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

From January 1959 and until 1982, “Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures”, owned by Mr Peter Yannoudes (Παναγιώτης Γιαννούδης) and Mr Stathis Raftopoulos (Στάθης Ραφτόπουλος) travelled around Australia to entertain the Greek, Turkish, Indian and Yugoslav speaking population of Australia and provide a significant cinema culture. They travelled as far as Perth in WA, Adelaide in SA, Tasmania, Darwin in Nt, Canberra in ACT and Sydney and NSW. However they found themselves also in places like Berri and Renmark in NSW, where concentrations of migrants lived and thrived during the period. Initially they were travelling by train, carrying all their equipment by hand and placing them in boxes and suitcases. However after 1962 when they acquired their first automobile, travelling became less of a burden, nevertheless cumbersome and laborious. They carried with them initially two portable projectors (second one as a backup) and at times travelled with a third in order to ensure that technology will not be letting them down at the time of film projection. At times the films were projected onto a white sheet of cloth because there was no proper screen to project it on at the venue they were using.Primary historic significance in the context that it was used, as well as rarity significanceMetal adjustable height, hand operated drill. Rusty appearance. It seems to have a small piece at the bottom broken off, but still in working order according to Mr P. Yiannoudes. This drill was used to drill holes in cinema light carbon sticks in order to extend their life.drill, carbon, film, entertainment, greek, language, hand, yiannoudes, γιαννούδης, τρυπάνι

The photograph was taken outside the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church East Melbourne following a celebratory eulogy marking the unification of the Heptanese (seven islands) with Greece in 1864. The Heptanese are located in Western Greece in the Ionian Sea. They include Kerkira, Zakinthos, Lefkada, Ithaca, Paxos, Kefallonia, and Kythera. The celebration is organised each year by Melbourne's Heptanesean Federation and commences with a celebratory church eulogy followed by afternoon tea and cultural activities at the host clubrooms. The women are dressed in traditional dress of each island .Ithaca (and the other islands of the Heptanese) were unified with Greece in 1864. From approx 1500 Ithaca was under centuries-long Venetian rule, which largely preserved it from becoming part of the Ottoman Empire, thus creating a distinct cultural identity with Venetian influences. Following a brief period in 1797 of French rule, Ithaca became a British protectorate from 1809 until 1864 followng which the island was reunified with the modern Greek state. Although Ithacans made up the largest number of Greek migrants who settled in Melbourne in the first half of the twentieth century, other Greeks from the neighbouring Ionian Islands also migrated to Australia during those years. In particular from Lefkada, and also from Kythera most of whom settled in regional towns in New South Wales and Queensland.A newspaper cutting mounted on white cardboard which includes a photograph taken in front of a brick building with a caption below in Greek. The photograph is of a celebration and features eight ladies dressed in Greek traditional dress in front of a group of people. The celebrations by the Heptanesian Federation of Melbourne for the 135th anniversary of the unification of the the seven Ionian islands with mother Greece, commence tomorrow with a celebratory eulogy at the The Holy Temple of the Evangelismos Church East Melbourne. The afternoon of the same day at the Lefkadian Brotherhood Hall, 12A Bell St; Coburg, the Federation has organised a cultural and musical afternoon dedicated to 'The Seven Diamonds of the Ionian'. The program will feature a talk, 'Angelos Sikelianos, an environmentalist, before his time', by Mr. N.Sofokleos; recitations from Stathis Raftopoulos and Thanasis Makrigeorgos; and Heptanesian melodies and songs from the choir and orchestra of the Educational Group of Florina, Melbourne. At the conclusion , savoury snacks, coffee and sweets will be served. Entry is free. In the photo, a snapshot of last year's event.eptanesian

