The leaflet encouraging members to re-elect Ithacan Konstantinos Raftopoulos (Ravinos) to the committee of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, describing him as a proven and experienced committee member. The Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne was established in 1897 by some of the first Greek residents of Melbourne, including a number of Ithacans. It is the oldest Greek organisation in Australia and the second oldest Greek organisation of the diaspora after the Greek Community of Alexandria-Egypt. It has supported the Greeks who had settled in Melbourne and established many programs such as a Greek Language School and dance classes which has helped maintain Greek culture amongst Australians of Greek descent. A photograph of a leaflet for a candidate seeking election onto the committee of the Greek Community in Melbourne.

L - R Unknown, ? Josef SZWARE, ? Cr Steve KOURAKIS, Perce Maguire WHITE.perce mcguire white, local government - city of port melbourne, stylianos(steve) kourakis, josef (jo) szwarc, "jack" the horse

Greek community newspaper. Black and white photograph of a woman sitting with a flower vase.greek community

The Passages exhibition looked back to Port Melbourne in the 1970s when the make-up of the Council changed and the Greek community became even more a part of life in Port. This CD covers the valuable contribution made by the members of the Greek community who came from Greece to make Port Melbourne their home.CD-ROM containing information relating to the Passages Exhibition launched at Port Melbourne Town Hall, 28 Aug 2017. The disc includes family stories, working documents, photographs of display items, photographs taken during the launch, Powerpoint presentation prepared by John Kirby and display panels prepared by Pat Grainger.pat grainger, jill dawson, john kirby, greek community, celebrations fetes and exhibitions

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.

Weatherboard Federation building at 84 Carrington Road, Box Hill, owned by the Greek Orthodox Community of Box Hill.greek orthodox community, houses, federation, carrington road

Pictured is Archimandrite, Daniel Maravelis with members of the Greek community in Mildura. He was born in Smyrna and was the Archimandrite of the Greek in Melbourne from 1915 to 1922. He presided over the official opening of the first IPS clubrooms located at Michael's Building, Cnr Elizabeth and Lonsdale Streets Melbourne on Sunday 23rd September 1917. Similar vehicles were used between the years 1915-1925 to travel to picnics.A black and white photograph of a vintage bus parked outside a weatherboard building which is partly hidden with vines. A two storey hotel building is on the LHS of the photograph. A priest is standing in the bus and two men and a lady are standing in front of the vehicle. Two other people are standing on the far RHS. A tent is visible in the middle distance.In Greek: Sigalis and Rita Nicolaidisgreek orthodox community

The photograph was taken at arrival of the champion Greek wrestler, Jim Londros at Moorabin Airport on 26 November 1946. He was welcomed by members of the Greek community in Melbourne which included Stathi Raftopoulos, B. Dervenis, Spiro Raftopoulo -President of Greek Returned Soldierss, Mr Hatzis, Dr. Haralambos Paroulakis and Ioannis Panagiotopoulos. Jim Londros visited Australia after his retirement from wrestling in 1946. In retirement he worked for various charitable organizations especially for the Greek orphans of World War II. The photograph was published in the Greek newspaper 'Fos'.Greeks have enjoyed the sport of wrestling since ancient times. So the visit to Australia of a former Greek wrestling champion, and one who also devoted his time to helping others, would have been an important event for members of Melbourne's Greek community in 1946. Mr Ioannis Panagiotopoulos was publisher of the 'Fos' newspaper, the only Greek newspaper at the time. Dr Paroulakis arrived in Australia late 1930s and practised 55 Collins Street till 1987. He was Head of Outpatients and Physician at St, Vincent's Hospital for 22 years. Born in Crete he also served as President of Melbourne's Cretan Brotherhood, A black and white photograph of six men standing outdoors. All the men are dressed in suits. One is also wearing a tweed coat and four are wearing hats. Written under the photograph in Greek: MEMBERS OF THE GREEK COMMUNITY AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF JIM LONDROS/ WORLD WRESTLING CHAMPION/ AT MOORABIN AIRPORT IN 1946. (PH. BY THE AUTHOR)wrestling, jim londros

news paper clipping. The Age newspaper from page A11'Editorial Page A11. 13/13/96"parks and reserves, hospital, greek community, people in political roles

Members of the Ithacan and Greek communities in Johannesburg.A black and white photograph of two women and four men in evening dress at a formal function. One of the ladies is holding a large bunch of flowers.

The children were photographed at a picnic organised by the Greek Community for the children and families attending the Greek language school.A sepia photograph of a group of girls and boys lined up in three rows in a sports ground. there are some adults in the background playing cricket.

The photograph features the debutante group who were presented at the 1947 Grecian Ball. Fifth from the left are: Mary and Bill Levis, Katina Kostopoulos, Mike Kostos, Desma and Jim Paizis. The Grecian Ball, organised by the Greek Community of Melbourne, was a highlight of the annual social calendar within the Greek community. The Royal Ballroom at the Exhibition Buildings was a popular venue for the event. The Grecian Ball ceased during the 1980s however has enjoyed a renaissance during 2022 and 2023.The early Greek and Ithacan communities adopted the tradition of debutantes at their annual balls. A black and white photograph with a white border at the top and bottom, of six debutantes and their partners standing in a line on a staircase.

