Stathi Raftopoulos is pictured with a group of friends his home cinema which was located in the basement of his home in North Balwyn. The basement area also contained film and cinema memorabilia collected by Stathi over the decades. The seating is from an old cinema. Pictured is Stathi Raftopoulos (standing) and seated to the right is Michael Black and Paul Connell. Others are unidentified.Stathis Raftopoulos was a pioneer in promoting and screening Greek movies in Melbourne.Black & White photograph ( enlarged) with white border, slightly faded of group of 10 men in two rows at Stathis Raftopoulos's house in his basement theater in Nortth Balwyn.

Pictured is Efthimios Raftopoulos and his nephew Stathis Raftopoulos. The Raftopoulos (Levendi) family commenced migration in the late 1890s. Members of the family initially settled in Mildura and Merbein where they operated various business enterprises. Some family members later came to Melbourne. The photograph was taken shortly after Stathi's arrival in Australia in 1934. His Uncle Efthimio arrived in Australia in the early 1900s. A sepia studio photograph of man seated and a young boy standing next to him. Both are wearing suits. A larger scanned copy of this photograph is in the duplicate folder. efthimios raftopoulos, stathis raftopoulos, levendi

Georgos Petalas, Stathis Raftopoulos and Andreas Lekatsas, posing on the tray of a truck at Mornington,1939.Mornington was a popular destination for beach day trips for many Ithacans.Black & white photograph with white frame on the back of a truck. Appears to be enlarged from smaller photo. Handwritten on photo GEORGE, STAN, PETER/1939 Stamped on back PROPERTY OF/STATHIS RAFTOPOULOS/POET Ithacan Historical Society Inc. is stamped on the back.

A film projector, Greek film posters and film reels - all items from Stathi Raftopoulos' collection of cinema memorabilia from the Greek picture theatres he operated as a partner in the Cosmopolitan Motion Picture company. A coloured photograph of a large film projector with a reel of film loaded and a number of other film reels stacked on a shelf under the projector. A sign is propped up against the projector with the following written on it, ' Property of Stathi Raftopoulos, poet . . . , 2/1/2001'. Two posters advertising Greek films are on the wall behind the projector.Written on the back of the photograph: PHOTOS: KOSTAS DEVES/ 11 - 02/0411084320

This is a photograph of early members of the Ithacan Philanthropic Society. Back from L-R: Andreas Zavitsanos, Nikiforos Lekatsas Front from L-R: Dimitri Paxinos, Panagiotis Lekatsas. A.J. Lucas, Panayiotis Lokaris The Society was formed in October 1916 to support and assist Ithacan Greeks, at the time mainly men, who settled in Melbourne in the early years of the twentieth century. The Ithacan Philanthropic Society was a home away from home for the early Ithacan migrants who in the early years were predominantly men. As many worked in the city area in cafes, the market or as fruit vendors they would regularly go to the club rooms at lunch times and after work where they would catch up with fellow Ithacans and learn news from back home. A black and white photograph of six men photographed in front of a brick wall. Two of the men are standing behind the other four who are seated on a wooden bench.Stamped on the back: PROPERTY OF / STATHI RAFTOPOULOS / POET

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

Group of seven men at an Ithacan picnic wearing that badges which were given to all as they arrived at the picnic. From L-R: seated - Spiros Kallinikos (Mirtsonis), Andreas Zavitsanos, Andreas Papadopoulos, Kostas Ventouras; standing - Kostas Trilivas, Gerasimos Raftopoulos (Mourlotos), Sprios Paizis-Danias.Black & White photograph mounted on cardboard of Men's Picnic Group Stamped in bottom right hand corner with the insignia and details of the IHS.Stamped beneath photo: PROPERTY OF/ STATHIS RAFTOPOULOS/ POET

Photo taken at the 1988 Annual Ithacan Picnic at Ferny Creek, Victoria. Picture from left to right are: Marinos Raftopoulos, Andreas Moraitis, Nakis Raftopoulos, Kassiani Raftopoulos, Sotiris Sikiotis. The Annual Ithacan Picnic is one the most enduring of all social events for the Ithacan Philanthropic Society. A black & white photograph, enlarged of four men and a lady sitting in a park with people walking in the distance. The photo has a white border.Stamped on the back: PROPERTY OF/STATHIS RAFTOPOULOS/POET and ITHACAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC.

The photograph was taken during the Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations at Rousano, Exoghi on the island of Ithaca in 1947. The religious observance of Easter is very important events in the Greek Orthodox calendar and takes precedence over the Christmas observances. Easter Sunday is a day of celebration when the fast is broken and traditionally families come together to enjoy roast lamb usually on the spit.A black and white photograph of people gathered around a picnic in a rural setting. There are trees in the background and mountains in the distance. The photograph is one of a pair and has been backed onto cream board and laminated. A narrow typed label has been stuck across the bottom of the picture. Translated from the Greek: Easter at Rousano, Exoghi 1947. Photograph archives: Stathi Raftopoulos.

The group of family and friends at an Ithacan Picnic are from the village of Kioni, Ithaca. Mounted Black & White photograph of 11 men, 1 lady and 2 children, titled 'Kioni group' standing in a garden. Picnic badges on men denote picnic.On the back: PROPERTY OF/STATHIS RAFTOPOULOS/POET Handwritten GROUP FROM KIONI Stamped ITHACAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC.

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

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.

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 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

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.

Stathi Raftopoulos (centre row, second from the right) is pictured together with young people (unknown) at a Greek picnic in Adelaide. A black and white photograph of group of young people at a picnic. There are six women and seven men and two young children in the group. There are trees growing in the background.