From January 1959 and until 1982, “Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures”, owned by Mr Peter Yannoudes (Παναγιώτης Γιαννούδης) and Mr Stathis Raftopoulos (Στάθης Ραφτόπουλος) travelled around Australia to entertain the Greek, Turkish, Indian and Yugoslav speaking population of Australia and provide a significant cinema culture. They travelled as far as Perth in WA, Adelaide in SA, Tasmania, Darwin in Nt, Canberra in ACT and Sydney and NSW. However they found themselves also in places like Berri and Renmark in NSW, where concentrations of migrants lived and thrived during the period. Initially they were travelling by train, carrying all their equipment by hand and placing them in boxes and suitcases. However after 1962 when they acquired their first automobile, travelling became less of a burden, nevertheless cumbersome and laborious. They carried with them initially two portable projectors (second one as a backup) and at times travelled with a third in order to ensure that technology will not be letting them down at the time of film projection. At times the films were projected onto a white sheet of cloth because there was no proper screen to project it on at the venue they were using. This projector stand was the actual projector stand used in their trips around Australia.Historic and rarity (only one left that was used by "Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures") Primary significanceMetal construction Projector tripod with a cloth on top to stop damaging the projectors. It has an adjustable height depending that extends to about 1.5 metres.T.J.N. Macey - Toolmaker and Manufacturing Engineerstand, tripod, projector, film, culture, language, greek, entertainment, yiannoudes, γιαννούδης, τρίποδο

From January 1959 and until 1982, “Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures”, owned by Mr Peter Yannoudes (Παναγιώτης Γιαννούδης) and Mr Stathis Raftopoulos (Στάθης Ραφτόπουλος) travelled around Australia to entertain the Greek, Turkish, Indian and Yugoslav speaking population of Australia and provide a significant cinema culture. They travelled as far as Perth in WA, Adelaide in SA, Tasmania, Darwin in Nt, Canberra in ACT and Sydney and NSW. However they found themselves also in places like Berri and Renmark in NSW, where concentrations of migrants lived and thrived during the period. Initially they were travelling by train, carrying all their equipment by hand and placing them in boxes and suitcases. However after 1962 when they acquired their first automobile, travelling became less of a burden, nevertheless cumbersome and laborious. They carried with them initially two portable projectors (second one as a backup) and at times travelled with a third in order to ensure that technology will not be letting them down at the time of film projection. At times the films were projected onto a white sheet of cloth because there was no proper screen to project it on at the venue they were using. This winder was part of the equipment they carried around Australia Historical significance Primarily as it is the actual unit used to manually rewind all films.A film rewinding gadget, perhaps home made, with a wooden base, two reels, and an metal winder used for transferring the film from one reel to the next."Premier - Made in England"winder, film, entertainment, language, greek, yiannoudes, γιαννούδης, plutarch

One of the three projectors used in every trip was this 16mm Portable Projector, which was used taken to about 60 towns and cities around Australia, as Mr Yiannoudes states. This projector is in working condition serviced by Mr Yiannoudes himself regularly. It is an optical and magnetic sound projector, a rare one of its type.Primary historic significance as well as rarity significanceFrom January 1959 and until 1982, “Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures”, owned by Mr Peter Yannoudes (Παναγιώτης Γιαννούδης) and Mr Stathis Raftopoulos (Στάθης Ραφτόπουλος) travelled around Australia to entertain the Greek, Turkish, Indian and Yugoslav speaking population of Australia and provide a significant cinema culture. They travelled as far as Perth in WA, Adelaide in SA, Tasmania, Darwin in Nt, Canberra in ACT and Sydney and NSW. However they found themselves also in places like Berri and Renmark in NSW, where concentrations of migrants lived and thrived during the period. Initially they were travelling by train, carrying all their equipment by hand and placing them in boxes and suitcases. However after 1962 when they acquired their first automobile, travelling became less of a burden, nevertheless cumbersome and laborious. They carried with them initially two portable projectors (second one as a backup) and at times travelled with a third in order to ensure that technology will not be letting them down at the time of film projection. At times the films were projected onto a white sheet of cloth because there was no proper screen to project it on at the venue they were using. One of the three projectors used in every trip was this 16mm Portable Projector, which was used taken to about 60 towns and cities around Australia, as Mr Yiannoudes states. This projector is in working condition serviced by Mr Yiannoudes himself regularly. It is an optical and magnetic sound projector, a rare one of its type. Apart from this projector these items were taken on each trip. -a- 3 projectors in total -b- 2 tripod stands -c- 1 20 feet x 10 feet screen -d- 6 projector lamps and 2 exider lamps for sound -e- 2 extra lamps per film to be shown -f- 1 film rewinder (see rewinder in same collection)Siemensprojector, film, magnetic, sound, optical, language, greek, siemens, german, γιαννούδης, προβολέας, yiannoudes, plutarch

