The Greek Orthodox Community Home for the Aged played host to the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, and some of its major donors, allowing them to witness firsthand the great work they do in taking care of our elderly.
The Consul General and donors were given a guided tour of the facility on Saturday, July 5, meeting with its staff and residents.
The tour took the group past numerous parts of the Home, including various rooms that have been dedicated to donors and supporters.
Among the major donors and supporters recognised on the tour were:
- Bill and Kathleen Drakopoulos
- Danny and Peter Delimitrios of Pinnacle Cleaning
- John and Katherine Assarapin
- The Tsilimos family – In memory of Michael Tsilimos
- Nia Karteris – In memory of Lambros Karteris
Also present at the event was Sophie Cotsis, NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, who is the local member for the facility.
Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW) President Harry Danalis thanked everyone for their attendance and noted that “without the help of the community, it would be very difficult to run such a facility.”
Mr Mallikourtis was left very impressed with how well-organised the facility is during his first visit of the inside area, having only visited once before for the Australia Day BBQ earlier this year.
“It is very clean and there is a flavour of Greece everywhere,” he said.
The Consul General stressed the significance of such a facility in taking care of our elderly (many of whom migrated to Australia), especially since the Greek community is an aging one. He particularly praised the generous support of the donors.
“This is what we have to see amongst the community, generous donations in all fields, whether it is for the preservation of the Greek language or for aged care facilities,” he said.
Bill Drakopoulos, one of the donors present, expressed his joy in being among those to lend their support.
“It warms my heart that we, as a community, are able to assist in the twilight years of those that looked after us. I think that is the most beautiful thing and I think that separates civilisation from non-civilisation,” he said.
Mr Drakopoulos said the desire to help was instilled in him by his parents and something he and his wife aim to pass on to their now adult children.
Ms Cotsis, representing the NSW Government which has also lent its support to the facility through grants, commended the staff for its stellar work, highlighting specifically its recent recognition as first in Australia for food satisfaction among its residents.
“I want to acknowledge and recognise the donors who are here today and for their contribution, because they have seen the work of the staff and they have seen the great care they take and their professionalism,” Ms Cotsis said.
“Government will always support facilities like these ones. As the local member, I am even more proud of the work they do here.”
During the tour, the visitors first stopped by a room dedicated to Michael Tsilimos, a beloved figure of the GOCNSW who spent decades working for the betterment of the community as a whole until his death earlier this year.
Stavros Tsilimos, Michael’s son and one of the members of the family present at the visit, said it was a great feeling seeing the room dedicated to his father’s memory.
“To see Dad honoured in this way knowing how much effort he put into helping not just the aged care home but the whole Greek community, it is an absolute honour for me, Mum and our entire family,” he said.
He also emphasised the significance of the donors who lend financial support to the Home.
“A facility like this can’t just rely on the staff here. It can’t just rely on the members of the board or the members of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW. It needs the help from families, friends, anyone within the community who is willing to support,” Mr Tsilimos said.
“These people here have lived amazing lives and they need to make sure their final years are filled with comfort and having a great time as well. We need to give back to the people who gave us so much.”
