyrical and reflects the Venetian influence on the Ionian islands. Evriklia Kolaitou pictured in the middle row on the far right with the guitar. Evriklia later settled in Melbourne. She married to Spiros Kallinikos. Ithaca has experienced various cultural influences as it was under Venetian, French and British rule for periods of time prior to unification with Greece in 1864.A sepia photograph of a mandolin orchestra photographed in front of a building. There are eight women but one of them is a guitarist. Of the seven men three are guitarists and three are mandolin players while the other person is the conductor.

The photograph was taken at the christening of Freda Lucas' first son, Nicholas at the Greek Orthodox church, Evangelismos. Godparents are Zaharia and Maria Morris (Moraitis). Pictured l-r, Spiro Lucas, Maria Morris, Freda Lucas (nee Benias) holding baby Nicholas, Zaharia Morris, Bill Benias and Nick Lucas (Lekatsas).The 'Evangelismos' Church in Victoria Street, East Melbourne was the first Greek Church in Melbourne. The foundation stone was laid in December 1900 and the first service was conducted in August 1902. Since that date it has been the venue for many important family celebrations. Baptism is an important family tradition for Greek families. A black and white photograph with a white border of three men, two ladies and a child standing outside outside 'Evangelismos' Church in East Melbourne

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 photograph was taken at an Ithacan Ball some time in the early 1950s, possibly 1952. The group are family members and friends of George and Ioulia Raftopoulos. Clockwise from left are: Vicky Black nee Raftopoulos, Effie and Spiro Cominos, . . ?. . ,. . ? . . , . . ? . . , Nick Black, Michael Black, . . ?. . , . .? . . , Ioulia and George Raftopoulos, Anastasios Flocas, Aspasia Flocas and Aspasia Raftopoulos. A black and white photograph of sixteen people in evening dress seated around a table at a social function. Other people can be seen in the background. Information about the function has been written on the back of the photograph.

Picture taken at a social function at the first floor clubrooms of the IPS. The musician is David Davidopoulos who regularly entertained members at club functions. Seated at table on the left is Nina Vlassopoulos, Mr & Mrs Panos Lekatsas (Lizis) and Spiro Vlassopoulos; opposite on the right - Bill Benias, Freda Lucas, Lula and Peter Black. Hector Petalas is pictured on the next table. A coloured photograph of nine people sitting around as table with a musician behind them who is singing. ithaca house

The group of friends and families are enjoying a picnic which was held at Mt Evelyn and organised by the Ithacan Philanthropic Society some time in the late 1930s. Pictured L-R Stathis Troholis, Nicholas Trohoulias, Gerry Rigos (Varvarigos), Peter Drakopoulos, Irakli Regos, Stathis Benias, Angelo Zafiris, Odyssea (Des) Kostopoulos, Spiro Troholis, Helen Regos, unknown. A sepia photograph in a white cardboard folder of nine men and two ladies sitting on the ground around a picnic meal spread out in front of them . The names of the people in the photograph have been written on the back of the folder.

The article was written by Nina Sofianos-Mills as a reflection on her uncle, Peter John (Panoyiannis) Raftopoulos, following the untimely death of his daughter and her cousin, Loula Rodopoulos in 2013. The photograph included with the article includes Nina as a baby, her uncle, Peter John (Panoyiannis) Raftopoulos, Nina's parents Dimitri and Kalypso Sofianos, and her brother Pip (Spiro). A scanned copy of a newspaper article written for the Ithacan Historical Society's page which appears in the Ithacan Philanthropic Society's newspaper, 'Odysseus'. The article also includes a photograph of a family.

Pictured is Irini Pappas ( Papadopoulos) in the role of 'Ismini' in the production of 'Antigone' which was performed at the University of Melbourne. The play was directed by Nikos Dimitrakopoulos, a director from Greece. Also appearing in the production were fellow Ithacans Spiro Paizis, Stathis Raftopoulos and Sophia Paizis. Irini was a well known actor in the Greek community who appeared in various television productions and local theatre productions, both Greek and English. Irini was a trailblazer. She challenged traditional views of the role and career pathways of young Australian born Greek Ithacan women of her era. Although her passion was the theatre, she undertook a varied range of occupations including teaching, counselling and vocational guidance. In her work with women of migrant background she encouraged them not be constrained by the social or cultural expectations of others.A black and white portrait photograph of a young lady.

The photograph was taken to celebrate the wedding of Nick Comino and Ellie Black. Back from L-R: unknown, Victor Comino, Nick and Ellie Comino nee Black, Nina and John Black (sister and brother of the bride) and Spiro Chilianis. Front from L-R: Olga Black (sister of the bride) and Efstathia Black (mother of the bride). Nick and Ellie settled in Emerald, Queensland. Ellie was the daughter of Constantine and Efstathia (Toula) Mavrokefalos (Black). A black and white studio photograph of a family wedding photograph. With the bride and groom and one bridesmaid are four other men and two ladies.

The wedding of Nicholas Kavadeas and Marigo Raftopoulos at Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church, East Melbourne in 1934. Wedding party pictured from left Andrew Moraites, Stathi Kavadeas, Tom Gabriel, the bride and groom Nicholas Spiro Kavadeas and Marigo (Maria) Raftopoulos Kavadeas, John Michael Raftopoulos, Gerasimos John Raftopoulos, Peter John Raftopoulos, front left Barbara Moraites Kavadeas, William (Billy) Black (Koutsouvelis), Aspasia Paxinos, Nina Black.Black and white studio portrait seven gentlemen including groom in tuxedos all with boutonnieres, bride in wedding dress and veil with wedding bouquet, one lady in evening attire, one bridesmaid with bouquet, flower girl with posy and one page boy