The annual IPS picnic was an important event where family and friends would get together. From left Nicholas Kavadeas, Marigo Kavadeas (nee Raftopoulos), Yianni Raftopoulos (Patakia).Buses were hired to transport members to the picnic as very few owned their own cars during the in the early years. Bus travel to the picnic continued through to the 70s although by then the majority travelled by private cars. The bus trips were very convivial with singing of popular Greek folk music. Black and white photograph of two men and a lady standing in front of a bus. There is a white border around the photo.Ithacan picnic Circa Early 30s

The dowry agreement was between Costas Raftopoulos and Joyia Karanze, who were married on 12 October 1924. In the agreement Costa Raftopoulos was to give Joyia items of furniture when they were married. Dowry agreements were an important aspect of an impending marriage between engaged couples.A photograph of a letter written in English outlining a dowry Agreement.

The photograph was taken at the wedding of Spiro and Effie Cominos (nee Raftopoulos) in 1951. In the front from L-R: Nina Kallinikos, Diamantina Cominos (nee Vlassopoulos) and baby Xenofon, the bride's sister, Aspasia (Sia) Raftopoulos. Standing back L-R: Gerry and Elly Galatis, Diogenis Cominos, Spiro and Effie Cominos and the bride's parents, George and Ioulia Raftopoulos. A sepia studio photograph of a wedding party. There are eleven people in the group and they have been photographed in from of drapes. Information about the people in the photograph has been written on the back.

The photograph was taken at an Ithacan picnic, possibly at Bacchus Marsh Seated from left to right: Raftopoulos Spyros, Florias Harry, Kastavinos Zervos, Raftopoulos Athanasios, Karpouzis George, Varvarigos Platon, Standing from left to right: Tsilianos George, Anagnostatos Hector, Raftopoulos Panagiotis, Defteros Christos, Lekatsas Angelos, Mavrokefalos Gerasimos, Megalogenis Dennis, Razos Andreas.The annual picnic was a regular event in Melbourne amongst the Ithacan community. For many decades the picnic was held at Maddingley Park, Bacchus Marsh. In 1980 Ferny Creek became the venue for the annual picnic. A black and white photograph mounted on cardboard. A group of 16 men dressed in casual clothes and seated in 2 rows, in an outdoor setting under trees.The names of all the people in the photograph have been written in both Greek and English on the back. picnic, bacchus marsh, maddingley park

Members of the Raftopoulos (Bourlotos) family are pictured in a rowing boat on the bay in Kioni Ithaca. Yianni Raftopoulos is rowing and seated closest to him is his wife Diamando (Manto). Seated at the front of the boat is Panoyiannis Raftopoulos. This photo would have been before Panoyiannis migrated to Australia in 1937. Peter was elected Secretary of the IPS only about a year after he came to Melbourne. A black and white photograph of two men and ladies seated towards the stern of a rowing boat near a small port in Ithaca. There are some houses along the shore line. The group are well dressed which seems to indicate that they may have been heading to a celebratory event.

The photograph was taken in Ithaca, possibly in the village of Kioni where those in the photo are all from, hence the term Kiniotes (ie people from Kioni). Pictured from L-R: Diamando (Mando) Raftopoulos , Yianni Raftopoulos (Tsagaris) and Kalypso Sofianos (nee Raftopoulos). The identity of the little girl is uncertain. She could be Tasia Diamond (nee Paizis) the daughter of Nick and Dora Paizis. All in the photo eventually emigrated to Australia and settled in Melbourne. The population of Kioni, and the rest of the villages on Ithaca, began to decline from the beginning of the 20th century. By the 1950s, following the mass migration of the post war and post 1953 earthquakes, the population declined dramatically, leaving only a few hundred permanent residents.A black and white photograph of two ladies, a man and a little girl; standing in front of a hedge with some rocks behind them.

The five men are members of the Greek Returned Soldiers. They are from L-R: J. Panagiotopoulos, D. Elefantis, P. Christou and Spiro E. Raftopoulos (Levendis). Spiros Raftopoulos who was president of the organisation from 1944 - 1968.A sepia photograph of five men, who are all dressed in suits and wearing hats. They are standing on a bridge.

