‘A Holiday in Greece’: Androula Matthews announces her debut children’s bilingual book

·

Sandy beaches and blue seas, sunshine, islands big and small, cities bustling with life, scrumptious culinary delights, extended family and friendly smiles. 

Dreaming of Greece? You are not the only one! 

With her debut bilingual children’s book titled ‘A Holiday in Greece’, author and illustrator Androula Matthews, aims to encapsulate her fondest memories of holidaying in Greece and share elements of her vibrant culture and love for the language, with younger generations of Greek Australians.

“It was inspired by my own travels in Greece and the great memories I have from the many of the things I saw and did on my holidays. Writing and illustrating my own children’s book has been a dream of mine for quite some time! 

“I really want this book to make people feel excited about Greece, especially during a time when travelling may not be possible,” Matthews, 31, tells The Greek Herald.

Although Ms Matthews refers to it as a “light-hearted introduction for children to Greek culture and holidays” she hopes that by reading the book, parents will also experience the nostalgia and reminisce pleasant memories. 

An immigration story and the author’s Greek upbringing 

Born in Australia by a Greek-Cypriot mother and a Scottish – Australian father, Androula speaks with pride about her family and their strong ties with the Greek language and culture.

“Mihalis and Androula, my maternal grandparents, were born in Mamonia, a small village in Cyprus where they also got married. They later moved to Limassol, where my mother and her five siblings were born. In 1967, they arrived in Melbourne with the “Patris” in search of a better life. Their original boarding pass is a part of our family keepsake. 

“My father is of Scottish decent and second generation Australian and lived with my mother’s family from his young adult life and fully embraced their way of life and culture. Before my parents married, he was baptised in the Greek Orthodox Church as “Harilaos”, after my Great Grandfather),” Androula says.

“Each year, from a young age, my parents would take my sister and I on a trip to Sydney during the Greek Easter period, where we would attend church services at the St. George Monastery in Yellow Rock. 

“There, we would experience an authentic Orthodox Easter. My cousins were also a very big part of my life growing up, nothing was more exciting than all the family gatherings where we would all play together and eat endless amounts of food. We all continue to play an important role in each other’s lives,” Ms Matthews says excitedly.

The Greek language classes and the desire to pass on the culture

Over the last few years, Androula, with her fiancé’s encouragement, has embarked on a journey to further explore her culture on a deeper level. 

“I have been attending Greek language classes at the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne (GOCMV) to improve my speaking. This is crucially important to me as I would like to pass our rich culture and language onto our children.

“Although growing up I attended Greek school, I never fully grasped and had a proper appreciation of the language at that time. As I became older I really started to feel like something was missing”.

But it’s never too late and now Androula wants to encourage more Greek Australians to hold on to their culture and traditions.

Our culture connects us to our ancestors and is part of our identity. It is rooted in us and sets us apart. Being Greek is definitely something to feel proud of and share with the rest of the world”.

*The book ‘A Holiday in Greece’ will be available on sale in early October 

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

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

Advertisement

Latest News

Melbourne University Greek Association’s second ball a sold out success

After a successful debut of their university ball in 2024, Melbourne University Greek Association continued with the 2025 ‘Encore’ ball.

George Xanthis on bringing Apostle John to life in ‘The Chosen’

'The Chosen,' the international hit series depicting the life of Jesus Christ, premiered in Sydney last month to an enthusiastic crowd.

Cyprus Community of NSW’s path out of administration stalls over disputed fees

Future of the Cyprus Community of NSW remains under a cloud, with conflicting statements over a $1.092m sum currently withheld.

A night of nostalgia: Celebrating the Golden Age of Greek Cinema in song

Immerse yourself in the enchanting melodies of Greece’s cinematic golden era with "Songstresses of the Golden Age of Greek Cinema."

Kogarah Orthodox Youth bring Easter joy to Sydney’s homeless

Youth joined forces with the St. Elesa Food Initiative to distribute warm meals and Easter treats to those experiencing homelessness.

You May Also Like

Saints Basketball returns: Young guns show promise despite opening loss

After months of intense preparation, it was time to hit the hardwood as St George Basketball’s Senior Reps began their quest for glory.

Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney participates in the 20th National Conference in Kalamata

Members of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney participated in the 20th National Conference in the Greek city of Kalamata.

Greek Australians named as finalists for Walkley Mid-Year Celebration of Journalism 2021

Two Greek Australian journalists have been named finalists in The Walkley Foundation’s Mid-Year Celebration of Journalism for 2021.