The children in the picture were students at the Greek language school which was run by the Greek Community of Melbourne and were attending the '28th October' Greek national day celebration at the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in East Melbourne. The two women, Alexandra Vrachna and Nina Black were teachers at the school. The Evangelismos Church was the first Greek orthodox Church to be established in Melbourne. The foundation stone was laid in December 1900 and church services commenced in August 1902. The 28th October is known as 'OHI' DAY', translated meaning NO DAY. It is an important national day celebrated in Greece and the Greek diaspora and commemorates the anniversary when in 1940 the then Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas said “NO” to an ultimatum made by Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini to allow Italian forces to occupy Greece. It marked the beginning of Greece's entry into WW2. The day symbolises values important to the Greek people - freedom, courage and 'filotimo'. The establishment of the Orthodox church in Melbourne in the early years of the twentieth century was was indicative of the number of Greek migrants who came to Australia in those early years of settlement in this country and the desire maintain their religious and cultural traditions. The early Greek migrants were anxious that their Australian born children maintain their language and religion in their adopted country. A black and white photograph of children with three adults standing outside Evangelismos Church in East Melbourne. Three children in the back row are displaying the Greek and Australian flags.Written in red underneath the photograph: 28th OCTOBER 1948. OUTSUDE THE GREEK CHURCH IN EAST MELBOURNE/PHOTO PROPERTY OF STATHI RAFTOPOULOS.wwii

This is a photograph of Anastasi and Thalia Papadopoulos (Pappas) on their wedding day in Melbourne 1927. They were the parents of Irini Pappas who was a well known actor in both Greek and Australian theatre and television productions.A sepia studio photograph of a bride and groom taken on their wedding day.

The man in the photograph standing on the deck of a a ship is the poet, Nick Kavadias. He is standing on board the SS Cyrenia, the ship which was part of the Greek fleet which brought many post WW2 Greeks to Australia.One of a group of three photographs which have been mounted on board of a man in seaman's uniform standing on the deck of a ship. A printed and written caption is underneath the photographs

PC CD-ROM in casePC CD-ROM Airborne Assault Conquest of the Aegean Battles for Greece and Malta - Australian Defence Force Version

These stick pins were souvenirs of the Olympic Torch Relay in 2000. The summer Olympic Games were held in Sydney in 2000 and the Olympic Torch was brought from Olympia in Greece to Australia via Oceania. There were 13,400 torchbearers with 11,000 of these being in Australia. The Olympic Torch was carried on Day 43 (July 20th 2000) through the streets of Warrnambool. These stick pins are of minor interest as souvenirs of the Sydney Olympics 2000 Torch Relay, an event connected to Warrnambool’s history. .1 A metal stick pin attached to a card. The card has a blue background with coloured writing and background images. The pin is gold-coloured and designed in the shape of the State of Victoria with an image of a runner, a boomerang and ocean waves on the front and a metal clip at the back .2 as above Celebrate the Torch Relay with your Sydney 2000 Olympic Torch Relay Free Vic Pin Presenting Partner AMP Herald Sun Not for sale TM C SOCOG 1998 sydney olympics 2000, olympic torch relay 2000 warrnambool, history of warrnambool

The girls' destination was Greece, to visit their parents' place of birth - a trip that many Australian-born of Greek parentage have made. They were on board the Ellinis which was part of the Chandris Shipping Line, a Greek shipping company founded in 1960 that plied between Greece and Australia during the 60s transporting migrants to Australia and returning to Europe with holiday makers. Pictured are cousins Penelope Kallinikos (left) and Athena Sikiotis (third from left).A black and white photograph of four happy young women standing in a crowd with three of the crew, one of whom is the captain of the 'Ellinis' of the Chandris Line. A crowd of people are behind them. Poppy Billiter is standing on the LHS of the group.billeter

The wedding photograph of Nicholas Kakogianis to Helen Raftopoulos (Trianti) in Sydney was taken in 1937 and was later published in a Greek/Australian publication some time after 1946.A black and white photograph taken from a magazine of a large group made up of family and friends, posing on the church steps.Printed in Greek and English under the photograph:THE WEDDING OF NICHOLAS/KAKOGIANIS TO HELEN RAFTOPOULOS IN SYDNEY IN 1937 weddings, families

The photograph was taken at an Ithacan picnic most likely in the early 1940s during World War 2 when Australian soldiers were fighting in Greece, and in particular Crete. The Ithacan Philanthropic Society used the occasion to express its loyalty and support to those Australian soldiers in Greece.A black and white photograph of nine men dressed in suits standing in front of a girl who is standing on a raised platform and holding a the top corners of a Greek and an Australian flag. Four people are standing behind the men and holding onto the other corners of the flags. The photograph has been taken in a sports ground.

