Dr Phil Kafcaloudes to explore ‘going English’ in lecture on Greek migration

Dr Phil Kafcaloudes, acclaimed author, journalist, and former ABC Radio Australia presenter, will deliver an interesting lecture titled “Going English: the Greek migrants who left their family names behind”. This event is scheduled for Thursday, August 1st, 2024, commencing at 7:00 pm at the Mezzanine Level of The Greek Centre, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

Dr Kafcaloudes’ lecture is part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne. His research delves into the phenomenon of Greek migrants anglicising their family names upon arriving in Australia. The lecture promises to explore the historical and cultural contexts that led to this practice, particularly in the context of Australia’s evolving attitudes towards migration and integration.

“In a name-proud Greek culture, the decision to anglicise one’s family name is a profound study in migratory and cultural dynamics,” says Dr Kafcaloudes, drawing on his extensive survey of Greek-Australians and their descendants who have undergone this transformation. His findings challenge perceptions about identity and assimilation, offering new insights into how individuals navigate cultural shifts when relocating to a new country.

Dr Phil Kafcaloudes is an author, journalist and writer who presented the breakfast program on the ABC’s Radio Australia for nine years, including the ABC’s first English language program from the mainland. In 2022 the ABC published Australia Calling, his history of international broadcasting. He has taught journalism at La Trobe University and at RMIT, earning a teaching award by the Journalism Education and Research Association. He has also taught journalism in South Africa, Vietnam, Malaysia, Fiji, Samoa and PNG. For a Churchill Fellowship, he studied journalism trauma training worldwide.  In 2011 his novel Someone Else’s War was published in Australasia and translated into Greek for Europe. His PhD looked at oral history storytelling, which involved adapting the novel into a play called Of Forgetting. In September 2024 the play will have its world premiere at La Mama theatre in Melbourne.

Attendees of the lecture can expect a thought-provoking discussion that intersects history, sociology, and personal narrative, shedding light on the enduring legacy of migration on cultural identity. The event is anticipated to attract scholars, students, and members of the public interested in Australian-Greek relations and the broader dynamics of multiculturalism.

Event Details

• Title: Going English: the Greek migrants who left their family names behind
• When: Thursday, August 1st, 2024, 7:00 PM
• Where: Mezzanine Level – The Greek Centre, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne