As part of The Greek Herald’s centenary celebrations, a group of distinguished Greek Australian women have penned letters to the community of 2126, offering reflections on identity, leadership, family, culture and the legacy they hope to leave behind.
Spanning business, community leadership, philanthropy, education, advocacy and public service, the letters reveal a common thread: gratitude for the women who came before them and a determination to ensure future generations inherit an even stronger Hellenic Australian community.
Inspired by mothers, grandmothers and pioneers whose sacrifices created opportunities they themselves enjoy today, the writers look forward 100 years while reflecting on the enduring values of filotimo, resilience, faith, language and service.
Their message is both personal and universal: honour the past, embrace the future, and remember that every generation has a responsibility to widen the path for those who follow.
Fotini Kypraios
Chair, Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Victoria
Inaugural Chair of the National Federation of Hellenic Australian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
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To the Greek Australians of 2126,
If this letter finds its way to you 100 years from now, I hope it offers a glimpse into who we were, what we valued and what we hoped the future of our community would become.
As I write this, I am fortunate to be part of a community built by extraordinary people. Generations before us left behind everything familiar and came to Australia with courage, resilience and determination. They worked hard, made sacrifices and built lives not only for themselves, but for future generations they would never meet.
You are the beneficiaries of those sacrifices.
Their greatest legacy is not the businesses they built, their personal financial success or even the institutions they established. Their greatest legacy is the opportunities they created for those who would come after them. To me, this is the true meaning of community.
Over many years as a lawyer, business leader, mentor and community advocate, I have learned that meaningful progress is rarely achieved alone. The strongest communities are built on trust, respect and a willingness to truly collaborate. They flourish when people focus less on individual recognition and more on what can be achieved collectively.
One of the greatest lessons of my lifetime has been seeing what becomes possible when people unite around a shared purpose. It is my hope that 100 years from now, unity remains the defining strength of the Hellenic Australian community.
Our future will never be secured by tradition alone. It will be secured by people choosing, generation after generation, to support one another, collaborate and invest in the collective good. Communities survive because they remain connected. They thrive because they remain united.
The future of Hellenism in Australia depends on preserving the values that have guided us for generations: integrity, philotimo, generosity, respect for learning, personal responsibility and service to others. These values have enabled our community to contribute meaningfully to Australian society and, I believe, they will remain just as important in your time.
I also hope future generations continue to preserve and celebrate the Greek language. Language is more than communication; it is a connection to our history, our stories and our identity. However it is learned and shared in your world, I hope it remains a living bridge between generations and an enduring part of what it means to be Greek Australian.
Alongside language, I hope you continue to treasure one of the greatest gifts our Hellenic heritage has given the world: the tradition of inquiry, critical thinking and intellectual curiosity.
The civilisation that gave humanity the great philosophers taught us that progress begins by asking questions. It taught us to challenge assumptions, seek truth and pursue knowledge with humility.
AI is just starting to reshape our world today. Your world will undoubtedly be shaped by technologies we can hardly imagine. Yet no technology can replace wisdom, judgement, ethics or genuine human connection.
As technology becomes more capable, it will become even more important to preserve what it means to be human. Our capacity for empathy, compassion, creativity, moral judgement and service to others cannot be automated. These qualities sit at the heart of both our humanity and our Hellenic values.
Teach your young people not simply what to think, but how to think. Encourage them to be curious, courageous and compassionate.
Most importantly, continue to invest in the next generation. Open doors. Share knowledge. Mentor generously. Create opportunities for others. Ensure that women and girls continue to have a strong voice in shaping the future of our community. Empowering women to lead is not simply a matter of equity—it is essential to dynamic leadership, stronger institutions and a thriving community.
My message to you is simple: remain proud of your heritage, ambitious in your pursuits and generous in your leadership. Celebrate your differences but never lose sight of what binds you. Most of all, remain united.
Our ancestors understood that communities are not built by chance. They are built by people who choose service over self-interest and who understand that their responsibility extends beyond their own generation.
Remember that you are part of a story much bigger than yourself. The true measure of your generation will not be whether you inherited a strong community, but whether those who come after you inherit an even stronger one.
If you hold fast to these principles—unity, integrity, curiosity, generosity and service—then the future of Hellenism in Australia will be bright indeed. Not because you preserved a legacy, but because you expanded it.
If you do that, I have no doubt that 100 years from now, another Greek Australian will be writing to the generations that follow, proud of what you chose to build together.