The passenger liner 'Queen Frederica' was one of the many ships that transported Greek emigrants to Australia in the post World War 2 years up until air travel became a more efficient and faster means of travel. Between 1945 and 1965, two million immigrants arrived in Australia. The decision by the Australian Government to open up the nation in this way was based on the notion of ‘populate or perish’ that emerged in the wake of the Second World War. Among the new immigrants were the first government-sanctioned non-British migrants.A black and white photograph of a ship berthed at Princes Pier, Port Melbourne. Rail trucks and a crane are in the middle distance and a car, utility and trailer are parked beside the ship. The photograph has been mounted on chip board.51A/ 26port melbourne.

The Ithacan dance group, taught by Olga Black, were performing at the annual Greek Community Antipodes Festival in Lonsdale Street Melbourne some time in thein the late 1990s. The dancers are wearing the traditional Ithacan costume. Pictured from L-R: Andrianna Bisas, Nicoletta ?, Emilia Calinikos, Eleni Tsalikis, Yianni Callinikos, unknown, Kristina Tsalikis. Olga who is of Ithacan descent, danced for a number of years in Athens for the Dora Stratou Dance Group which is renown for its traditional dance performances and costumes representing the various regions of Greece. Olga also taught Greek dance in Melbourne across the Greek and Australian community. The Ithacan Philanthropic Society has supported the teaching of traditional Greek dancing over the years and the Ithacan dance ensembles have performed at a variety of functions. A coloured photograph of seven young people dressed in traditional Ithacan costume dancing on an open air stage in a street.

In the 1980s the Ithacan Philanthropic Society held a reunion of Greek Australian women who attended the Emily McPherson College in Melbourne between mostly between the 1930s - 1950s . The college which opened in 1927 was renowned for its training in domestic arts. Here the girls honed their cooking and needlework skills. Up until the 1950s most young Ithacan girls were not encouraged to consider a profession or to pursue further study. Following a few years of secondary schooling many attended Emily McPherson College where they pursued domestic arts courses.

The picture is of a Greek dance group, possible organised by the Olympic Club. Nina Black pictured in the middle row was an Australian born Ithacan who was very active in a variety of Greek community activities, including the performing arts and education. She was passionate about fostering Greek culture and language within the Ithacan, Greek and wider Australian community in Melbourne. She went on to establish her Greek dancing classes which were popular with both the Greek and broader Australian community. Her Greek dance group performed Greek dances at many social functions and dressed in traditional Greek costumes, the performances added colour to the events and were widely appreciated. Pictured, back row L-R: . . ? . ., Olympia Cecil, . . ? . . , ...... Green. Middle row L-R: ...... Green, . . . ? . . . , Michael Black, Nina Black, Marguerita Black. Front row L-R: Spiro Polites, Eleni Vrachna, Effie Cecil, Ellie Black, Harry NicholadesThe teaching of Greek dancing to the children of Greek immigrants ensured the maintenance of Greek cultural traditions in their adopted country. A black and white photograph of ten ladies and three men dressed in Greek national costume and posing on a staircase.

Colour photocopy of an article on the Silver Key Café, Main Street Rutherglen. Copy from an exhibition catalogue "Selling an American dream : Australia's Greek café́ : a nationally touring exhibition / curators: Effy Alexakis and Leonard Janiszewski"silver key cafe, dawn leahy, frank leahy, paul kalkandis

Vasiliki Raftopoulosi is pictured crocheting a very fine border in a traditional design. Vasiliki was the mother of Efstathia (Toula) Mavrokefalos (Black) and the grandmother of Nina and Olga Black, both well known in Melbourne's Greek community for their contribution to Greek language and culture. Vasiliki and her family left Ithaca for Romania when Toula was only six months old. As a child while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila, Toula also learned sewing and developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother. On a visit to Ithaca Toula happened to be on the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Like many Ithacans Constantine had returned to Greece from Australia for the Balkan wars. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Many Greek women were skilled in the making of fine lace and crochet articles which they used and displayed in their homes. Finely stitched and woven linen items were an essential part of a young woman's dowry when she married.A black and white photograph in an oval frame of a lady crocheting a lace band.

