Perusing an almost encyclopaedic, well-presented and much researched coffee table style book, ‘A Commemorative Centenary History of The Hellenic Community of Western Australia, 1923 – 2023′ by Dr John Yiannakis, and very impressed with the Community’s achievements, I was curious to learn more.
I decided to ‘start at the top’ by speaking with the longest serving post-war President of the Hellenic Community of Western Australia (HCWA), Paul Afkos.
There is much information on Mr Afkos online, attesting to his overall business acumen. He founded and managed Afkos Industries, designers and manufacturers of mining equipment, with his wife Bianca who sadly passed away this year, and of whom he speaks in the most tender and respectful terms.
“Bianca was the pillar of the business empire. A great intellect, visionary, business manager, a wonderful wife of 50 years, a mother to our two sons and daughters-in-laws to Catherine and Natalie, and grandmother to our four grandsons.”
His sons and daughter-in-law have key roles in the company: “James, the eldest, is a mechanical engineer, and Andrew is an economist.”
Curious to meet the man in person and find out what gives Mr Akfos, 71, his drive, I met with him at his hotel – the Afkos Grammos Boutique Hotel Resort (Grammos – is the mountain range nearby). The complex, amongst a nature’s wonderland, is perched on a hill above the town of Nestorio, Kastoria. It opened to the public in 2013 after years of dealing with Greek bureacracy.
“Work laws in Australia are well understood, simple and transparent whereas in Greece it’s substantially complex… businesses have become clerical employees of Greece’s governmental departments, resulting in a waste of their expertise, energies and resources,” Mr Afkos declared.
To say that he eventually got the job done though, is an understatement.
“This project carries 100 per cent of Australian funds invested in Nestorio, my birthplace which I left with my parents migrating to Australia in 1962,” Mr Afkos said.
Peace, comfort and understated luxury came to mind of my short, enjoyable stay at the Afkos Grammos Hotel. The popular and reputable online site, Bookings.com seems to agree, granting the hotel an excellent 9.8/10 rating. Four floors of gorgeous views, a swimming pool, tennis court, fine dining restaurant, as well as a more casual eatery and coffee/drinks area. Also included are a sauna, indoor and outdoor jacuzzi, pool side cafe, exquisite, eclectic interior design, a chapel, a small vineyard, conference centre, the list goes on.
But more importantly, the hotel employs local staff. This was the aim of Mr Afkos’ hotel – to help his fellow Nestorians to thrive. Apart from his local, polite and professional staff, Mr Afkos also helps local families in need, as well as donating major food contributions several times a year for the entire area, through His Eminence of the church of nearby Kastoria.
Even though Mr Afkos says, “I feel at home in Greece,” he adds “Greece is for holidays,” declaring: “Western Australia has become our home, and I am very proud being a Greek Western Australian. Western Australia gave me the opportunity to educate, to have a job, to become a business person, an investor with investments in other parts of Australia and overseas.”
Of the HCWA, Mr Afkos proudly asserts, “while WA has smaller numbers of Greek migrants, our achievements are greater than many other Hellenic Communities around Australia.”
“The mainstream Greek Australian community and representative of all in Western Australia has been, for the past 100 years, the HCWA. The first and only church since 1923 until the late 1960s was our Church – Saints Constantine and Helene – which was the focus and meeting place for all new migrants, later followed by the construction of other churches. It’s still the main church in our community,” he adds.
Recalling reading some years back there were issues with the Greek Community and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Australia, I took it upon myself to ask Mr Afkos what his relationship with this Church authority is like.
He earnestly answered: “Look, our community during my 14 years as President has been very close to the Archdiocese… I believe we have a good working relationship and am certain this will continue.
“The HCWA has a long-term vision in growing and strengthening all entities within our community and will always seek advice from His Eminence [Archbishop Makarios of Australia]; the entities are our Church, the Community at large, the age care facility and our School.”
Of the HCWA’s ‘cradle to grave’ Greek community amenities, St Andrew’s Grammar,
and the age care facility, Mr Afkos says that their combined values, which have been meticulously upgraded, are worth $11,000,00.
“This has come from the experience and good management skills of the elected volunteer board of directors… which required our commercial expertise since 2021, to reverse financial difficulties of previous years,” he says.
“With the financial difficulties overcome, the HCWA can look at other cultural events.”
And many such events there are, for all ages, especially this year marking the centenary of the HCWA.
Forever enterprising as a businessman but also a cultural promoter, Mr Afkos has future plans for a Byzantine Museum in WA, and an amphitheatre at his hotel’s property. These ventures, all essentially motivated by his love for his communities – the HCWA and beyond – to his birthplace Nestorio, Greece.
Does he think that Greek Australians are like Greeks in Greece, I ask, to which Mr Paul Afkos replies, “Greek Australians are more Greek than Greeks living in Greece. We’re prouder, we always want Greece to prosper more.”
This man’s insight is surely to be respected, not only due to being awarded an OAM (Order of Australian Medal), for the recognition of outstanding achievements to his community, but also as a patriot of both Greece and Australia.
In closing, Mr Afkos tells me that a large part of his life’s philosophy is, “always be humble, which our Orthodox religion teaches us, as well as honest, loyal and loving.”