With hope and confidence in your future,
Fotini Kypraios
Anais Menounos
Sydney Lawyer & Co-founder of the St Nicholas Mission Academy in Ghana, Africa
The Greek Herald Woman of the Year 2024
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Dear Greek Australians of 2126,
I wonder what your Australia looks like… Is Greek still spoken around your family table? Are the stories of those who crossed the oceans in search of a better life still being told?
I hope that they are.
All four of my grandparents and father came to Australia from the mid-1950s and early 1960s with just enough belongings to fit into a small suitcase. Growing up, their resilience, courage, faith and commitment to family and community were pillars of the values that were instilled in us. They worked hard, not only to create opportunities for themselves, but to leave something better for the generations that followed.
My grandparents’ generation worried that their children would lose their Greek identity. My generation has discovered that identity is not diminished by belonging to more than one place. We are proudly Australian and proudly Greek, and those identities have strengthened one another. I wonder what challenges your generation faces, and what questions of identity, belonging and community you are now grappling with.
By the time you read this, Hellenism in Australia will undoubtedly look different from what it does today. Communities must evolve and traditions will inevitably adapt. Technology will have transformed the way you communicate, learn and connect in ways we can’t even grasp. Yet, I hope that the essence of what it means to be Greek remains unchanged.
I also wonder what my grandchildren might think reading this letter 100 years from now. Perhaps they will know that one of the great privileges of my life was starting a school in Ghana and providing life changing access to education for children living in poverty. Through this work, I have been guided by the value of filotimo, which represents honour, integrity, generosity and humility. I hope these values remain a defining part of what it means to be Greek Australian for generations to come.
I also hope that The Greek Herald continues to thrive and maintain its status as the bridge between past and future, between Greece and Australia, and between one generation of Greek Australians and the next. With the speed in which technology has changed in just a short timeframe, we can’t even begin to imagine what kinds of ways people will consume media and content in 100 years. No matter how technology continues to advance, the need for human connection, storytelling and community will endure.
Wherever you are, and whatever the future has become, remember that you stand on the shoulders of those who came before you. My grandparents’ generation entrusted us with a remarkable legacy. One day, your generation will do the same. Honour their sacrifices, build upon their achievements, and leave something meaningful for those who will follow.
With hope for your future,
Anais Menounos
Angela Tomazos
HACCI NT and HACCI National Federation Chair
Business leader, banking and finance professional
***
Dear Greek Australians of 2126,
I’m writing to you from Darwin, in the Northern Territory, in 2026 — as The Greek Herald celebrates its 100th year. My name is Angela Tomazos. I was born and raised here in the North, where our Hellenic community is smaller, but our connections run deep. Like many of you, I often think about the women and men whose sacrifices made our lives possible, and I wonder what your world looks like a century from now.
When I reflect on my own story, my thoughts return first to my grandmother, Athanasia Papadakis. Born in a small village in Lakonia, she endured war, hardship and separation, and gave up pieces of her heart so her children could leave in search of a better life. She remained in the village with an enduring love that stretched across oceans. Her sacrifices shaped generations she would never fully know, including mine. Because of her courage, I was born here with possibilities she could scarcely have imagined. Because of her, I can stand in this moment — invited by the incredible team atThe Greek Heraldto share these words with you.
My parents encouraged us to pursue new opportunities while holding tightly to our Greek language, Orthodox faith and cultural traditions. Their example continues to guide me today.
I often wonder what Greek women living in Australia around 1926 — when The Greek Herald was first published — might have thought about the future. At that time, our community was still small. Those women faced isolation, distance from their homeland and the daily realities of building a new life in an unfamiliar country. I imagine they wondered whether their children and grandchildren would remember their heritage, whether our communities would grow stronger, and what opportunities might one day open for Greek women in Australia.
That is why The Greek Herald has been so important to communities like ours. Across this vast country, it has carried stories from all corners — not just the major centres — helping us stay connected as Hellenes no matter where we live. My hope is that in your century, the paper continues to evolve with your world, still carrying our stories across whatever platforms and technologies your time has created, while remaining anchored in truth, inclusion and community.
I also wonder what being Greek Australian means in your century. Perhaps many of you come from families with only one Greek grandparent, or perhaps your connection to Greece is strengthened through technologies we cannot yet imagine. Whatever form it takes, I hope Hellenism remains more than something inherited. I hope it is lived — through language, friendship, hospitality, faith, culture and service to others. Culture survives not because it is preserved unchanged, but because each generation finds new ways to make it meaningful.
