The photo is of former IPS president Efstathios (Stathis)Raftopoulos on the occassion of the award of the Member of the British Empire in 1983.The award recognises the contribution Stathi has made to the Australian Greek community through his involvement in Greek organisations such as the IPS, the Greek Community Melbourne and AHEPA, and his promotion of Greek cinema, literature and culture in Australia. A B&W portrait photograph of Efstathios (Stathi) Raftopoulos wearing a medal and paraphernalia on the occasion of the award of the MBE.raftopoulos, efstathios, mbe, award, president, stathis

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

Archbishop Ezekeil of Australia is featured in the photo and on his right Stathi (Efstathios) Vlassopoulos. At the time of this photo Stathi was secretary of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria. Stathis Vlassopoulos was very active in Greek community affairs. In 1962 he established the first daily Greek newspaper 'Ta Nea', in Melbourne. Stathi was president of the IPS 1957-1959 and was a key driver behind the building of the 'Ithaca House', the clubrooms of the IPS. Archbishop Ezekeil was the first Archbishop of Australia in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, appointed in 1959, a period which saw the schism between the Greek Orthodox Community and the Greek Archdiocese of Australia.A black and white photograph of Greek Archbishop with other members of the Greek community standing in the background. The edges of the photograph are crimped.

Stathi Raftopoulos and his son Spiros are pictured outside shops in Merbein which were once owned by Stathi's family. The Merbein shops were owned by Efstathios Raftopoulos (Levendi) and his son Spiros Raftopoulos, grandfather and father of Stathi Raftopoulos. The family were from the village of Kolieri on the island of Ithaca, Greece and migrated for Australia at different stages. Efstathios arrivied in 1895, son Spiros in 1922, and the younger Stathi (accompanied by his father Spiro who had returned to Ithaca to see his family) in 1933. Stathis' mother Hariklia and siblings Nakis and Loula arrived soon after. The family settled in Merbein, west of Mildura, where they ran a business until the late 1930s prior to settling in Melbourne.A coloured photograph of the exterior of a corner shop. Written on the back of the photograph: MY FATHER'S SHOPS/ IN MERBEIN VIC/ 15.4.93/ STATHI & SPIRO RAFTOPOULOSraftopoulos stathi levendi, merbein

The family group photo is at the wedding of John (Yianko) Kallinikos (Collins) and Amelia (Milia) Kandiliotis. From L to R: Haralambos Kallinikos, Marigo Kallinikos, Yianko and Milia Kallinikos, Chrisoula Sikiotis (nee Kallinikos), Theodore Kandiliotis, Chrisostomi Kandiliotis (nee Deftereos Dellis) and Efstathios Kandiliotis Young boy: George Black. Flower girls from L to R: Athena Sikiotis and Danae Kandilotis.A black and white studio photograph of a wedding group. There is a curtained backdrop behind the group of four men and four ladies. a young boy and two flower girls.scotis

The elderly female, Apostolo Raftopoulos, photographed with with her daughter (Anastasia) Tasia Florias and Tasia's then future daughter-in-law Joyia Raftopoulos. Joyia married Bill Florence (Vasili Florias). The male pictured, Bob Florence, is Bill Florence's brother. They were photographed in the village of Platrithia in 1949. Apostolo was from the Vrettos/Floria family from Kolieri/Exoghi and was married to Efstathios Raftopolous (Levendi). Bill and Joyia Florence are the parents of George Florence who owned and operated the Astor Theatre. George is a descendant of one of the early Ithacan families (Raftopoulos, Levendis) who migrated to Australia in the early years of the twentieth century and settled initially in Mildura. Other members of the family arrived later and eventually settled in Melbourne and opened businesses with in the CBD.A black and white photograph of a family group of a man and two ladies standing behind a seated older lady. There is a small house and trees in the back ground. The names of the people are printed across the bottom of the photograph.TASIA FLORIA, BOB FLORENCE, JOYIA RAFTOPOULOS/ APOSTOLO RAFTOPOULOU (LEVENTI)/ PLATRITHIA CA 1949

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

Some Ithacans on arrival in Melbourne moved to the larger regional country towns and opened food vending businesses. John (Ioannis) Raftopoulos (Fiakas) was one such Ithacan who established himself in Mildura. He opened the Sport Cafe in Langtree Avenue. The Spot was an elegant and sophisticated establishment and as well as serving meals, also served the latest sundaes and cool fountain drinks. By the late 1930s he had also opened a milk bar in Mildura’s Astor Theatre. Raftopoulos was a true entrepreneur and ran a number of business in the Mildura and Red Cliffs. John's father, Efstathios Raftopoulos (Levendis) arrived in Australia in 1895 and John soon followed. John's brother-in-law Dimitrios Vlassopoulos arrived from Ithaca in 1922 and opened the Golden Key Café in Red Cliffs. Dimitrios had previously spent about 10 years in America where he gain knowledge and experience in the food and hospitality business. The Golden Key Café shared similarities with the Spot Sundae ‘Parlor’. Ithacan settlement in Mildura area dates back to the early 1900s. A black and white photograph of the interior of a cafe. There are five waitresses and two waiters; three of the women are behind a counter and the other two are standing beside the tables which are lined up on either side of the restaurant. One of the waiters is at the rear is behind a counter while the other is in the background. The restaurant is adorned with Christmas decorations and potted plants.