John Kostoulias has officially resigned from his role as President of the Federation of Greek Elderly Citizens’ Clubs of Melbourne and Victoria, citing serious health concerns.
The news was confirmed in an official statement sent to The Greek Herald following an emergency board meeting held at Kostoulias’ request — the second such meeting in the space of a week.
“Following medical advice, Mr Kostoulias has been instructed to refrain from all social activities due to significant health issues,” the Federation said in a statement.
“As such, he is stepping down from his duties as President and has asked the Board to respect his decision. However, he will remain on the current Board until the next General Meeting, during which elections will be held to appoint a new Administrative Council.”
In the interim, long-time Federation member Giannis Gaitanis will serve as acting President.
This marks the second time in recent months that Kostoulias has stepped down from the Federation’s top position, and it comes after a period of heightened tensions with Greek Australian welfare organisation PRONIA.
In April 2025, The Greek Herald revealed details of an escalating dispute between the two entities, which included allegations from Mr Kostoulias that he was subjected to intimidation and threats during a private meeting at PRONIA’s Brunswick headquarters in December 2024. He also accused the organisation of interfering in the Federation’s internal affairs, including disrupting communications and attempting to undermine his leadership.
“These incidents have severely impacted my already fragile health,” Mr Kostoulias told The Greek Herald at the time.
PRONIA denied the allegations and stated that Mr Kostoulias’ conduct made staff feel unsafe. In a public statement, PRONIA CEO Sylvia Hadjiantoniou reiterated the organisation’s support for the Federation and its members, while confirming that Mr Kostoulias had been barred from entering its premises following a subsequent disorderly meeting in March 2025.
Despite the controversy, Mr Kostoulias continued to receive the full support of the Federation’s Board, which had publicly condemned PRONIA’s actions and reaffirmed his leadership as recently as last week.
Mr Kostoulias’ departure now opens the way for new leadership to emerge within the Federation. The upcoming General Assembly will be closely watched as members prepare to elect a new permanent Administrative Council.
