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

The photograph of family and friends was taken at the baptism of Maria Lourantos which took place at St. Eustathios Greek Orthodox Church in South Melbourne in January 1971. Photographed from L-R: Chris Lourantos, Jim Kandiliotis, Chris Kandiliotis, Anastasios Lourantos, Nick Kouvaras (back of photo), Jim James (Dimitrios Yiannoutsos), Louis Razos, John Alexandratos (Alexander), Costas Vlassopoulos.A black and white photograph of seven men in suits standing outside a church. efstathios, christening, giannoutsos

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 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

Pictured are a group enjoying coffee somewhere in Greece. Standing are Maria and Zaharia Moraitis (Morris); seated: unknown, unknown, Erasmia Brown (nee Benias). Zaharia and Maria returned to Ithaca from Melbourne in the 1970s. Erasmia lived in Newcastle and returned annually to Ithaca to visit family. Greek coffee is served in small cups accompanied with a glass of water. A faded coloured photograph of five people around a table enjoying coffee. Three are seated at the table and two are standing behind them. A large window is behind the group who are drinking Greek coffee from small cups. There are glasses of water on the table.

The Ithacan Philanthropic Society Executive Committee 1991. Pictured L-R: Back row - Dennis Katsamas, George Coutsouvelis, Anthony Drakopoulos, John Tscoucalas, Christos Lourantos. Front row - Antoni Razos, Maria Dellas, Sia Andrews (President), Helen Vlass, Nick LourantosAlthough women played a very active role in the organisation of social functions and fund raising activities, they were not eligible to become full members until 1985 after which they could also be elected to the executive committee. Prior to this there was a Ladies' Committee formed in 1944 which organised social events. Sia Andrews, Maria Dellas and Helen Vlass were the first women to be elected to the executive committee in 1985. In 1991, in the Society's 75th year, Sia Andrews became the first female president. A coloured photograph of the executive committee of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society photographed standing in front of an honour board. Five men are standing behind three women and two men who are seated.

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.

Photographed are Diamando and Yianni Raftopoulos (Bourlotos) and Diamando's sister, Maria Paizis. They are pictured in the village of Kioni in Ithaca.A black and white photograph of two ladies and a man standing under an olive tree.

IPS treasurer Eugenia Vlass-Tsalikis and president Anthony Drakopoulos together with Maria Johnson were guests at a function at MacRobertson Girls' High School, which was held in honour of Loula Rodopoulos (nee Raftopoulos). Loula was very active the community and was a board member of the Victorian Women's Trust. The mural behind the guests depicts some of the Greek myths of the sea, the woodlands, the mountains and the rivers. A coloured photograph of two ladies and a man standing in front of a large mural in a gallery.

The family group were at an Ithacan annual picnic held at Bacchusv Marsh some time before 1939. Standing from l-r: Thomas Raftopoulos, Chrisaro Raftopoulos, Orestis Raftopoulos. Middle row l-r: Unknown, Maria Raftopoulos (Kavadias) and Nina Black. Front row: Children unidentified.A black and white photograph of three ladies and three men with three girls and two boys standing and sitting on the grass in a sports ground with people in the background as well as a wooden shed.

The group were photographed at a dance held at Ithaca House some time in the late 1960s. Photographd from L-R: .?. Razos and Maria Lourantos, Athena Zafiratos (nee Mavrokefalos) and Nick Zafiratos and one of their daughters, unknown, unknow, Nina Raftopoulos, John Raftopoulos and John Razos.The building of Ithaca House, clubrooms of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society, was completed in 1958 and continues to be the meeting place and for members of the Society. Over the years the club has held many successful social functions for members at Ithaca House. During 1960s the Ithacan Philanthropic Society held regular dances on Tuesday nights at their club rooms which were very popular. The dances were held on Tuesday nights because many of the members were either stall holders in local markets or had fruit shops in the suburbs and they did not have to start early the following morning because the retail market was closed on Wednesdays.A black and white photograph of four ladies and four men with three girls seated around a table at a social function.