Nakis (Nick) Raftopoulos is the man photographed standing beside his car in a street in Abbotsford. He is the brother of Stathi Raftopoulos.A black and white photograph of a man standing next to a car in a suburban street.raftopoulos, nakis.

In the 1930s Stathi Raftopoulos' family settled in Merbein where he is pictured on his horse together with his young sister Loula. A scanned black and white photograph of a young boy on a horse holding a little child.stathi raftopoulos, loula raftopoulos

The photograph is of members of a local soccer team on the Greek island of Ithaca in 1951. Stathi Raftopoulos is pictured on the left to the right of the young children. Soccer is a very popular game both in Greece and amongst the Greek community in Australia.A scanned black and white photograph of men and boys posing for a soccer team photograph. Thirteen people are standing and five are kneeling in the front with the soccer ball.

A family photo of Stathi and Kassiani Raftopoulos with daughters Leah and Rena and granddaughters. Pictured seated Kassiani and Stathi Raftopoulos. Standing left to right: Casey Koutsounis, Rena Varigos, Leah Koutsounis, Cassandra Varigos, Kathy Koutsounis, Margarita VarigosA coloured family photograph at a restaurant. The couple is seated and the younger females are standing behind them. families, daughterts, granddaughters

The Committee of Ithacan Expatriates held an inaugural conference on Ithaca on 17 July 1976. Stathi Raftopoulos, pictured the microphone, was a delegate to the conference along with other expatriates.Organisations such as the Committee for Ithacan Expatriates are a means by which the diaspora Greeks of Ithacan background are be able to maintain the links with the island.A black and white photograph featuring a man standing in front of a microphone at a conference. Six other male participants, including a priest, are seated at a table either side of him. In the background is a curtained stage with a banner featuring the bust of Odysseus.ULYSSES KING OF ITHACA.australia

Among his collection of film and historical memorabilia housed in the 'katoi' (basement) of his North Balwyn home, Stathi Raftopoulos had a reproduction copy of the painting of 'Chloe'. A black and white photograph of man holding a beer bottle in one hand and a beer mug in the other while toasting the portrait of 'Chloe' of Young and Jacksons fame. The following dedication in French is on the base of the frame: IL VISITE SOUVENT VOS PLAISIBLE RIVAGES SOUVENT J'ECOUTE ET L'AIR QUI GEMIT DANS VOS BOIS A MON OREILLE OU LOIN VEINT APPORTER SA VOIX.

Stathi Raftopoulos was a promoter and enthusiast of Greek and English cinema and entertained many guests screening films at his home cinema. He was also an avid collector of film memorabilia. A coloured photograph of a man standing behind a film projector in his home cinema. Posters are on the wall in the background.Written on the back: 520/28Afilm projectors

Pictured in a traditional costume is Kassiani Raftopoulos (nee Stamelatos) when she was a young student in Ithaca. Kassiani migrated to Australia in 1953 following her marriage to Stathi Raftopoulos. A sepia photograph of a young girl dressed in traditional Greek costume standing in front of a fenced building. Written on the back in Greek: Ενθμιο σχοληκος ετως εν Ιθακη, Βαθυ. Εμπρος το σχολαρχειο. Translated: Memento from school year 1939 in Ithaca, Vathi. In front of the school.

The photograph was taken at a conference of expatriate Ithacan Greeks which took place in Vathi, Ithaca on 17 July 1976. Stathi Raftopoulos attended the conference and is seated at the table, second from the right.A conference of expatriate Ithacan Greeks indicates the close ties which remained between the Ithacans who remained in Greece and those who had settled in other countries. Many Greeks who settled in Melbourne in the early years of last century were from Ithaca. A black and white photograph of seven men and a lady sitting around a table at a meeting in a hall. There is an audience of fourteen people sitting on chairs. The speaker is barely visible in the extreme LHS of the photographThe details of the photographer and the event have been stamped on the back of the photograph in Greek.

The photograph was taken at an Ithacan picnic during the running races. IPS committee members, L-R Stathi Raftopoulos, Michael Black and Nick Varigos are presenting prizes of tennis rackets to race winners.The annual Ithacan picnic which is held towards the end of summer is a popular event allowing friends and families to mingle and relax. The running races are a popular feature for the young.A black and white photograph of a crowd of people outdoors. Two men are holding wrapped tennis rackets while another man is talking to a child in the group.

Stathi Raftopoulos presents Koula Megalogenis with an award from the running races held at annual picnic. The awards were presented at a function which took place in the Ithacan Philanthropic Society's club rooms.A coloured photograph of a man shaking the hands of a young girl s, who is holding a trophy. Another lady is standing in the background.

Stathi Raftopoulos is pictured working at his computer. Stathi initiated the Ithacan Philanthropic Society's 'Odysseus' newspaper in the 1970s and was editor for more than 20 years. Developing computer skills in the 1980s greatly assisted him in the production of the newspaper. A coloured photograph of a man working at his computer.

The tall monument, constructed by Stathi Raftopoulos, and known as the 'Pyramides' or the 'Obelisk' is located in Kolieri, Ithaca, overlooking Afales Bay. Constructed from the stones that were used to press the olives, the monument is a tribute to the making of the olive oil, a staple of the island. A coloured photograph of a tall monument and other items located next to the Raftopoulos (Levendi) home in the village of Kolieri, Ithaca. Kolieri located below the village of Exoghi overlooking Afales Bay. The property is located on the road which ends at Kalamos where a natural water spring flows. kalamos