With the upcoming Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) elections set for Saturday, January 11, current Vice President Peter Gonis is vying for re-election on a new ticket.
Known for his dedication to the community and focus on youth engagement, Gonis brings a blend of continuity and innovation to his campaign.
In an interview with The Greek Herald, Gonis shared his vision for GOCSA’s future, highlighting key priorities such as fostering equality and transparency, preserving Greek heritage while embracing modern Australian values, and strengthening ties with multicultural and Greek organisations. He also reflected on initiatives planned to inspire younger generations to connect with their cultural roots.
You will be running at the upcoming GOCSA elections on a new ticket. Tell us about your ticket. Who is on it?
Stability and continuity are important to me. A stable board allows for long-term strategic planning and implementation. Eleven of the fifteen candidates on this ticket are seeking re-election. We’ve tried to keep a balance between experienced members and fresh faces. Fresh faces often bring new perspectives and a renewed energy to the team.
Gender equality is also important with a balanced representation of 8 men and 7 women on the ticket. Each candidate has a strong connection to the community and will bring valuable experience to the table.
What is your overarching vision for GOCSA’s future?
My vision at a grassroots level is simple: to safeguard the future of our community. I want to ensure my children and future grandchildren have the opportunity to be part of GOCSA’s legacy, the same opportunity I have had, just as our ancestors before us had.
Given your previous emphasis on bringing back youth to GOCSA, what specific initiatives do you plan to implement to engage younger generations in the Community’s activities?
In the first half of 2024, our youth branch of the organisation created the platform “Neoléa”. One of the core objectives of Neoléa is to support, celebrate and connect the next generation of Greek Australians to each other and to their cultural heritage. The platform’s impact has been remarkable.
They have since collaborated with multicultural groups, participated in intercultural festivals, hosted intergenerational cultural workshops through the Syllogo Initiative, and began to engage with students at our local mainstream schools, such as Adelaide High School. Just these initiatives alone have opened up so much conversation and generated interest from our younger generation – something that our community has been missing for a long time.
We must continue to support and back our youth in initiatives such as these.
The success of the inaugural Grattan Street Paniyiri exemplifies the positive impact of youth involvement and an opportunity to execute their ideas. For many, it was the first time where branches of the organisation collaborated together- the Dance Academy, Youth Committee, Cultural Committee, the Philoptochos, and of course the support of the staff and Administrative Council. It was incredibly refreshing to see the young generation’s enthusiasm for volunteering and their commitment to taking on key responsibilities.
Other planned initiatives for engaging our youth this year include organising a youth forum during SA Youth Week 2025.
You have highlighted the importance of equality and transparency within the organisation. How do you intend to foster these values in GOCSA’s operations and decision-making processes?
I believe that equality and transparency are intertwined, and a fundamental part of any organisation’s success. Members’ voices should be heard and listened to – we need to actively go out and seek input from people of all ages, backgrounds and life experiences. It’s easy to get caught up in “the bubble” – we need to engage with more people outside of that bubble so we better understand the bigger picture.
In my open letter to members, I made it clear that I have a strong desire to engage in respectful, open dialogue. Whilst the previous Council engaged in open discussions, including some very challenging ones, we really need to ensure that we provide an environment where members feel respected and safe enough to express their opinions and provide constructive feedback without fear of reprisal. This is fundamental to continuous improvement and progress.
We need to learn from the past to make better decisions in the future. We recognise there is always room for improvement and that no community or organisation is without its flaws. This group is committed to continuous improvement and progression, and will always integrate GOCSA’s values into the decision-making processes.
With the evolving identity of 3rd and 4th generation Greek Australians, how do you plan to balance the preservation of Greek heritage, language, and culture with the integration of contemporary Australian values?
There is a strong sense of pride in being an Australian of Greek heritage. I think we have almost created a unique identity of our own and we should be open to embracing the blend.
We need to understand that different generations have different needs; humans, languages and culture all evolve. We need to move along with that and adapt. We should go beyond simply informing our youth about the history and inspire them further to embrace their cultural heritage and explore their roots. Through the visionary work of Neoléa we have seen very positive results with the young enthusiastically wanting to connect, learn, and explore further.
Finally, there is a valuable ecosystem that exists amongst GOCSA – the Greek Language school, Dance Academy, an Aged Care facility, and Neoléa to name a few. Of course, we are also fortunate enough to have the knowledge and stories of some of the original migrants. We have all the necessary tools to make sure that by working collaboratively we can encourage growth, facilitate learning, and empower the next generation.
In your role as Vice President, you’ve expressed a desire to create positive and strong relationships with both the Greek community, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, and other multicultural organisations. What strategies will you employ to enhance these relationships and promote inclusivity within GOCSA?
Over the past two years we’ve really focused on building good working relationships with all stakeholders. I believe it is crucial to the long-term success of GOCSA and also helps us stay relevant in an environment that rapidly evolves.
We’ve reached out and established (sometimes re-established) relationships with other cultural groups such as the Ukrainian and Italian communities, and also started collaborating with groups focused on interculturalism such as MOSAIC Adelaide.
First and foremost, it is important we maintain good working relationships with our Greek community, and over the two-year term focused on re-engaging with other Greek associations. Many members of those Greek associations are also members of GOCSA so it can be a bit of a win-win situation. The Neolea committee created the “Syllogo Initiative” with a purpose of supporting those smaller associations by showcasing their unique region/s through a series of collaborative events and projects- this also opens the doors to more communication between groups and pooling of resources.
The success of the Grattan Street Paniyiri was a perfect example of how our efforts in collaborating with other groups and maintaining strong relationships can have advantages.
I’d also like to establish some form of roundtable with other multicultural organisations who quite often face similar challenges to one another, such as maintaining relevance in a modern society and addressing generational gaps within their volunteer and committee bases. There is an opportunity here to exchange ideas and strategies and learn from one another – a lot of these groups are well established and we need to come together to ensure the long-term sustainability of our organisations and associations.
Is there anything else you want to say?
The quote “Change is inevitable, growth is optional” comes to mind. We can’t let fear of the unknown hold us back; we should be bold in our vision, test the waters, and embrace the exciting opportunities that lay ahead.
