By Martina Simos.
Slowing down is not an option for octogenarian George Demetriou who at 88 years young continues his work as a councillor… again!
Last November, Adelaide-born Mr Demetriou was re-elected as a councillor for the third time at the City of West Torrens. This comes despite Mr Demetriou retiring in 2018.
Speaking with The Greek Herald, Mr Demetriou shares his story and how it feels to be the oldest councillor in South Australia.
Bound for South Australia
Mr Demetriou’s Greek parents – Vasili and Barbara – were from families who lived in Asia Minor but in 1923, a forced Greek-Turkish population exchange saw around about 1.5 million people forcibly relocated from their homes.
Left with no choice other than to move from Asia Minor, Mr Demetriou’s parents packed their belongings and found their way to South Australia in the early 20th century.
“They arrived Christmas Day in 1924 and went to Orroroo because they had family there,” Mr Demetriou tells The Greek Herald.
“They settled in the mid-north country town of Terowie (220 kilometres from Adelaide) with other Greek families as there was work on the trains, railways and other small businesses.
“I was born in 1934 and in 1941, my brother Paul was born.”
Early years
In 1943, Mr Demetriou’s parents moved to Adelaide and lived in the city’s West End along with other migrant families.
The boys were enrolled at Sturt Street Primary School, and within a few years the family moved to Norwood.
Mr Demetriou completed his secondary schooling in Norwood Boys’ Technical School in 1948 and started a trade. In 1953, he also served 12 months of National Service Training in the Air Force and was based in Laverton, Victoria.
“I was employed as an apprentice motor mechanic and continued in that trade, eventually purchasing my own motor repair business in the 1960s in the West Torrens Council Area,” he says.
“Later, in the 1980s, I sold my business after a change of career when I became an insurance claims assessor.
“My first property and my current residence – also in the West Torrens Council area – was purchased in the early 1960s.”
In 1974, Mr Demetriou married Despina Zemplias who was born in Perth, Western Australia to Greek parents from the island of Kastellorizo.
The couple had two children – Krystalla and Vasili – who have ‘embraced their Greek heritage and culture.’ They both have dual citizenship and the family have made frequent visits back to Greece.
Start of his council journey:
In the 1980s, Mr Demetriou was approached by the then-Mayor of West Torrens Council and the owner of the building where he ran his motor repair business. There was a vacant position on council and he was encouraged to stand.
“I was successfully elected and that is where my council journey began,” he says.
“The role of a councillor is not an employee of the council but elected by the people and I was still working full-time with a family throughout most of my tenure.”
Mr Demetriou was a councillor in May 1989 to November 1993 and May 1997 to November 2018.
“I had joined council to serve my community (which remains my motto today) and for the two brief periods that I was not on council I was still being contacted regarding council matters to see if I could assist,” he explains.
“At the time when I was first elected onto council, 23 percent of the City of West Torrens population was of Greek origin with 8 percent of the population from Messenia.”
During his tenure, Mr Demetriou was approached by his good friend, Arthur Kontopoulos, who suggested a sister city arrangement between West Torrens and the Greek city of Kalamata.
Mr Demetriou’s brother Paul, who had also been elected to the council, moved the motion and it was approved.
“This would, to say the least, be my equal most-proudest achievement and to this day the council’s maintain ongoing contact,” Mr Demetriou says proudly.
“My other proudest achievement was in 2009 when I was honoured to be awarded the first non-mayoral recipient of the John Legoe Award in recognition of commitment and service to the community and local government.”
Humbling moment
Mr Demetriou was elected unopposed at last year’s council election for another four-year team at West Torrens. He has also served as Deputy Mayor in 2003, 2007, 2010 and 2014.
“It has been nothing more than humbling. I am proud to be able to support my community, Greeks and non-Greeks alike,” Mr Demetriou says.
“The City of West Torrens has three councillors of Greek heritage which allows us collectively to represent the community to ensure that the hard work of our forefathers, including the liturgy, culture and language is preserved and to pass on through the generations.
“My age may slow me down a bit, but my passion for serving the community remains, and in fact continues to keep me going giving me a purpose.”
