By Georgia Politis*
Nicholas and Vakina Poniris share deep ties with both the historic and modern Kalymnian community of Darwin, Northen Territory. Together they have played an important role in how it has grown and evolved over time.
Their story traces back to the first Kalymnian settler in Darwin, Petros Mihaliou, Vakina’s maternal grandfather, who arrived in 1927. After a brief stay, Petros returned to Kalymnos, then came back to Darwin in 1933 with his family. Some years later, they moved to Sydney, where Vakina’s mother, Mary, was born, before eventually settling there permanently.
A skilled carpenter and builder, Petros played a key role in Darwin’s early Kalymnian community. He sponsored other Kalymnians to settle in the region, beginning with his cousins, the Politis family, helping establish a lasting Kalymnian presence.
Petros also helped construct the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, designing its distinctive dome with his son, and built a lodge and shops opposite the old Myilly Point Darwin Hospital, known as Mihaliou Cash and Carry. The building still stands today as The General Café, retaining much of its original charm.
Petros passed away in 1983 while on holiday, leaving a lasting legacy of craftsmanship and community spirit.
Mary, Vakina’s mother, grew up in Sydney surrounded by strong cultural traditions. It was there she met Emmanuel Klonaris, a fellow Kalymnian who had studied marine mechanical engineering in Athens before moving to Australia. Emmanuel had lived at the foot of the Acropolis during his studies, and in 1960 he relocated to Sydney, where he and Mary married.
They welcomed Vakina and her brother before moving to Darwin, where their two younger children were born. In Darwin, Emmanuel and Mary became active members of the Greek community, volunteering whenever they could and helping to organise local events. They also lived through and survived Cyclone Tracy in 1974, a life-changing experience that left a lasting mark on their family and the community around them.
In the mid-1980s, while visiting Sydney, Vakina met Nicholas. They married and settled there, before returning to Darwin in 2008 to be closer to family. In a remarkable coincidence, Vakina’s grandfather, a sponge diver, had once taught Nicholas’ father how to dive and shared his knowledge of safety in the profession; a connection that quietly linked their families long before they met.
After returning to Darwin, Vakina began working at Charles Darwin University, while Nicholas started his own construction business and joined the Greek Community of Northern Australia Committee. In 2016, he was elected President, a role he held until 2024.
During his presidency, Nicholas led major initiatives for the Darwin Greek Community, including the renovation of the Greek Community Hall and Greek School, introducing new ideas for the Greek GleNTi Festival, and expanding its reach through national and international live streaming. From 2008 to 2024, both Nicholas and Vakina volunteered tirelessly, dedicating countless hours to preserving culture and supporting the community.
Another notable family member, Theofilos Klonaris, Vakina’s uncle, made a lasting cultural impact on Kalymnos. In the 1950s, he founded a dance school and created the world-famous Kalymnian dance “Mihanikos” (The Sponge Divers’ Dance), expressing the divers’ struggle with decompression sickness. For this, he was awarded a medal by the Hellenic Government. Theofilos also helped develop Kalymnos’ first soccer field, basketball court, and Olympic-sized swimming pool, while his wife, Katerina, opened the island’s first English-speaking school in the late 1960s.
From Petros’ arrival in 1927 to Nicholas and Vakina Poniris’ leadership and service in recent years, the family’s story is one of resilience, generosity, and cultural pride; a proud reflection of Darwin’s history and the enduring Kalymnian legacy in Australia.
*Nicholas and Vakina Poniris’ story features in Darwin DiverCity Series 3: Greeks of Darwin created by Georgia Politis from Georgia Politis Photography. Are you a Darwin Greek who wants to feature in the series? Apply here.