Thalia was the wife of Angelos Lucas (Lekatsas) who was very active in the Greek and Ithacan communities. Angelos was president of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society from 1924 - 1926 and president of Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria for three terms from 1930-32, 1934-40 and 1949-52. A black and white photograph of a head and shoulders photograph of Mrs.Thalia Lucas (Lekatsas) wife of Angelos Lekatsas, hatless with short bobbed hair. She is wearing a fur coat and around her neck is a cross on a chain.

The photograph is taken following the baptism of Marietta Paizis, the daughter of Gerasimos and Penelope Paizes, took place in an Anglican Church in Mildura with the Orthodox priest conducting the service. This was common practice amongst the Greek community in Mildura during the first half of the twentieth century as there was no Orthodox Church in the town. The priest travelled from Melbourne to conduct special family services for the Greek community in Mildura and other regional towns in Victoria. It is possible that there was more than one baptism during the service to take advantage of the priest attendance in Mildura. Marietta was the daughter of Maintaining traditional customs and ceremonies has always been important amongst the Greek immigrants who settled in Australia. Although the majority of Ithacans and other Greeks settled and established businesses in Melbourne during the first half of the twentieth century, some settled in regional towns throughout Victoria. Ithacan settlement in Mildura dates back to the early 1900s. A black and white photograph of a group of people standing outside a church. Three adults holding their babies are standing in the front of the group. Everyone in the group is smartly dressed suggesting that the photograph was taken to celebrate a special occasion.

The Greek Community from the eastern suburbs of Melbourne established a scout group in Box Hill. The group functioned until the late 1980s. The photograph was taken when the Governor came to inspect the group. Sotiri Sikiotis, former Treasurer and Honorary Life Member of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society was actively involved in Melbourne's Greek scout movement and was on the committee of the first Melbourne 1st Greek Scout Group.A coloured photograph of a guard-of-honour comprising of a scout group being inspected by a visiting dignitary .

The portrait photograph is of Nina (Regina) Black (Mavrokefalos). Nina is the first born of Constantine and Efstathia (Toula) Mavrokefalou. Her father was a founding member of the Society and her mother was President of the first Greek women's committee established in Melbourne in 1917, the Greek Women's Organisation. Nina was well known for her contribution to Greek community life. Nina was a member of Ladies' Auxiliary of the IPS in the 1950s and held the position of treasurer. Nina was also a member of AHEPA and the first president of the Daughters of Penelope. She taught Greek at the Greek Community school as well as to non-Greeks at the Council of Adult Education. Nina also performed in Greek theatrical productions and taught Greek dance to Greeks and non-Greeks. In 1985 Nina Black received the Hellenic Distinction Award for her contribution to Greek language and cultural pursuits in Australia and during the Bicentennial celebrations (1988) she was honoured by the Australian Government for achievements in the wider Australian community. A studio photograph of a head and shoulders profile of a young lady. She is wearing a cameo brooch at her neck. culture

Greek Orthodox Community of Box Hill and Districts Holy Cross Church in Hopetoun Parade, Box Hill.B&w photogreek orthodox church, churches, hopetoun parade

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 photo was taken on 'Oxi' Day 28 October 1951 which is commemorated throughout Greece and Cyprus and world-wide Greek communities. The day commemorates the rejection by the Greek prime minister, Ioannis Metaxas of the ultimatum presented to him by the Italian ambassador on the 28 October 1940 to allow the Axis forces, namely Italy, Germany and Bulgaria to occupy strategic locations of Greece or face war. A black and white photograph of a crowd of people - men, women and children - gathered around a Greek flag in an open area. A church is visible in the background. High mountains are also visible across the skyline.The original is handwritten across the bottom of the photo in Greek which translated reads: PLATRITHIA. ITHACA 28 OCTOBER 1951.world war 2

John Black pictured as a young child, was the only son of Constantine and Efstathia Black (Mavrokefalos). John's parents came to Australia in the early 1900s. They owned and operated the Paris Residential Cafe at 56 Swanston Street in the second decade of the 20th century. John is the brother of Olga and Nina Black, both of whom were very active in Ithacan and Greek community cultural life. A scanned black and white studio photograph of a little boy leaning against a wall which has drawings of two birds and a bird cage on it. The boy is wearing a woollen jumper and light trousers and is looking intently at the camera.

The two little girls are Regina (Nina) and Marguerita (Rita) Black, daughters of Constantine and Toula Mavrokefalou (Black). They had three other siblings - John, Elly and Olga. Their parents were early immigrants to Australia and in the 1910s Constantine opened the Paris Residential Cafe at 54-56 Swantson Street, Melbourne. Nina was passionate about fostering Greek culture and language within the Ithacan, Greek and wider Australian community in Melbourne and was very active in a variety of Greek community activities, including the performing arts and education.Photograph of a black and white photo of two little girls. The older girls is standing next to a decorative column on which her younger sister is sitting.

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 lady pictured is Efstathia (Toula) Black (Mavrokefalos) nee Raftopoulos. Toula married Constantine Mavrokefalos. Toula was president of the first Greek women's committee established in Melbourne in 1917, the Greek Women's Oganisation. Constantine was a founding member of the IPS. Her daughter's Nina and Olga Black were both very active in the Ithacan and Greek communities. She had three other children, Marguerita (Rita), John and Ellie.A black and white photograph of a head and shoulders view of a smartly dressed lady wearing a coat with a fur collar and hat with face net. The lady is wearing glasses.