The photo is taken at Marmaka beach, located in northern Ithaca near the seaside village of Frikes. Marmaka is known for its crystal clear waters and white pebbles. It was a favourite spot for locals to picnic and was usually reached by boat. A marsh located behind the beach was in the past used for mud bathing. Pictured in the third and fourth in top right are Stathi and Kassiani Raftopoulos.A black and white photograph of a group of villagers gathered around a man playing a guitar. They are singing and are having a picnic.unknown

The photograph was taken at a gathering held at the Victoria Theatre in Victoria Street Richmond in 1961. The function was held to celebrate 25th March Greek National Day. Seated in the front row second from the left with other dignitaries is Stathi Vlass who was Secretary of Melbourne's Greek Community during the 60s. He was also president of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society 1957 - 1959. Fifth from the left is Stathi's uncle, Spiros Raftopoulos who was the President of the Greek Returned Soldiers. Important national days for the Greek community are the 25 March and 28 October. 25 March commemorates the start of the Greek Revolution of 1821; it honors the Greeks' fight for freedom after being occupied by the Ottoman Empire for over 400 years. The 28th of October, known as OXI day (NO day) commemorates the rejection by Greek Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas of the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini on 28 October 1940 with a resounding NO. Subsequently Italy invaded Greece but were successfully repelled by the Greeks, delivering one of the first allied victories. However, this was met with a forceful and immediate response when In April 1941 Germany invaded Greece. Greek resistance fighters — a combination of right and left wing partisan groups — mounted a sustained guerrilla war throughout the 4 year occupation. Greece suffered 400,000 casualties during the occupation.A copied black and white photograph of a group of people seated in a large auditorium. CELEBRATION OF THE GREEK NATIONAL DAY HELD IN THE VICTORIA THEATRE/ VICTORIA ST. RICHMOND IN 1661(incorrect date) vlassopoulos

Yiannoudes Family Film Memorabilia It is normally a time consuming and difficult task to accurately assess a collection’s significance to the primary criteria, however in the case of the “Yiannoudes Family Film Memorabilia” we have no hesitation of its high significance about its historic, social, rarity, interpretive, cultural and provenance to Australia, including the country side where most of this collection memorabilia visited. From January 1959 and until 1982, “Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures”, owned by Mr Peter Yannoudes (Παναγιώτης Γιαννούδης) and Mr Stathis Raftopoulos (Στάθης Ραφτόπουλος) travelled around Australia to entertain the Greek, Turkish, Indian and Yugoslav speaking population of Australia and provide a significant cinema culture. They travelled as far as Perth in WA, Adelaide in SA, Tasmania, Darwin in Nt, Canberra in ACT and Sydney and NSW. However they found themselves also in places like Berri and Renmark in NSW, where concentrations of migrants lived and thrived during the period. Initially they were travelling by train, carrying all their equipment by hand and placing them in boxes and suitcases. However after 1962 when they acquired their first automobile, travelling became less of a burden, nevertheless cumbersome and laborious. They carried with them initially two portable projectors (second one as a backup) and at times travelled with a third in order to ensure that technology will not be letting them down at the time of film projection. At times the films were projected onto a white sheet of cloth because there was no proper screen to project it on at the venue they were using. Mr P. Yiannoudes has also published a book in October 2010, titled “Greek Cinema Across Australia – Behind the Scenes”. The book was published in two languages, English and in Greek. Details about the launch can be found on the Diasporic Literature Spot website at this address (in the Greek language) http://diasporic.org/ellinika/biblia/greek-films-in-australia/. His book is devoted to those with whom he co-operated in order to bring for the first time Greek language films into Australia. Their names are: Stathis Raftopoulos, Andreas Papadopoulos, Andreas Katopodis, Theodoros Kanellopoulos, Michael Ioannou, Fotis Hatzipavlides, Kostas Vrahnas, Evaggelos Terpenos, Dionysis Lourantos, Dimitris Georgiou, Vasilis Florias and Jim Gragie. All businessmen with the right entrepreneurial spirit to be the first and to make their mark in the making of cultural Australia. Mr P. Yiannoudes a Cypriot by descent born in the town of Vouni, a village in the area of Lemesos. In Lemesos he learned the first few things about cinema which would help him in all his later life. He migrated to Australia in 1956 has been a prominent member of the Greek & Cypriot Communities in Melbourne for many decades. He has been President of the Cypriot Community, President of Federation of Cypriot Communities in Australia (for 18 years), President of SEKA (for 26 years) and highly regarded member of the Greek-Cypriots Diaspora since he also has been Vice-President of the Global Federation of Cypriots of Diaspora for 18 years. Mr P. Yiannoudes is now working on creating a small museum of these pieces in the back of the Westgarth Theatre with the help of the Plutarch Project and …. In this collection numbering hundreds of items, we will try and capture some of the glory that was the Greek film industry in Australia for 23 years between 1959 and 1982. “Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures” also owned a large number of cinemas in Melbourne, the National Theatre in Richmond, the Westgarth Theatre in Northcote (which is still owned by the Yiannoudes family today), Sun Theatre in Yarraville, Kinema in Albert Park, Empire Theatre in Brunswick, Paramount Theatre in Oakleigh, Globe Theatre in Richmond, Galaxy Theatre in Brunswick and the Cosmopolitan Theatre in Brusnwick. At the same time they were hiring other theatres for film projections. They were the Astor Theatre in St. Kilda, Victoria Theatre in Richmond, Sunshine Theatre in Sunshine. Apart from Melbourne they were using the Pantheon Theatre in Adelaide, the Norwood Town Hall in Adelaide, the Shepparton Town Hall in Shepparton, the Premier Theatre in Perth, the Rivoli Theatre in Berri and the Renmark Theatre in Renmark. The number of films shown around Australia were over 1500 in total whilst about 1218 of them were in the Greek language. Other languages shown were in Turkish (about 150 films), Yugoslavian (about 100 films), English, French, German, Swedish, Dutch language films. “Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures” was the first company to bring Swedish and Dutch films to Australia. They also showed Martial Arts films for the first time in Australia in 1975 at the Galaxy Theatre in Melbourne. However one of the most significant pieces that tell the story with places and dates is the Show Logbook. The Show Logbook has a large number of stories to tell. It is still intact and in fair condition after all these years of travelling around Australia. It is categorised with an alphabetic index on the right by film title. Greek, Indian, Turkish and Yugoslav language film titles adorn its pages alongside the place where they were first shown, the towns and cities they visited and the dates for each one. It is an extremely significant part of history of the settlement of migrants in Australia. This Log Book is of Primary Significance to the "Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures" and the Yiannoudes family film memorabilia collection. It has a Historic, Social, Provenance and Rarity significance for the settlement of migrants in Australia and the entertainment industry.This is the Log Book, manually updated and used by "Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures" for films shown in different parts of AustraliaCollins Stock Records Booklogbook, films, shown, cultural, language, greek, australia, γιαννούδης, κατάσταση, yiannoudes

