Ithacan Naki Raftopoulos (centre) served in the Civilian Military Forces during WW 2 and is pictured with Arthur Pantatzis (left) and Theo Spirakos (Spirason). A number of Ithacan Greek men and Australian born men of Ithacan descent served in the Australian defence forces during World War 2. Some saw active service whilst those who had not become naturalised were recruited into the Civilian Military Forces as 'Allied Aliens' and served the war effort on the home front.A black and white head and shoulders photograph of three men in Australian army uniform, wearing peaked caps. army

Severe earthquakes struck across the Ionian Islands in Greece in 1953, causing widespread devastation. Some villages were totally destroyed resulting in many people forced to relocate and a further wave of emigration to other countries, including Australia.Following the post WW2 migration from Ithaca, the earthquakes brought about yet another wave of migration from the island. It was the last most significant period of migration from the island.A black and white photograph of ruins caused by the earthquake which occurred in the Ionian Islands in 1953.

Prior to the advent of the ferry service Ithacans who wished to travel to the mainland sailed by ship. The 'Angelika', photographed in Ithaca's port harbour of Vathi, transported most of the post WWII Ithacan migrants to the main Greek port of Piraeus to embark for their journey to Australia. Migration from Ithaca to Australia ceased during the second world war years. A second wave commenced in the post war years, particular following the 1953 earthquakes which caused catastrophic damage to the island. Today travel between Ithaca and the mainland is by ferry boats. Ships and ferry boats no longer enter the harbour at Vathi, but rather dock at Piso Aetos. A black and white photograph with a thin white border of a ship steaming out of a harbour with smaller craft in the water. People are standing on the wharf watching the boat depart; behind them are buildings and mountains across the skyline.

In 1953 an major earthquake caused catastrophic damage across the islands of Ithaca and Cephalonia, which are part of Greece's Heptanesian group of islands located in the Ionian Sea. Many towns and villages were left uninhabitable and resulted in another wave of Ithacan migration to Australia. The Ithacan Philanthropic Society initiated an Earthquake Appeal which was generously supported by Melbourne's Ithacan community, all of whom were affected by the earthquakes in one way or another.A black and white photograph of damage caused by an earthquake. The buildings which were built along the edge of a harbour have been ruined. There are mountains in the background.

Young Greek born men who had migrated to Australia were recruited to the defence forces during World War 2. Pictured is a group belonging to Civilian Military Forces. Standing, second from the right, is Nakis (Nick) Raftopoulos.During the period of the second world war, Ithacans who were unnaturalised were recruited into the Civilian Military Forces as 'Allied Aliens' and served the war effort on the home front. Naturalised Ithacans saw active service.A black and white photograph of nine men in army uniform at a camp. Five men are standing behind the other four who are sitting in front.

Photographed from left, Evgenia Raftopoulos and Nina Black (Mavrokefalos) collecting money for the 1943 - 44 Lord Mayor's Bush Fire Appeal. The bush fires raged across Victoria and in particular in areas very close to Melbourne's rural fringe such as Beaumaris. Members of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society joined other groups to collect funds for this worthy cause. Both ladies were very active in the community. Since it was established in 1917, the Ithacan Philanthropic Society has supported and continues to support many worthy causes both in Greece and Australia . A black and white photograph of two ladies dressed in Greek national costume collecting money for a cause. A little child is putting money in one of the tins while a lady watches on.

The photograph is of students at Melbourne's first Greek Community school, established for the Australian-born children of Greek immigrants. They are pictured with four of their teachers, one of whom is Nina Black (Mavrokefalos) seated in the second row, fourth from the left. The other teacher is Rita Black seated 4th from the right in the same row. Sitting on the floor are Vicki Raftopoulos 2nd left and Olga Andrews on the far right of the row. Greek parents were very keen for their children born in Australia to be able to speak their language and to understand Greek culture and heritage. It is documented that there were attempts to establish a school as early as 1901 and later in 1923. However, it was not until 1929 that an after school hours Greek school was properly established. Up until 1957 the Greek community schools were the sole providers of Greek language classes. It was not until the late 1960s and the mid-1970s that modern Greek was introduced to Victorian government schools. A mounted black and white photograph mounted on grey board featuring twenty eight boys and girls and four adults, seated and standing in four rows on a stage with a backdrop behind them.

The Greek Orthodox Community with the support of the Ithacan Community in Melbourne established a Greek Language School in the early 1930s. The teaching of the Greek language to the Australian born children of Greek parents ensured that the language and culture was maintained within the Greek community. A sepia photograph mounted on grey board of the children and teachers at the Greek language school. The people are standing and seated in five rows in front of a stage.

The three Lucas (Lekatsas) siblings, Peter, Nina and Andrew are photographed wearing Greek traditional costumes. The boys are wearing the uniform of the Greek Evzone soldiers, and the girl the traditional dress. They are children of Gerasimos and Kaliope (nee Zavistanos) Lekatsas.Children often wore national costumes at special Greek national day events which were usually organised by the Greek Community in conjunction with the Greek language schools. Most children of Greek background attended Greek school after hours to learn Greek language, history and culture. The national day events were an important way for Australian born children of Greek background to develop a deeper understanding of Greek history and an appreciation of their cultural heritage.A black and white studio photograph of a girl and two boys dressed in traditional Greek costumes. The girl is seated on a chair and the two boys are standing on either side of her.

From its earliest days, the Ithacan Philanthropic Society has conducted an annual family picnic held at country towns on Melbourne's urban fringe. For many years Bacchus Marsh was a popular venue where this picnic group was photographed. Women would prepare delicious traditional Greek food and families would group together to enjoy a wonderful picnic spread. The annual Ithacan Picnic has been a very important event on the society's social calendar. In the early days, as many of the families ran family businesses such as fruit shops, fish shops and cafes, Sunday was the only break they had away from their work. The picnic gave them a chance to relax and to catch up with extended family and friends. Today the picnic continues to be an extremely popular day for the members where generations of Australian Ithacans get the opportunity to reunite. A black and white photograph of a large group at a picnic standing and sitting around and enjoying a picnic meal which has been spread out on the ground. Three cars are parked in the background under the trees.

The bridal couple are Dimitri and Kalypso Sofianos on their wedding day. Dimitri arrived in Australia in his teens in 1914 and Kalypso much later in 1936. She and Dimitri were both from the same village of Kioni and they met after her arrival and married in 1937. The ceremony took place at the Greek Orthodox Church in Victoria Parade, East Melbourne. They operated a fish shop at 391 Camberwell Road Hartwell where they worked together for almost thirty years. A sepia photograph of a bridal couple standing in front of a brick wall in a garden.

The two pages are an oral history account of Kalypso Sofianos' story recorded by her daughter Nina Mills on the 27 November 1997. It outlines her early life in Roumania/Romania and Greece, her childhood after her mother's death and her father's remarriage, her migration to Australia and meeting her future husband Dimitri Sofianos.The story gives an insight into the experiences of Ithacan women, the importance of family ties, arranged marriages and their arrival in a strange country. Two pages on A4 sheets of a transcript of an oral history.family histories

A young Dimitri Sofianos is photographed in Ithaca with his older brother and his two sisters, Eugenia and Katerini. His brother migrated to South Africa after which they never saw each other again. His two sisters remained in Greece. Dimitri never returned to Greece after he arrived in Australia and as such also never saw his sisters again.Dimitri Sofianos' story of a family separated by migration was a common theme amongst those who ventured beyond their country of birth in the early years of migration when overseas travel was difficult and communications slower. It also took years of work and hardship to establish themselves in their adopted country and as a result it was often not possible to take the time for overseas travel.A scanned black and white photograph on A4 paper of four young children - two boys and two girls - in front of a curtain. Thew oldest boy is standing behind the other three who are seated.

This is the marriage certificate of Dimitri and Kalypso (nee Raftopoulos) Sofianos. The marriage took place in 1937 at the only Greek Orthodox Church in Victoria, the 'Evangelismos' in Victoria Parade, East Melbourne. The couple met following Kalypso's arrival in Australia in 1936.A scanned copy of a marriage certificate which contains details of the bride and groom including place of marriage, age, place of birth, occupations , residence, parents details, the priest/celebrant, the date of the marriage and the signatures of the witnesses.

Anthi Chilianis and Kalypso Sofianos photographed when awarded Honorary Life membership of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society in 1995. They received the medals in recognition of their years of involvement and service to the Society. Anthi Chilianis migrated from Exoghi and arrived in 1921; and Kalypso migrated from Kioni and arrived in 1936. The photograph was published in the the 'Odysseus', the newsletter of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society.The Ithacan Philanthropic Society (IPS) was formed in 1916 to support the Ithacan Greeks who had settled in Melbourne. The Club was a focal point for those early migrants and over the years. It continues to support and connect Ithacans and their families who have grown up in Australia. Honorary Life Membership is awarded to members who have made significant contribution to the IPS.A scanned black and white photograph of two ladies one is seated and the other lady is standing beside her. They are both wearing medals around their necks. Caption: Honorary Life Members, Mrs Anthi Chilianis and Mrs Kalypso Sofianos (seated), loyal IPS supporters and an inspiration to us all, after the presentation of their medals. Mrs Chilianis migrated from Exoghi in 1921 and Mrs Sofianos arrived from Kioni in 1936.

The Australian passport was issued to Kalypso Sofianos when she made her first and only return trip back to Greece in 1973. She arrived in Australia from Ithaca in 1936. It took many years for the Ithacans who had settled in Australia between the two world wars to be able to return to the country of their birth for a number of reasons. Many of them arrived in Australia prior to or during the Great Depression and struggled to establish themselves financially. Overseas travel was slow and expensive. World War 2 also prevented travel and Greece was an occupied country during those grim years. It wasn't until the late 1950s that some of them were able to make their journey back to their beloved Ithaca. Many never returned. A scannned copy of the first page of and Australian Passport which contains important personal details of the passport holder including a photograph.

The children pictured are the daughters of Constantine and Efstathia (Toula) Mavrokefalos (Black). The oldest is Reggina (Nina) Thalia Black at three and half years and in the pram is Marguerita (Rita) Vassiliki Black at eighteen months. They were both born in South Melbourne. The photograph was taken in 1919.Nina and Rita would have been some of the first children born in Australia to Greek parents who had settled in Melbourne.A black and white photograph of two children. One is in a pram and the other is standing next to the pram.

The photograph was taken in the family home of Constantine and Toula Black (Mavrokefalos) in Parkville during the early 1920s on the christening day of their son John Black. John's sisters, six year of Nina Black and her four year old sister, Rita (Marguerita) are pictured. Also pictured from l-r: Argiro ? , who was from Adelaide; John (Panoyoti) Raftopoulos, Toula's brother; and Lily Sigalas, Greek school teacher. Lily was the sister of Alexandra Vrachna who taught two generations of Australian born Ithacan children in Greek community schools for close to 30 years.In adult life Nina Black also went on to teach Greek at the Greek Community school which opened in Melbourne in the early 1930s. She also taught Greek at the CAE and English to new arrivals in the 1960s.A black and white photograph of a man, two ladies and two little girls of a group standing in a garden. A person on the left is almost hidden.

Ioannis Mavrokefalos (John Black) (b. Exoghi, Ithaca 1901 - d. Melbourne 1964) arrived in Western Australia in 1913; returned to Greece in 1920; and returned once again to Australia in 1924 settling in Melbourne, never to return to Ithaca again. He commenced work as a fruiterer and subsequently established a stall at the Victoria Market. In 1940 he ventured out of the Queen Victoria Market and established a stall at the Camberwell Market – ‘John Black & Sons’. His children Steve, Galdys and Denis joined the family business which operated until 1968.Black and white photograph mounted on board of fruit stall with lady customer and young person, and stall workers.

A Neos Kosmos newspaper article based on an interview with Spiros Kallinikos aged 96 at the time. He talks of his love of Ithaca and Greece and his experiences as an early immigrant to Melbourne. Spiros was born in Ag Yianni Ithaca and arrived in Australia in 1910. He returned to Greece to fight in the Balkan wars. He married Evriklia Kolaitou who was from Vathi, Ithaca and had three daughters, Nina, Kali and Penelope.Spiros Kallinikos' story is emblematic of the story of many early Ithacan immigrants.Greek newspaper article including black and white photograph of couple seated in armchairs in lounge room. Photograph has the Greek words 'Η παροικια μας' (translated Our community) written across top left corner. The newspaper article is has the heading 'Δεκατρεις φορες πηγε στο Θιακη και ακομα δεν χορτασε' (translated: Thirteen times he has been to Thiaki and he still not sated.

Eula Collins (nee Flocas) and Nina Mills (nee Sofianos) at a function at MacRobertson Girls' High School to honour past student, the late Loula Rodopoulos (nee Raftopoulos). Nina Mills and Loula Rodopoulos were cousins. Loula Rodopoulos was one of the earliest women of Ithacan Greek descent to become active in the academic world within the broader Australian community. A coloured photograph of two ladies chatting and enjoying a drink at a function.

Anastasia Coutsouvelis is pictured wearing the white apron and standing behind the counter in her shop with her godson, Ilias Raftopoulos. Anastasia ran the successful mixed business in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, opposite the former Fitzroy Football ground from 1951 to c1976. Anastasia is the mother of George Coutsouvelis who was the founding president of the Ithacan Historical Society established in 1993.This business is another example of businesses which some Ithacan Greeks still operated in suburban Melbourne up until the 1970s, around which time this type of business was in gradual decline and fewer and fewer owned by Ithacans. By this time the second and third generation of Australian born Ithacans were working in a variety of industries and professions.A coloured photograph with a surrounding white border of as lady and boy standing behind the counter in a well-stocked mixed business.

A photograph of the milk bar which Anastasia Coutsouvelis owned and ran in Brunswick Street, North Fitzroy from 1951 to c1975.This business is another example of businesses which some Ithacan Greeks still operated in suburban Melbourne up until the 1970s, around which time this type of business was in gradual decline and fewer and fewer owned by Ithacans. By this time the second and third generation of Australian born Ithacans were working in a variety of industries and professions.A coloured photograph with a white surrounding border of a two storey suburban corner shop of red brick construction.

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.

Arthur Koutsouvelis and Aspasia Raftopoulos are the couple in the photograph which was taken. Arthur arrived in Australia from Ithaca in 1952. He and Aspasia were married in February 1954. Aspasia was the younger daughter of George and Ioulia Raftopoulos. Marriage between Ithacans was encouraged by parents, however many many second generation Ithacans married Greeks from other parts of Greece - Ithacans in the day considered that this was marrying a 'xeno', (a foreigner). Some also married non Greeks, although at the time this was the exception. Today, like the rest of Australia, Melbourne's Ithacan community has become diverse. A black and white head and shoulders photograph of a well-dressed lady and man photographed in a shopping strip in a city street.

The family group photographed in July 1983.at Tullamarine Airport where they were gathered to farewel Nick and Elsie Varigos who were travelling to Greece. The members of the group are from L-R: Euana Evans nee Varigos, Robert Evans, Elsie Varigos, Nick Varigos, Leah Kandiliotis nee Sikiotis, John Sikiotis, and Gerry Rigos. Elsie and Nick made several trips to Ithaca in the late 70s and early 80s, staying for extended periods. Nick was born in 1909 in Rhodesia where his parents had initially migrated prior to coming to Australia. Elsie was born in Melbourne in 1925. She travelled to Greece with her parents and siblings in 1939 just prior to the outbreak of war and as a result spent almost seven years on Ithaca and experienced the occupation by the Italians and the Germans, and the hardship endured by the locals.. A coloured photograph with rounded corners of three ladies and four men standing in a room. regos, varvarigos

The blazer was worn by Speros Defteros in 1948 Olympic Games in London and the Melbourne games in 1956. He was able to compete in the Greek wrestling team at both games because he was considered a Greek national although he was naturalised as an Australian. The IPS raised funds through an appeal to send Speros Defteros to the Olympic Games in London.A coloured photograph of a dark blue Olympic blazer hanging on a wooden coat hanger.

The identity card was issued to Speros Defteros who was a participant in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne. He was a member of the Greek wrestling team and competed in the light heavy weight freestyle event. Although at the time of the Games Spiros was residing in Australia (Bentleigh Victoria) he was still a Greek national and therefore could compete in the Greek team. A coloured photograph of a competitor's card for the Greek Olympic team for the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. The card includes a photograph of the competitor, his details and the sport he is competing in.

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 children were photographed at an Ithacan picnic which was held at one of the racecourses in the Melbourne area in the 1930s. The annual Ithacan picnic is one of the most enduring events for the Ithacan community of Melbourne where generations of families gather to reconnect with heritage. The children photographed were all second generation Australian born children with Ithacan born parent/s. Up until the post second world war period Ithacans were the largest Greek community in Melbourne.A sepia photograph of a large group of children standing in a racecourse in front of a fence with a small judges box immediately behind the group. They have been arranged in three rows with the row in front sitting on the grass and the remaining two rows standing behind them.