To the young women reading this in 2126: What are your hopes and dreams? I hope you feel free to build lives that honour the sacrifices of those who came before you, while creating something new for those who will follow. I hope you carry forward the warmth, the philotimo and the deep sense of responsibility to family and community that has always defined us.
My wish is that Hellenism in Australia remains vibrant — lived fully in your time, blending respect for our heritage with the realities of the world you inhabit. May you continue to honour the women who widened the path simply by walking it, and may you widen it further for those who come after you.
We are all threads in the same long story. My grandmother’s generation carried it forward for mine. My generation now carries it for yours. And perhaps, a century from now, one of you will pause to reflect on those who came before and say, with gratitude: “Because of her, I can.”
With warm regards and much hope for your future,
Angela Tomazos
Nia Gitsas
First Female President for AHEPA Sydney & New South Wales
***
Dear Greek Australians of 2126,
When you read these words 100 years from now, I wonder what it means to be Greek Australian in your time.
Our generation inherited a remarkable heritage. We are the descendants of migrants, visionaries, workers, entrepreneurs, artists, teachers, and community builders who crossed oceans carrying little more than hope, determination, and a deep love for their heritage. They built churches, schools, community organisations, businesses, and friendships that strengthened both Australia and the Greek community.
As I write this in 2026, the Greek Australian community remains one of the most vibrant and successful diasporas in the world—proud of its heritage, deeply connected to Australia, and committed to preserving its culture for future generations.
My hope is that in 2126, Hellenism remains not simply a memory, but a living force.
I hope you still hear the Greek language spoken in homes and community spaces, and that it continues to be taught in schools and universities—if such institutions still exist in the form we know them today. May our traditions continue to bring family and friends together. May the stories of our ancestors, and the history and achievements of our nation, continue to be shared around dinner tables and celebrated throughout the community, preserving the values that shaped generations before you.
Yet I also hope that your understanding of Hellenism has continued to evolve. Greek culture has survived for thousands of years because it adapted while remaining true to its foundations. The ancient Greeks taught the importance of inquiry, learning, democracy, courage, and service to society. These ideals belong not only to the past but to every future generation.
If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be this: never allow progress to come at the expense of identity.
Embrace innovation. Explore new frontiers. Create, invent, and lead. But always remember where you came from – your culture, your faith, your language, and the traditions that have shaped generations before you.
You are the custodians of a story forged over millennia. It is the story of Ancient Greece, which gave the world ideas that still shape humanity, and of the heroes of 1821, who fought to preserve the freedom, identity, and dignity of the Greek people. Their courage, resilience, and determination remain part of your inheritance today. In times of uncertainty, look to their example and remember that history is not merely something we inherit – it is something we are called upon to honour and continue.
As the first female President of AHEPA Sydney & NSW, I am conscious that this achievement was only possible because of the women who came before me – mothers, grandmothers, professionals, volunteers, and community leaders whose contributions were not always recognised, but whose impact was immeasurable. If my appointment is remembered at all, I hope it is simply as one step in a much larger journey toward greater inclusion, opportunity, and representation for all members of our community.
As you look back on our time, you may see challenges we faced that seem small by your standards. Every generation faces its own tests. What matters is not the challenge itself, but how people respond to it – with resilience, compassion, integrity, and unity. And believe me, in 2026, the Greek Australian community in Sydney faces many challenges of its own. I only hope the future proves that we rose to meet them and exceeded your expectations.
Perhaps the newspaper carrying this letter still exists in some form. Perhaps it is no longer printed on paper at all. Whatever form it takes, may it continue to serve the same purpose: connecting people, preserving stories, celebrating achievements, and strengthening our community.
A century from now, the Greek Australian story will be richer because of the lives you have lived. You will have added new chapters to a journey that began thousands of years ago and continued across oceans to Australia.
Remember that every generation leaves its mark on history. With a legacy stretching from Ancient Greece to modern Australia, may you honour the past, embrace the future, and leave behind a community even stronger than the one you inherited.
And when you think of us, know that in 2026 we believed deeply in your future.
May you honour what we cherished and achieve what we could only imagine.