The photograph was taken at an Ithacan Philanthropic Society annual picnic held at Bacchus Marsh. The men picture are all wearing badges. People attending the picnics received a medallion shaped badge which they wore while at the picnic. Race officials also wore a special badge (with ribbon) to identify them. Pictured standing from left to right, Alkinos Paizes, Gerasimos Raftopoulos (Bourlotos) and Spiros Paizis-Danias; seated from left to right Orpheas (?), Andreas Papadopoulos, Andreas Zavitsanos, Stathi Kallinikos and Con Zervos. A sepia photograph of eight men photographed in a park. Three are standing behind five men who are seated. The names of the men are written in Greek on the back of the photograph. vendouras, alkinoos

Photographed is Stathi (Efstathios) Vlassopoulos (Vlass) (Kopela) arrived in Melbourne in 1932 and headed to Mildura where his father Dimitrios Vlassopoulos, was established. From there he moved to Hopetoun and operated his own cafe business. He later returned to Melbourne where operated the Metro Cafe in Swanston Street, Melbourne. He sent the photograph to his Aunt Anastasia (Tasia Raftopoulos-Florence) who was living in the village of Platrithia on the island of Ithaca in Greece.Stathi Vlass was very active in Greek community affairs and was secretary of Melbourne's Greek Community and president of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society from 1957 to 1959, during which time he lead the building of Ithaca House in Elizabeth Street. He also published the first daily Greek newspaper 'Ta Nea' in Melbourne. A studio sepia photograph with a cream border in post card format of a smartly dressed man,who is wearing a double breasted suit and standing beside a chair. A message is written in Greek on the back of the photograph.Translated from the Greek: To my dearest Thea Anastasia/ A memento of love/rom your nephew/ E.D./ Vlassopoulos.vlass

