“I feel like a girl”: Maria Boulas celebrates 101st birthday

·

On Monday, April 5th, centenarian Maria Boulas from Mascot, celebrated her 101st with family and friends.

“I feel like a girl,” she tells The Greek Herald.

Mrs Boulas immigrated to Australia from the Greek island of Samos, in 1953, with her husband Aristarchus and her two kids, John and Koula.

“We came to Australia for a better life. My husband wanted our kids to study and in Samos they couldn’t, due to his political views,” Maria Boulas told us in a recent interview.

Aristarchus, Maria’s late husband, had the opportunity to emigrate to the country under the ‘ten pound assisted passage scheme’ funded by the British and Australian governments. The program was aiming to attract more British to the country, because they were seen to be culturally close to Australians.

Photo (L): Maria Boulas with her late husband and two kids, photo (R): Mrs Boulas with her daughter Koula, 2020

However, a great number of migrants from other cultural backgrounds also emigrated during this period. 

Last year, Mrs Boulas was recognised for her contribution to her local community by NSW Labor politician, Ron Hoenig.

“Like so many other Greeks, Maria and her family are a great Aussie success story – they came to this country with nothing but the clothes on their back and a will to work hard. They succeeded and made a new life for themselves and their children,” said Hoenig.

Do you have a similar community story? Email us at: greek@foreignlanguage.com.au

Cretan Convention - Web Banner

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Back to Greece: Four journeys, one shared return

As the Back to Greece series closes, what remains is more than a collection of travel diaries - it’s a mosaic of memory and identity.

Mytilenian Brotherhood of Sydney to hold memorial marking 113 years since Lesvos’ liberation

The Mytilenian Brotherhood of Sydney will honour the 113th anniversary of the Liberation of Lesvos with a series of commemorative events.

Film Review: ‘Athens Midnight Radio’ is Haralambidis’ nocturnal love letter to Athens

The 30th Greek Film Festival opened last week and featured a screening of Renos Haralambidis’ Athens Midnight Radio (2024).

Elena Pappas honoured with the 2025 Stephen Myall Award

At the Law Institute of Victoria’s annual awards ceremony in October 2025, Elena Pappas was recognised with the Stephen Myall Award.

‘Fertility and Filoxenia’: Empowering conversations on fertility and IVF options

The Hellenic Medical Society of Australia and Greek Community of Melbourne invite everyone to attend a free educational event on fertility.

You May Also Like

TGH Exclusive: Steve Georgallis – The man planning to turn the Bulldogs back into a competitive side

Speaking exclusively with The Greek Herald, Georgallis shares his plans to bring the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs back to winning form.

Stefanos Tsitsipas backs Australian Open COVID measures

Stefanos Tsitsipas, 23, described the tournament’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for participating athletes as “fair”.

SA homes finally close to completion after builder went into liquidation

Around 20 home buyers were left with abandoned, unfinished homes after their builder Felmeri Homes entered liquidation in July 2023.