The Kastellorizian Association of Victoria announced Lilliane Gomatos as the Kastellorizian of the Year on Monday.
In a Facebook post, the association said: “Lilliane epitomises the importance of grassroots welfare of Kastellorizians and Greeks in Darwin, personifying the spirit of the original Kazzie philotimo – brotherhood.”
In 2019, Lilliane received a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, for her contribution to Australia’s vibrant multiculturalism and the Greek community.
“She has been instrumental in preserving and embedding Greek heritage in Darwin,” the association said.
Lilliane and her husband Theofilis arrived in Darwin in 1967, where her passion for welfare and community support flourished.
In 1974 she became a member of the Greek Women’s Philanthropic Society where she raised funds for the Northern Territory’s elderly community, the Greek Orthodox Church and Greek Orthodox School.
In 1987, she became the first female president of a Greek community in Australia when appointed the position with the Greek Orthodox Community of North Australia (GOCNA).
As president of GOCNA, her main accomplishments were completing the third stage of the Greek Orthodox School, the upgrade of the church and the co-founding of the Greek Glenti in 1988.
Speaking to the example and roadmap for charity and service Lilliane has shared, the Kastellorizian Association said: “Her work and values live on through younger generations in their support of the welfare of the wider Greek community.”
