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 Mr 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 Mr Kostoulias has stepped down from the Federation’s top position, and it follows a period of heightened tensions with Greek Australian welfare organisation PRONIA.
In April 2025, The Greek Herald reported on an escalating dispute between the two entities following a private meeting at PRONIA’s Brunswick headquarters in December 2024.
“These incidents have severely impacted my already fragile health,” Mr Kostoulias told The Greek Herald at the time.
PRONIA denied the claims and stated that Mr Kostoulias’ conduct made staff feel unsafe. In a public statement, the organisation reiterated its support for the Federation and its members, while confirming that Mr Kostoulias would no longer enter its premises following a subsequent meeting in March 2025.
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.
