Mytilenian house in Sydney becomes home to Eremea Services in a heartfelt community launch

·

By George Tserdanis.

The Mytilenian House in Canterbury has officially become a new hub for Eremea services, marking a significant milestone in aged care and community support for Greek Australians and local seniors.

The launch event, held on January 29, was a celebration of community, connection, and care, bringing together elderly members, leaders, and supporters to witness this important step in ensuring that seniors have access to culturally familiar, inclusive services.

The event began with a traditional blessing by Father Nectarios Joannou, who spoke about the significance of new beginnings and the importance of creating a supportive space for the elderly. His words set the tone for a day filled with warmth and unity.

Following the blessing, Peter Psomas, President of the Mytilenian Brotherhood of Sydney and NSW, delivered an emotional address, underscoring the importance of keeping elderly members engaged and socially active. He spoke candidly about the impact of isolation on seniors, sharing a personal reflection on his mother, who is in a nursing home and unable to participate in such gatherings.

“If you have elderly parents, tell them to register, get them out of the house,” he urged. “They go for a coffee for an hour, then they go home and sit on the couch watching Days of Our Lives—that needs to change. They need to be out, socialising, staying active.” His remarks struck a chord with many in attendance, highlighting the importance of programmes like Eremea’s in combating loneliness.

A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony followed, with attendees raising a toast with champagne to mark the occasion. Eremea Directors Meni Kritikos and Vicky Zalanas were present, with Meni Kritikos addressing the crowd, emphasising Eremea’s mission to provide services that support independence, well-being, and cultural connection.

A Growing Community Hub for Seniors

As Eremea officially begins operations at Mytilenian House, the organisation is already looking ahead to expanding its services. Speaking to The Greek Herald, Niki from Eremea shared insights into the rapid growth and success of their structured programmes, which run twice a week and have seen attendance grow from just 15 people to over 60 per session.

“At first, there was hesitation,” Niki said. “But over time, it became evident that they wanted it—and they wanted it more. Now, they actually wait for us to arrive.”

Previously based in Ashfield, the move to Mytilenian House provides a new level of support and collaboration, allowing Eremea to expand its offerings. “Now, having a partner that’s willing to support us, we’re hoping to open this up to anyone in the community, beyond just our structured programmes,” she explained.

While currently running on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Eremea’s goal is to expand to daily programmes to accommodate different schedules and reach more people. “We also want to open it up to people who aren’t necessarily part of our aged care programme but are simply looking for somewhere to come and connect,” Meni said.

For those considering attending, the sessions offer a welcoming space with activities like bingo, social gatherings, and opportunities to form new friendships. But more importantly, they create a sense of belonging. “If you want to feel like you belong somewhere, this is the place,” Niki said. “People often tell us they feel comfortable here, like it’s family. It’s a safe space where they can just be themselves.”

A Chance to Reconnect

The impact of the programme was felt immediately, with moments of unexpected joy and reconnection taking place throughout the event.

Among those in attendance were George Koutrakis from Hurlstone Park and Stratos Kouroulis from Dulwich Hill, who had not seen each other in nearly 50 years.

Stratos recalled how they first met through George’s wife, who introduced him to a job opportunity at a plastics factory where George worked long shifts. “George wanted to reduce his hours, and I stepped in to take over the ones he cut back. He was working 12-hour days, and I was happy to share the workload,” Stratos said.

George Koutrakis and Stratos Kouroulis.

Since then, their paths had drifted apart, apart from one brief encounter at a café. But today, as they spotted each other across the room, recognition set in, and they warmly embraced.

“It’s nice that we are able to reconnect here,” George said with a smile.

For Peter Psomas, moments like this are exactly why the partnership between Eremea and Mytilenian House is so important. “We need to get our elderly out there, get them thinking again, get them active,” he said. “Bringing people together, seeing old friends reunite—this is what it’s all about.”

A Long-Term Vision for Growth

Speaking further to The Greek Herald, Peter emphasised that this initiative is just the beginning of a long-term collaboration between the Mytilenian Brotherhood and Eremea.

“It’s only the beginning, and we can see bigger and better things,” he said. “In a couple of weeks, we’re going to have an open day and an information session so more people can reach out and understand what this programme is about.”

With plans to expand services across Sydney, Eremea’s presence at Mytilenian House marks the beginning of a new chapter—one where Greek Australians and other seniors can find companionship, support, and a renewed sense of community.

For more information or to get in touch with Eremea, visit their website 

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

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

Advertisement

Latest News

How Maih Porfyri’s career pivot took her from fashion to the Paralympics

Maih Porfyri had only been in her job for a few months before she was whisked away on a trip to Paris to cover the Paralympic Games.

My partner doesn’t speak Greek – Can we still raise bilingual kids?

You can absolutely raise bilingual children, even if only one parent speaks Greek. Across the world, countless families do so successfully.

Joint bank accounts: Who gets the money?

All people named in a joint account are privy to the money by Law. Most of us have opened accounts at various bank branches.

Vergina considered among the world’s most mysterious destinations

Featured alongside global wonders, Vergina earns its place through a mystery that has eluded scholars for centuries.

Gender in Modern Greek: Dr Angeliki Alvanoudi to give online seminar

The aim of the seminar is to examine the role of Greek gendered terms in sustaining social gender ideologies that reinforce sexism.

You May Also Like

New High Commissioner of Cyprus in Australia welcomed to Canberra at luncheon

The Cyprus Community of Canberra welcomed the new High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia, Antonis Sammoutis, on Sunday.

Maria Sakkari makes Greeks proud despite loss in Indian Wells final

Maria Sakkari went down fighting in her Indian Wells final against Iga Swiatek this morning, but it wasn't enough to give her the win.

Greece’s government portal adds special section for Greeks living abroad

The government portal (www.gov.gr) by Greece has added a section focused on services to Greeks living abroad.