The Karametos family at the Year 12 Awards function at Ithaca House. Standing at the back from L-R: Anna Maria Megalogenis, Barbara and Jason Karametos and Ioakeim Megalogenis. Seated in the front from L-R: Stavros and Froso Karametos, and Eleni and George Karametos.Since its inception the Ithacan Philanthropic Society has held many functions throughout each year, some with a philanthropic purpose while others have been social functions. These events have given the members a sense of belonging and keep family and friendship groups together.A coloured photograph of a family group of three generations. There are four men and four women in the group. Two men and two ladies are seated in the front and the others are standing behind them.

Pictured are Maria Paxinos and Dino Maccioca on their wedding day in 1993. Maria is the daughter of Thoma and Eleftheria Paxinos.A coloured photograph os a bride and groom arriving at a reception centre.

The striking fabric of this wall hanging was recovered from the sinking Schomberg. It was originally one of the many curtains adorning the captain’s cabin and ladies’ saloons that attracted first-class passengers to this luxury vessel, built for comfort and speed. The clipper ship was on its maiden voyage, full of passengers emigrating to Australia in 1855. Its commander was Captain James Nicol Forbes, who had been selected by James Baine & Co for his navigation skills, experience, and reputation for breaking sailing records. However, on December 26th, 1855, the vessel became stranded and sank west of Cape Otway, not quite reaching its destination of Melbourne. A reporter explored the Schomberg before its journey; the following detailed description is an excerpt of his article published in a newspaper after the disastrous voyage was announced. “ … descending by a flight of stairs, covered with carpet of a very rich pattern, we came to the saloon passengers’ cabin. This is a noble place, and all that refined taste would suggest has been done to make each berth a miniature palace. The bedding is of the very best material, and the fittings are replete with every convenience. The carpets are of various coloured velvet pile, and the curtains are of satin damask, lined with white satin … The fronts of the berths are highly decorated, and festoons of flowers are painted on the panels … No two berths are furnished with the same-coloured material … the visitor is, therefore, much pleased with the variety which he has to inspect….” (Trove: Shipping Gazette and Sydney General Trade, 31 Dec 1955, p. 283) The curtain material, ‘folded into a single piece and parcelled for protection’, has been passed down through generations of Captain Forbes’ relatives, starting with his half-sister Isabella Jeffrey Nicol. The curtain has remained with the family, although some transition details are incomplete. About a century later, Isabella and Blakiston Robinson’s great-grandson and his wife had the fabric professionally mounted as a wall hanging to showcase the beauty of the woven brocade. Eventually, the custodianship of the curtain was transferred to the donor, who is also a great-grandson of Isabella and Blakiston. He and his wife hung the curtain on the wall of a high-ceilinged room in their home, away from direct light, making it visible for all to appreciate its beauty and significance. In 2024, they donated the curtain for inclusion among the collection of artefacts that help tell the story of the Schomberg and those who sailed on its first and last voyage. The donor’s aunt was highly involved in the family’s history. She had collected and recorded information that dates back to pre-1341. A footnote included in a handwritten letter dated April 20, 1959, from the late Arthur William Rudd, OBE, MA, LLB, husband of another of the donor’s aunts, states, “The curtains you mentioned came from the Schomberg. AWR.” CAPTAIN JAMES NICOL FORBES (1821-1874) and the donor’s family: - Captain Forbes was born in Aberdeen. In his late teens, he moved to Liverpool, a hub for international trade and an emigration port. By the age of 25, he was master of the Prince of Waterloo and later, the Wakefield. He then commanded the Cleopatra for the James Baines Co., which, two years later, transferred him to command the Maria, providing fast and lucrative passage to the gold fields in Ballarat, Australia. James Baines Co. and shipbuilder Thomas Mackay formed the Black Ball Line of clipper ships in 1852. Forbes was appointed master of the largest ship in the fleet, the marvellous Marco Polo. He broke the record time for the passage to Australia, taking only 68 days at sea, and the return journey in only 76 days, a total of 5 months and 21 days. On his second voyage to Melbourne in the Marco Polo the following year, he took 75 days, and 95 days on the return trip. His accomplishment made him famous. James Baines reported that the Marco Polo was the only ship, sail or steam, to do the round trip within 6 months, and it had done it twice. Captain Forbes then took command of the American-built clipper Lightning, one of four built for the Black Ball line. His 19-year-old half-sister, Isabella Jaffray Nicol, was also onboard when he sailed for Melbourne in 1854. During the 77-day voyage, Isabella met Blakiston Robinson, and not long after the ship arrived in Melbourne on July 31, the couple married, with James Nicol Forbes as a witness, on August 16. When Forbes returned to Liverpool, he took a record-breaking 63 days, which has never been bettered. James Baines Co. ordered a new luxury emigrant ship from Alexander Hall of Aberdeen; the Schomberg was the largest sailing ship ever built in Britain. On October 6, 1855, the vessel departed Liverpool commanded by Captain Forbes, with 430 passengers on board, 54 of whom were First Class. It had almost completed its voyage to Melbourne when, on the night of December 26, it ran aground west of Cape Otway. Captain Doran, master of the steamer Queen, responded to the distress signal while on its way to Portland and, with the agreement of his passengers, rescued as many as possible from the Schomberg and returned to Melbourne with them. Captain Helpman, master of the steamer Champion, rescued most of the remaining Schomberg passengers on December 27. On Friday, 28th, Captain James Lawrence was on his way to Adelaide in the steamer Burra Burra, and called past the Schomberg. He reported that the remaining crew were all doing their duties, but the Schomberg was deteriorating on a sand spit and had about 16 feet of water in its hold. That same day, the schooner Jane Elizabeth collected 220 packages of passengers’ luggage to deliver to Melbourne on the 29th. Two steamers also arrived on the 29th with 20 men to collect passengers’ luggage and valuable ship’s cargo items. They were accompanied by water police, customs agents, company representatives and a Lloyds agent. The decision was made to abandon ship on the 30th due to rough and unsafe conditions. The officials and Captain Forbes voyaged to Melbourne, while the seamen remained behind awaiting rescue. Evacuation by sea became too risky, so on January 2, 1856, while the first Mate and Steward remained at the wreck site, the rest of the crew began the 70-mile march to Warrnambool, led by the band. They arrived on January 5th and left for Melbourne on the steamer Champion on January 10th. Parts of the Schomberg wreck ended up in New Zealand. The curtain is important for its connection to the Schomberg, which was unique for being designed and built in Aberdeen, and commanded by an Aberdonian who was the most celebrated clipper captain of the age. The ship was the largest sailing ship ever built in Britain, and reported as the largest vessel that sailed to Australia. The curtain is an example of the rich decorative furnishings available in 1855. The preservation and respect the donor and his family have shown towards the curtain over many decades reflect its important role in telling the family’s history; the journey, the romantic attachment, the family connection to the sea, and travel in gold rush times. The curtain is significant for its connection to James Nocol Forbes, a famous sailing ship commander who broke several sailing records, one of which has never been bettered. This wall hanging, also known as the Schomberg Curtain, was created from a curtain recovered from the stranded luxury ship Schomberg in December 1855. The woven satin damask fabric in blue and cream has been meticulously joined to blend the intricate pattern. The reverse features a soft cream lining. The hems at the top and bottom of the fabric hold wooden rods. The side edges feature decorative braid that has been hand-stitched in place. On the reverse, the bottom hem includes the same braid, which remains unseen from the front, and the centre of the top hem has a hand-worked, unused buttonhole. Each of the hems varies in depth. The curtain was tastefully mounted later to highlight the beauty of the original saloon curtain. A decorative twisted cord of cream silk threads, accented with gold highlights and decorative tassels, was coiled and attached to the ends of the top rod. The elegant display was completed with an ornate gold hook, chosen to complement the wall hanging.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, shipwreck artefact, memorabilia, curtain, saloon curtain, schomberg, wall hanging, decorative object, domestic item, warrnambool, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, maritime history, shipwreck, stranding, schomberg curtain, schomberg wall hanging, luxury ship, 1855, damask, silk damask, blue and cream, captain’s cabin, ladies’ saloon, clipper ship, migrant, emigrant, liverpool to australia, captain james nicol forbes, james forbes, captain forbes, bully forbes, james baines & co, james baines, cape otway, aberdeen, prince of waterloo, wakefield, cleopatra, maria, thomas mackay, black ball line, marco polo, sailing record, lightning, isabella jaffray nocol, blakiston robinson, alexander hall, steamer queen, captain helpman, james lawrence, steamer burra burra, steamer jane elizabeth, water police, customs agents, lloyds agent, ship’s band, walk to warrnambool, march to warrnambool, steamer champion, agnes nicol robinson, arthur william rudd obe ma llb