Each year, International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated globally on March 8 and this year’s theme is #EmbraceEquity. The Greek Herald chose to celebrate IWD 2023 by recognising the achievements of ‘unsung heroines’ in Australia’s Greek community.
We would like to thank our readers for taking part in our IWD campaign. The nominations we received truly showcased the diverse women in Australia’s Greek community who are worth knowing.
From a young female PhD research student to a 96-year-old yiayia who has devoted her life to her family – The Greek Herald truly uncovered the ‘unsung heroines’ of our local Greek community. They are:
Melina Haritopoulou-Sinanidou, PhD researcher, Queensland
21-year-old Melina Haritopoulou-Sinanidou arrived in Australia during Greece’s brain drain in mid-2017 after finishing high school in Athens. Most people she impacts don’t even know her name (though someday they will). When she was a second year student, she met with success when analysing viral datasets to infer rates of mutation at the Doherty and published her first paper in Virus Evolution. Her research was utilised during the COVID outbreak. She worked on GenV, a sophisticated Murdoch Children’s Research Institute project to better approach child development.
She received an academic scholarship for her Honours at the Diamantina Institute finding cancer treatment boosters, while also collaborating with Victoria University and the Mater. Her grandfather, a migrant, had damaged his spinal cord during a Holden workplace accident and now she has a PhD scholarship analysing spinal cord injury. When she isn’t saving people, she volunteers to save animals at the Costa Rica Animal Rescue Centre.
Pat (Panagiota) Bollard, Teacher, Victoria
Pat is the Chair of Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Australia (TASCA). TASCA is a not-for-profit organisation based in Melbourne which supports patients living with blood conditions in Australia.
Pat gives up her time to advocate, support and provide awareness of the condition. She leads a team of nine on the committee. Pat also provides counselling to help patients struggling or who require support with their condition. She is compassionate, empathetic and has a huge heart.
Maria Makris, Retired teacher, Victoria
My mother Maria sacrificed her teaching career to care for my first-born son Chris who was born with profound hearing loss. Using her skills as a professional teacher, she has played an active role in his development and is a major reason why Chris is able to lead a happy and normal life today. Maria volunteers for the Rotary Club of Richmond, helping local students participate in science and leadership programs at a National and International level. Maria assists not just Chris but also offers her time to help other children at his school, whether that be through reading programs or extracurricular activities.
In recent times, Maria has found a passion empowering Greek Australian women through the Food for Thought Network, where she serves as Vice Chairperson. She has a love for education and advocates for keeping the Greek language alive.
Anna Imvriotis, Grandmother, NSW
Anna Imvriotis and her husband John lived on the island of Tenedos off the coast of Asia Minor. The burning of Smyrni in 1922 and the constant political unrest made this family, now refugees, move to Constantinople with their daughter Litsa hoping for a new start. This wasn’t to be. So again, because of the political unrest, they moved to Australia in 1960. In Australia, they wanted to move forward with their family, which now included their son Alex who was born in Sydney.
John and Anna worked together in their shoe store in Bondi, with John repairing shoes while Anna repaired clothing. Anna is now 96 years old and reflects on the fact that she values her past very strongly and hasn’t forgotten her life from Asia Minor. She has taught her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren the importance of living together with many other cultures and striving to respect and value all people.
Alexis Varvodic, Retired, Victoria
Alexis Gillard was born in Australia with a mother descended from Scottish ancestry and a father from Greek ancestry. Alexis has always felt comfortable within the Greek environment. She has performed many tasks of community involvement including several years on the administrative committee of the Kastellorizian Association. During this time on the committee, she became well-liked and valued by all. This was in no small part because of her commitment to be without prejudice, to be inclusive to all, and to hold aloft in her actions the Kastellorizian ethos of faith, hope and charity. Lately, she has been instrumental in helping to organize a return to the island of her ancestors by many Australian-raised descendants, thus maintaining this valuable connection to the past. Alexis is the embodiment of the multicultural society that Australia has become and shows how ordinary people can make a difference.