Stathi Raftopoulos is pictured at his home cinema at his residence in Sylvander Street North Balwyn. In 1949 Stathi Raftopoulos imported the first Greek film into Australia, entitled 'Voice of the Heart'. It was screened at Nicholas Hall in Lonsdale Street. Stathis went on to become a travelling picture show man showing Greek films to the Greeks in regional centres around Australia. He later established a film distribution and exhibition company, The Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures, in partnership with Mr Panayioti (Peter) Giannoudis. With the advent of television in the 1950, former suburban picture theatres were being closed down. Stathi and Peter took over many of these cinemas to show imported Greek films to the post WWII burgeoning Greek community.A coloured photograph of a man seated on a red theatre seat in a home cinema. Posters, photographs and film memorabilia are displayed on the three surrounding wallsWritten on the back : 520/BAhome theatres, greek movies

Many Ithacan Greeks who migrated to Australia prior to World War 2 worked with family members or friends in food vending industries such as fish shops, fruit shops and cafes. Many of these businesses were located in the Melbourne CBD or in the surrounding inner suburbs. A sepia photograph mounted on brown board of 2 men standing outside a fish shop in a strip shopping centre. The men are wearing aprons over their work clothes.south melbourne, peter drakopoulos.

The photo is of Stathi and Kassiani Raftopoulos arriving at the at 33rd Festival International du Film Cannes in 1980. Stathi was passionate about the motion picture industry and was instrumental in bringing Greek cinema to Australia. At one stage the Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures company, in which he was a partner, operated 12 picture theatres across inner suburban Melbourne screening Greek films. Because of his active interest in the film industry it is no surprise that he attended film festivals.The screening of Greek films at the Cosmopolitan cinemas provided a key source of entertainment to the large post WWII Greek immigrant population living in inner suburban Melbourne. Stathi's promotion of Greek films in Melbourne helped to establish greater interest in foreign films across the city. Cosmopolitan cinemas were the first to screen Indian films in Melbourne.A coloured photograph of a couple in formal attire arriving at an event.33rd. FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL/ DU FILM CANNES 1980.cannes film festival

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.

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.

Michael Black (Mavrokefalos) is the soldier photographed leaning against the car. During WWII young Ithacan Greek men living in Australia enlisted with the Australian Defence Forces in various capacities. Michael was president of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society from 1981 - 1985. He was married to Vicki Black (nee Raftopoulos). Young Ithacan born men 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 a man dressed in army trousers, webbed belt and jumper standing beside a motor vehicle.world war 2

The man photographed is Captain Gerasimos Kallinikos who brought the first Greek ship to Western Australia, where the passengers disembarked and travelled to the Kalgoorlie goldfields in 1891. Gerasimos died during WW2 when as captain of the Greek steamship Meropi, the boat was torpedoed by U-566 and sank off Halifax in 1942. In the 1890s a number of Ithacan Greeks travelling to Australia disembarked at Fremantle, the first Australian port which ships docked at. Initially many of them went on to the goldfields in Kalgoorlie and later some settled in Western Australia while many moved across to the eastern states.A black and white copy of a portrait photograph of a well-dressed man, who has a neatly groomed beard and moustache. There is a message written in Greek on the back of the photograph.

Greek soldiers during the Balkans Wars 1912-1913 or possibly WWI. A number of Ithacan born Greeks who had emigrated to Australia and other parts of the world returned to Greece to fight in the Balkan Wars.A black and white photograph of two soldiers wearing the uniform, which was worn by members of the Greek army in the early years of the twentieth century.

The folder contains cuttings and articles covering stories of Ithacan settlement in Australia from colonial times to the present day. The articles include excerpts taken from 'Greek Pioneers in Western Australia' by Reginald Appleyard and John N. Yiannakis and covers some aspects of Ithacan settlement in Western Australia from the late 1800s to 1929.The articles explain the movement of Ithacans who disembarked on reaching Fremantle where some settled in the western state while others made there way across to the east and came to settle in Melbourne.A folder with a blue plastic cover and black spine with clear plastic pockets used for filing cuttings and articleskalgoorlie riots

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.

Nina Black , standing at the back in the middle of the group, taught Greek dancing to many young Australian-born Ithacans. She also taught Greek language and English to adult migrants. Nina worked tirelessly with migrant community in the post mass migration period. Learning traditional Greek dancing has been one way that Ithacans who settled here were able to maintain their culture. Traditional Greek dancing is always popular at Ithacan social events. A black and white photograph of six ladies and four men dressed in Greek national costume.