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

A group of Ithacans, all of whom had migrated to Melbourne before WW2, on board a ship farewelling Spiro Raftopoulos who was returning to Ithaca, Greece. Front row L-R: Spiro Raftopoulos, Peter Kallinikos (Peter Collins), Con Kallinikos, Gerasimos Dellaportas. Standing L-R: Unknown, Nicos (Nikoli) Moriatis, Spiros Kallinikos, unknown, Andreas Moraitis, Stathis Kavadeas, Peter Zapatos, unknown. A black and white photograph of eleven men and a boy standing on the deck of a ship. The men are dressed in suits and some are wearing overcoats and hats. Stamped on the back: ITHACAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY INCORPORATED/ 329 ELIZABETH STREET MELBOURNE/VICTORIA 3000 AUSTRALIA/ PO BOX 611D MELBOURNE 3001/ TELEPHONE (03) 670 0230greek diaspora

This is a family photograph of Spiros Raftopoulos (Levendi), his wife Hariklia and sons Stathi and Naki, and daughter, Apostolo (Loula). The photograph was taken about circa 1937, four years after the family arrived in Australia (1934) and settled in Merbein . Spiro had been to Australia earlier in 1922; his brothers John and Efthimio Raftopoulos (Fiakas) were were well established with businesses in Mildura and surrounding towns.A laminated copy of a family group studio photograph. Three men are standing behind a lady who is seated in front with a little girl.family photograph, mildura, greek businesses

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

Printed in 1986, the Articles of Association in this booklet were revision of the 1944 articles. It was printed in 1986. The revision resulted in the deletion of a small paragraph in Article 16. The correction was handwritten on the relevant page. At a special meeting of the Society on 5 May 1996 the resolution was passed to restore the relevant phrase to the set of articles. The original Articles of Association were developed when the Ithacan Philanthropic Society became a registered company in June 1944 .A small booklet with a pink cover and black printing with the insignia of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society above the title on the front cover with thirty two printed pages on the inside.MEMORANDUM/AND/ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION/OF THE/ITHACAN PHILANTHROPIC/SOCIETY/"THE ULYSSES'lucas, victor harold, raftopoulos, peter john, paizes,stratos, razos, andrew, trochalis, stathis, chilianis, george, paizis, nicholas, vlasopoulos, vaseli, gray, b.w

Stathy Raftopoulos was instrumental in bring Greek films to Melbourne and screened them in various picture theatres in the inner Melbourne suburbs where most post WW2 migrants were living. Prior to the opening of Greek cinemas various venues were used for screenings including Nicholas Hall in Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.With the advent of television many suburban cinemas were no longer drawing the crowds. It was at this time that Stathi Raftopoulos with his partners in the Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures company purchased cinemas in the in suburbs of Melbourne where Greek immigrants were living - in 1960 the National Theatre in Richmond; 1961 the Sun Theatre Yarraville; 1965, the Paramount Theatre Oakleigh, Kinema Theatre Albert Park, and the Empire Theatre Brunswick and Westgarth Theatre Northcote. Here they screened Greek movies which entertained the Greek community supporting them to maintain their link with Greece and their culture and traditions. A black and white photograph of a man standing between two film projectors in a room.

The photograph was taken at an Ithacan picnic held at Mentone Racecourse in 1935. Members of the IPS Committee are pictured with their families together with two official guests, Father Theophylaktos Papathanasopoulos from the Melbourne Orthodox Parish, and Father Timotheos Evangelimides, the Archbishop of the Greek Church in Australia, both pictured standing in the centre of the group. Vicki Raftopoulos(Black) is seated 3rd from the left and Arthur Raftopoulos is standing 3rd from right and Stathi Trohoulas is standing far right. Melbourne's first Greek Orthodox Church 'Evangelismos' in Victoria Parade East Melbourne was consecrated in 1901. Ithacans, as members of the Greek Orthodox Community, were directly involved in its establishment. A.J.Lucas the founding president of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society was one of a number of prominent Greeks who advanced funds to help with the purchase of the East Melbourne site upon which the church was built. The building of the church was financed through the contributions of funds from the local Greek community.A black and white photograph mounted on grey board of a picnic group sitting and standing around a table set out with food and drinks under trees. A bus is parked and just visible behind the group. Detail of the people in the photograph and other information is written in Greek on the back of the pghotograph.