Helena Kollias, Family therapist, South Australia
Helena Kollias grew up in the Riverland about 300 kms from Adelaide. Her family relocated to Adelaide so she could receive specialist help for her diagnosis of lupus nephritis when she was a teenager. It was considered a rare condition for someone that young. Since 2019, at the height of the pandemic, Helena began fundraising for Kidney, Transplant and Diabetes Research Australia.
To date she has raised $127,932. As an example of her dedication, last year she raised more than $22,000 by holding a Vintage High Tea. At the moment, together with her volunteers, she is planning a Ball in September. Helena works as a family therapist part-time while raising funds to help medical research.
Sue-Ellan Vasiliou, Charity, NSW
Sue-Ellan lost her eldest daughter to brain cancer in 2017. Alegra was just six years old. She made a promise to her daughter the day she was born that she was going to be the best mum to her and so even in her passing, she has created a legacy for her daughter. She has founded the Little Legs Foundation, raising funds and awareness for childhood brain cancer. Currently funding over $1.5 million in research.
Tammy Iliou, Economist, Victoria
Tammy Iliou was the first female Chair of the Antipodes Festival in Melbourne. She was the first female Vice President of the Greek Community of Melbourne. In 2022, she was inducted in the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll for her dedication and passion to community affairs for over two decades.
Voula Bourdantonakis, Chef, NSW
Voula is unsung heroine. She cooks to fill hundreds of food containers for the homeless. As a chef at The Culinary School, she works with local charities to host a ‘Soup Kitchen’ program where volunteers cook and prepare food to be delivered to homeless people on the streets of Sydney. She is amazing!
Helen Synodinos, Retired, NSW
My mother Helen is a super woman. She has always been a selfless person. She is always there for her children and grandchildren. She’s always supporting her friends and the Greek community. My mother has always been an active member of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW and also gives up her time for fundraisers for various organisations such as Doctors Without Borders and The Heart Foundation. Both causes are very close to her heart.
Mary Tsaganas, Director of Convido Corporate Housing, Victoria
Mary always supports Greek social clubs, such as the Pallaconians, and is always looking for ways to increase their popularity and their financial situation. She fights hard for the betterment of the Greek community, clubs, churches and all that need support. She is events manager for the Papaflessas ‘Social Club’ in Victoria.
Evelyn Tsavalas, Business Owner, NSW
Born in Sydney to Greek Cypriot immigrant parents, Evelyn joined the Hellenic Art Theatre (HAT) in 1997 and ultimately became Production Manager. The theatre keeps the Greek culture alive and without Evelyn and Stavros (Director), it would not be standing. She inspires Australian-born Greeks to immerse themselves in the Greek language and rich culture. HAT has produced acts that highlight the significance of real issues, as well as the value of our rich heritage. During COVID-19, she remained positive and conscientious about preserving our heritage and has demonstrated how essential art, music and literature are.
Tina Photakis, Teacher, South Australia
Tina is a very dedicated Primary Teacher. She teaches Modern Greek, Geography/History, Choir (Senior/Junior) Master and IT. Her students have made every second Thursday ‘Miss Tina Day’ and everyone wants to be in her room that day. She is very popular with everyone, staff, parents and students. She is also the last to leave the school. Tina has been given many awards from the Education Department and the highest award in Computer Education (Making it Happen) by ESTI, only 300 educators have this Jacket World Wide. She a loving mother to our two boys, Emmanuel and George.
Connie Theodoridis, Life and Business Coach, NSW
Connie’s biggest asset is the ability to elevate and make others shine through her unique coaching style and extraordinary gift as a life and business coach. Her greatest achievement thus far has been her current role as a professional business advisor (through NSW Government), where she has helped countless business owners who were on the brink of collapse due to the effects of COVID-19. Connie has given them the opportunity to rise, re-establish and taken them to the next level through her mentoring and coaching. Her biggest purpose in life is to serve others because that gives her the greatest satisfaction.
Eva Korkidas, Teacher, NSW
Eva is the kindest, most thoughtful and caring teacher with years of experience in leading students to success. Eva now leads a team of professionals who are shaping the way of the future in education in NSW. Eva has a passion for her Greek heritage. She is a mother of four and works tirelessly for her family. She has touched many people over her many years of working so hard to achieve goals in Technology and in directing schools into the future of this dynamic field.