Arthur Koutsouvelis and Aspasia (Sia) Raftopoulos were attending a wedding at Evaengelismos Orthodox Church in East Melbourne some time in the early 1950s. Aspasia was the daughter of George and Ioulia Raftopoulos who lived at Park Street, Brunswick. Weddings along with baptisms are important events celebrated in the Greek Orthodox Church.A black and white photograph of two people photographed outside a brick building.

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.

The family group were attending the 1954 annual Ithacan Ball. Pictured are sisters Aspasia and Vicky (nee Raftopoulos) together with their father and husbands. L-R: Mr Raftopoulos (Klapatsouras), Vicky and Michael Black, Aspasia and Anastasios Flocas. The Ithacan Ball has been a popular event on the annual calendar of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society for many years.A black and white photograph of two ladies and three men in formal dress at a function.

The people are photographed outside the Greek Orthodox church, Evangelismos in East Melbourne and were guests at a wedding. From L-R: George Coutsouvelis and his mother Anastasia Coutsouvelis, Peter Raftopoulos (Kapnisis) and his son Dennis, and Joanna Raftopoulos (Peliana).A black and white photograph with a white surrounding border of two ladies, a man and two young boys standing outside a church with other guests in the background.

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.

Pictured at an Ithacn Historical Society (IHS) meeting are members of the IHS Committee and members of the the of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society. They are from L-R: Chrissa Raftopoulos, Lula Black, Dennis Cominos, Peter Paxinos, unknown, unknown, Kay and Andrew Raftopoulos and Anna Vlass.A coloured photograph of five ladies and three men sitting at a meeting around a table in a room.

The Spot Cafe was in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne and owned by Athanasios Raftopoulos, Michalis Mavrokefalos and Anastasios Flocas. It was one of the many cafes owned and run by Ithacans in Melbourne's CBD in the 1930s and 1940s. Arthur Raftopoulos and Hector Andrews are standing 2nd and 3rd left in the photograph. Many Ithacans established businesses throughout the CBD and inner suburbs. These establishments also provided employment for other family members and friends as during the first half of the twentieth century migrants from Southern Europe were often unable to find employment in the wider Australian community.A black and white photograph mounted on grey board with a darker grey border of the interior of a restaurant. Tables set out with white tablecloths are in the foreground with four men standing behind them and a man and two ladies are standing in curtained cubicles in the background.ithacan businesses.

Stathi Raftopoulos is pictured performing as a magician under the name of 'Rafto the Magician'. Stathi Raftopoulos pursued a range of creative interests throughout his lifetime in the Greek and the broader Australian communities. Interests included performing as a magician, acting in Greek theatre productions, poetry writing and reciting, Ithacan family history, film and cinema, and painting. He was also an avid collector of memorabilia. At Ithacan funerals Stathi would be called upon to recite a poem in memory of the deceased which was always so nostalgic and evocative of the Ithacan migrant experience that there would be hardly a dry eye in the church.A black and white photograph of a man dressed in a dinner suit and wearing a top hat. He is holding playing cards in one hand and a walking cane in the other. The photograph has a cream border.

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.

Panoyiannis (Peter) Raftopoulos arrived in Australia in 1937 on the RMS STRAITHAIRD. Travel to Australia between the He married Evgenia Raftopulos and they had two children, Loula and Spearos. Peter was the brother of Kalypso Sofianos nee Raftopoulos. Peter was secretary of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society 1938-1949 and 1953 and an Honorary Life Member.Between the world wars migrants made the long journey to Australia on steamships such as the STRAITHAIRD. Then came the ocean liners which remained the main form of transportation for immigrants to Australia until well into the 1960s. By the 1970s, the wave of post-war migration by ocean liner to Australia was largely over. With fewer migrants coming to Australia, travel was mainly by air.A scanned photograph of the P&O liner, RMS STRAITHAIRD on a voyage. P&O. RMS "STRAITHAIRD' 22 500 TONS/INDIA AND AUSTRALIA MAIL AND PASSENGER SERTVICE.