Nia Gitsas
Varvara Athanasiou-Ioannou AM
Founder, Food For Thought Network
The Greek Herald Woman of the Year 2025
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Greek Australians of 2126,
As I write this letter in 2026, your Greek Herald community newspaper is celebrating a remarkable milestone: 100 years of recording the stories, achievements, challenges and dreams of Greek Australians. I wonder what your world looks like as you read these words a century later. Many thinkers suggest that the next 100 years will not only transform what humans can do, but what it means to be human.
The year 2026 is a time of profound uncertainty and possibility. We are living through wars that dominate headlines, creating a global economic crisis. Climate change is reshaping daily life and future security. Domestic violence remains a painful reality, and women continue to advocate for equal representation in leadership, business, politics and community life. Fertility rates in both Greece and Australia have fallen to historically low levels, well below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman. The rise of anti-immigration sentiment and far-right politics threatens many of the gains in diversity, inclusion and social cohesion built over the past century. Despite significant progress, many institutions remain male Anglo-dominated, and the work of creating a truly inclusive society continues.
These issues shape not only our daily lives but also our vision of the future. By 2126, I hope many of the problems we struggle with today will belong to history books rather than daily headlines. History shows humanity’s capacity to adapt, innovate, and reinvent itself.
What, then, of Hellenism?
Hellenism in 2126 will not look exactly as it does today. It will be reimagined and expressed through new languages, new technologies, and new forms of connection.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Food For Thought Network (FFTN), a volunteer-led women’s organisation that has connected Greek women and their friends in Australia and abroad. What began as a simple desire to create spaces for dialogue, learning and connection in Melbourne has grown into a global network of women supporting one another, sharing knowledge and opening doors for future generations. Communities thrive when people invest in one another.
In Australia, there is a renewed interest in Greek identity. Today, it is “Cool to be Greek.” Young people are redefining what it means to belong. They embrace multiple identities with confidence and creativity, drawing strength from their Greek heritage while remaining fully Australian and globally connected. They are building new ways to engage with language, culture, history and community.
The preservation of the Greek language and religion remains an important conversation in families and community organisations. The church and organisations such as Pharos play a vital role, while traditional newspapers face the challenges of a rapidly changing media landscape. Increasingly, stories, conversations and cultural exchanges take place online. By your time, technology will connect Greeks and philhellenes across the globe in ways we can scarcely imagine today.
Greece continues to grapple with the legacy of economic crisis and the migration of talented young people seeking opportunities abroad. While many may not permanently return, I see a circulation of talent, ideas and influence. Greeks across the world continue to contribute to science, business, the arts, education and public life, strengthening both their adopted countries and their ancestral homeland.
Technology is transforming our lives at extraordinary speed. Artificial intelligence, robotics and innovations we cannot yet envision will change how we learn, travel, communicate and care for one another. These tools must be guided by wisdom, ethics and humanity rather than convenience alone.
I also hope future generations continue to draw inspiration from the great minds who shaped Hellenic civilisation, not only philosophers, statesmen and poets whose names fill history books, but also the countless women whose contributions were overlooked or forgotten. History is richer when all voices are heard.
By 2126, women and men may share leadership equally. Diversity and inclusion may no longer be aspirations but realities. The multicultural society Australia has built will be stronger still, enriched by generations of intercultural friendships, partnerships and families. Greek heritage will not disappear; it will evolve, adapting to new circumstances while preserving its enduring values of arete (excellence), sophrosyne (moderation/self-control), and xenia (hospitality, filoxenia).
Whatever challenges your generation faces, I hope you remain curious, compassionate and connected. Identity is not inherited once and preserved unchanged. It is reimagined and renewed by each generation.
May you continue to honour the past, engage with the present and build a future worthy of those who came before you.
With hope and faith in the generations to come,
Varvara Athanasiou-Ioannou AM
Maria Anthony
Co-President, Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia
President, Pontian Association of NSW Pontoxeniteas
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To the Future Readers of The Greek Herald,
In May 2026, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of The Greek Herald at Parliament House in NSW. I was honoured to attend as Co-President of the Federation of Pontian Associations of Australia and President of the Pontian Association of NSW, Pontoxeniteas, representing our Pontian community.
Born and raised in Sydney, with family roots in Pontos and Thrace, I am proud to be both Australian and Greek. The generations before us, our grandparents and parent migrated to Australia seeking a better life. They embraced their new homeland while preserving their Greek identity, traditions, and values. Through language, faith, dance, music, community organisations, and even discussions about politics, they ensured that Greek culture remained alive and thriving in Australia. For many of us growing up, Greek school and Greek dancing were not optional, they were a way of life.
