By George Tserdanis.
The Mytilenian House in Canterbury has officially become a new hub for Eremea services, marking a significant milestone in aged care and community support for Greek Australians and local seniors.
The launch event, held on January 29, was a celebration of community, connection, and care, bringing together elderly members, leaders, and supporters to witness this important step in ensuring that seniors have access to culturally familiar, inclusive services.
The event began with a traditional blessing by Father Nectarios Joannou, who spoke about the significance of new beginnings and the importance of creating a supportive space for the elderly. His words set the tone for a day filled with warmth and unity.
Following the blessing, Peter Psomas, President of the Mytilenian Brotherhood of Sydney and NSW, delivered an emotional address, underscoring the importance of keeping elderly members engaged and socially active. He spoke candidly about the impact of isolation on seniors, sharing a personal reflection on his mother, who is in a nursing home and unable to participate in such gatherings.
“If you have elderly parents, tell them to register, get them out of the house,” he urged. “They go for a coffee for an hour, then they go home and sit on the couch watching Days of Our Lives—that needs to change. They need to be out, socialising, staying active.” His remarks struck a chord with many in attendance, highlighting the importance of programmes like Eremea’s in combating loneliness.
A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony followed, with attendees raising a toast with champagne to mark the occasion. Eremea Directors Meni Kritikos and Vicky Zalanas were present, with Meni Kritikos addressing the crowd, emphasising Eremea’s mission to provide services that support independence, well-being, and cultural connection.
A Growing Community Hub for Seniors
As Eremea officially begins operations at Mytilenian House, the organisation is already looking ahead to expanding its services. Speaking to The Greek Herald, Niki from Eremea shared insights into the rapid growth and success of their structured programmes, which run twice a week and have seen attendance grow from just 15 people to over 60 per session.
“At first, there was hesitation,” Niki said. “But over time, it became evident that they wanted it—and they wanted it more. Now, they actually wait for us to arrive.”
Previously based in Ashfield, the move to Mytilenian House provides a new level of support and collaboration, allowing Eremea to expand its offerings. “Now, having a partner that’s willing to support us, we’re hoping to open this up to anyone in the community, beyond just our structured programmes,” she explained.
While currently running on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Eremea’s goal is to expand to daily programmes to accommodate different schedules and reach more people. “We also want to open it up to people who aren’t necessarily part of our aged care programme but are simply looking for somewhere to come and connect,” Meni said.
For those considering attending, the sessions offer a welcoming space with activities like bingo, social gatherings, and opportunities to form new friendships. But more importantly, they create a sense of belonging. “If you want to feel like you belong somewhere, this is the place,” Niki said. “People often tell us they feel comfortable here, like it’s family. It’s a safe space where they can just be themselves.”
A Chance to Reconnect
The impact of the programme was felt immediately, with moments of unexpected joy and reconnection taking place throughout the event.
Among those in attendance were George Koutrakis from Hurlstone Park and Stratos Kouroulis from Dulwich Hill, who had not seen each other in nearly 50 years.
Stratos recalled how they first met through George’s wife, who introduced him to a job opportunity at a plastics factory where George worked long shifts. “George wanted to reduce his hours, and I stepped in to take over the ones he cut back. He was working 12-hour days, and I was happy to share the workload,” Stratos said.
Since then, their paths had drifted apart, apart from one brief encounter at a café. But today, as they spotted each other across the room, recognition set in, and they warmly embraced.
“It’s nice that we are able to reconnect here,” George said with a smile.
For Peter Psomas, moments like this are exactly why the partnership between Eremea and Mytilenian House is so important. “We need to get our elderly out there, get them thinking again, get them active,” he said. “Bringing people together, seeing old friends reunite—this is what it’s all about.”
A Long-Term Vision for Growth
Speaking further to The Greek Herald, Peter emphasised that this initiative is just the beginning of a long-term collaboration between the Mytilenian Brotherhood and Eremea.
“It’s only the beginning, and we can see bigger and better things,” he said. “In a couple of weeks, we’re going to have an open day and an information session so more people can reach out and understand what this programme is about.”
With plans to expand services across Sydney, Eremea’s presence at Mytilenian House marks the beginning of a new chapter—one where Greek Australians and other seniors can find companionship, support, and a renewed sense of community.
For more information or to get in touch with Eremea, visit their website