The photograph was taken at a gathering at the premises of the Greek Returned Soldiers at 142 Russell Street in Melbourne some time in the early 1950s. Spiro Raftopoulos (Levendi), president of the organisation, is seated on the left at the head of the table; his son Stathi Raftopoulos is seated on the right, sixth down. The solicitor, Mr. Zilores, is sitting next to Spiros.A black and white photograph of a group of men sitting around a long table in a meeting room which has been set out for refreshments. A photograph of a man is hanging on the back wall and an honour board is on the RHS.Stamped in black on the back: 192

Stathi Raftopoulos together with unknown person viewing a photographic display from Stathi's personal collection. Stathi was an avid collector of memorabilia and photographs. He donated a large part of his collection to LaTrobe University's Greek Archives collection.A coloured photograph of to men standing in front of a display of photgraphs mounted on a board.

Stathi Raftopoulos, pictured third from the left , served in the Civilian Military Forces during WW2.Young Greek and Australian-Greek men joined the Australian Defence Forces during World War 2 and served in various capacities. 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 four men in army uniform standing against a large piece of machinery.wwii

The photograph of the Raftopoulos (Balatsikos) family and other Ithacans was taken at an Ithacan Picnic some time in the 1930s.Raftopoulos or Raftopulos, is a common Ithacan surname. A family nickname 'paratsoukli', such as Balatsikos, was often used to identify different family branches with the same surname. Personal nicknames, as opposed to family nicknames, were also common. A sepia photograph with a white border a group of 11 people in the country, standing and sitting around a car. Another small group are standing behind on the RHS of the photo.

A studio photo the young man, L. N. Raftopoulos, sent to his Uncle Gerasimos and Aunt Zovenia.It was common for individuals and families to have portrait photos taken to send to family back home. A sepia studio photograph in post card format of a well dressed young man with a moustache. A message in Greek is written on the back of the photograph.

The photograph was taken when Stathi Raftopoulos was seserved with the Civilian Military Forces during World War 2. Young Greek and Australian-Greek men joined the Australian Defence Forces during World War 2 and served in various capacities. 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 fifteen men wearing army style clothing and light coloured berets sitting around and relaxing.wwii, army

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.

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.

Niko and Zaharati Vlassopoulos (Kopela) returned to live permanently in Ithaca in the 1980s. They lived in Niko's paternal home in Lahos and during the summers welcomed many visitors from Australia. In the photograph are: Helen Vlass (sister-in-law to Niko) and Kassiani Raftopoulos, both of whom were visiting from Australia, and locals Artemisia Benias, Adamandina Raftopoulos and Niko and Zaharati Vlassopoulos. Ithaca in the summer time comes alive with families returning from Athens and abroad. Many Australians of Ithacan descent return regularly to enjoy the natural beauty of Ithaca and the magic of a Greek summer and to reconnect with their heritage.A coloured photograph of five women and a man seated at a round coffee table enjoying coffee/tea. kopella, entertaining

On the right is Stathi Raftopoulos and his business partner Pangiotis (Peter) Giannoudis. The photograph, taken in Sydney in 1972, at a meeting of men involved in the Greek theatre/film industry. One of the men is a Mr. Heliopolis, a member of the Greek Heliopolis Theatre visiting Australia. Stathi Raftopoulos was active in promoting Greek film and live performances in Australia from the 1950s through to the 1970s. As a result of the efforts of Stathi Raftopoulos to bring Greek theatre and films to Australia many of the post WW2 Greek immigrants who settled in Australia were able to enjoy entertainment from Greece. Stathi was a partner in the Cosmopolitan Film company which had a number cinemas in the inner suburbs of Melbourne in the 19600s - early 1980s. Although they screened almost exclusively Greek films, they were the first to bring Indian films to Australia.A black and white photograph of seven men sitting around a table in a cafe.

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.