The Greek Herald was an essential part of that journey.
As a young girl in the 1980s, I lived in a multi-generational household with my parents and grandparents. Every day, The Greek Herald sat proudly on our dining table. In those days, the newspaper was printed daily, and each morning my grandparents would walk to the local milk bar to purchase a copy. They would read it from the first page to the last.
Through its pages, they stayed connected to Greece, to Australia, and to the wider Greek world. It provided news about politics, religion, sport, community events, memorials, and the achievements of Greeks across the country. Before the internet, social media, and smartphones, The Greek Herald was our connection to the community. For many families, it was as important as any book in the home.
One hundred years later, The Greek Herald continues to play a vital role. It remains Australia’s leading daily Greek newspaper, embracing both print and digital platforms, and making bilingual news accessible to readers across generations. Its commitment to informing, connecting, and preserving our heritage has ensured its relevance in an ever-changing world.
Hellenism has made a profound contribution to Australia and has helped shape the multicultural nation we know today. The Greek community has enriched Australian society through business, education, culture, philanthropy, sport, and public service. While future generations may express their Greek identity differently, I believe the values that define Hellenism—family, community, resilience, education, and pride in our heritage—will continue to endure.
To the readers of 2126, my hope is that you remain connected to your roots while embracing the opportunities of your own time. Continue to learn about the sacrifices and achievements of those who came before you. Preserve our language, traditions, history, and stories, and pass them on to the generations that follow.
The Greek Herald has done more than report the news. For 100 years, it has documented our collective journey. It has captured the stories, photographs, milestones, challenges, and triumphs of first, second, third, and fourth-generation Greek Australians, creating an invaluable archive for the future.
As you celebrate The Greek Herald’s 200th anniversary in 2126, remember that the publication’s greatest achievement is not simply its longevity, but its role in preserving the history and identity of Hellenism in Australia.
Congratulations to The Greek Herald on its 100-year milestone.
With pride and best wishes,
Maria Anthony
Marika Kontellis
Community Engagement and Relationship Manager
***
MY LETTER TO MY GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER
Agapi mou,
It is June 2026, and to be honest it is a complicated time. There are wars being waged simply because it suits a few. Our planet and natural wonders are being depleted and polluted and democracy, designed by our Ancient Greek ancestors, is being attacked. Koukla mou, the world is changing so fast it seems to be making everyone dizzy.
You will think that the AI which is threatening to control today’s world is prehistoric. No doubt your life will be integrated with technology in ways that I cannot even imagine.
As I write this letter to you, Australia is experiencing some real challenges. One woman is murdered every week by a family member or intimate partner; two out of every five families cannot afford a meal; housing affordability is at a crisis point and homelessness is on the rise. The prevalence of mental illness is astounding and get this, one in three people experience loneliness and/or social isolation – the new pandemic impacting on health, productivity and communities. In amongst all this chaos, faith, culture, free speech and language is being threatened by the contemporary polices known as “social cohesion”.
But here’s the thing Matakia mou, in all that mess and dysfunction there is joy, connection, deep thought and human leadership. There are many of us working to make this world better, fairer and kinder. And you will not be surprised by this; Australian Hellenes are all over this “movement for humanity”. We are everywhere. In the media, in politics, in health care, in business and in education. You see, community, innovation, leadership and democracy is in our DNA and I know that in your world, Australian Hellenes are still leading with filotimo like we always have.
In 2126, I am confident you are still falling back on the beautiful Greek language. I have no doubt it is a language that continues to underpin your contemporary way of life. Those cultural rituals that you share have been passed down to you as they were passed down to me. Every time you make that avgolemono soup to nourish your family and friends know it is a sign of your Hellenism. When you light a candle, remember it is a reminder of your Hellenism. When you read Plato, support a cause, volunteer in your community or fight for fairness, it is a sign of your Hellenism.
I know you will pause from time to time and reflect on the tough times your ancestors had. I do it all the time and am always in awe of their courage and tenacity. Particularly my Yiayia, a refugee at the age of three. I want you to always remember that being an Australian Hellene is a gift special. A gift passed to you from your ancestors and a gift you need to pass onto the next generation. Most importantly agapi mou, wherever you may be in your life, whatever you may be doing, I know your Australian Hellenic identity will serve you and others well.
Marika Kontellis
