By Andriana Simos and Argyro Vourdoumpa
At least six Greek Australians have been named by the Governor General today in the Australia Day 2022 Honours List. They are a small but significant portion of the total number of 1040 Australians recognised on the list.
“To the individuals being celebrated today; thank you for your contribution to Australia and congratulations on being recognised by your peers and your nation,” the Governor-General said in a media statement.
These are the Greek Australians who were recognised:
Order of Australia (General Division):
– Mr George Stamas AM, Victoria
Born in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton to a Greek mother and father who migrated to Australia in the 1950’s, Mr George Stamas was instantly drawn to both the not-for-profit and business sector.
He started working as a musician in his younger years, before getting into the facility services industry for roughly 10 – 12 years. In his early 30’s, he started his own facility services company and now employs in excess of 3,000 people in Australia and New Zealand. In 2017, he was also involved in the establishment of GJK Indigenous Solutions.
These accomplishments have seen Mr Stamas recognised this year for significant service to the community through the not-for-profit sector, and to business. He tells The Greek Herald he is incredibly “humbled and honoured” by the acknowledgement.
“I’ve always been keen to put back into society, more around charity work and supporting underprivileged people,” Mr Stamas says.
“My not-for-profit work has been very fulfilling for me.”
PERSONAL BIO:
Mr Stamas has been Director at the Epworth Medical Foundation since 2018. He has also been involved in the establishment of GJK Indigenous Solutions (since 2017), as well as the Hellenic Museum in Melbourne (mid-2000s). He is a supporter and donor to various charities such as The Hunger Project Australia and Kids Cancer Project.
Mr Stamas has also been involved in a number of associations: Building Services Contractors Association of Australia (National President and Vice President); Victorian Branch, Building Services Contractors Association of Australia (State President); and theFacility Management Association of Australia (Vice-Chair, Board Member, Finance Director, Joint Chair).
Other awards and recognition given to Mr Stamas include: Excellence in Sustainability Business Award from the City of Yarra in 2012, as well as an Australian Business Award, for Community Contribution, for commitment to the Public Tenant Employment Program, 2011.
– Dr Peter Gianoutsos OAM, New South Wales
Born in New Zealand in 1939 to a Greek father who immigrated to the country in the late 1920s from the island of Kastos and a New Zealander mother, Dr Peter Gianoutsos, has been recognised for service to medicine as a respiratory physician.
“When I was going through High School my younger sister who was seven years older than me suffered from asthma and my mum had the tendency to take her to unqualified, crazy people who were supposedly providing asthma therapy back then.
“I thought that there should be better ways to deal with it and I think that was the genesis that made me want to do medicine and to become a respiratory specialist.”
Peter attended Medical School at Otago University where he specialised in Respiratory Health. In 1970 he moved to Sydney and accepted a job at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
He retired 44 years later.
“I am flattered that people wanted to recognise the contribution that I have made,” Dr Gianoutsos said.
PERSONAL BIO:
Mr Gianoutsos has been an Emeritus Consultant Physician at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital since 2014. He has also held a number of other roles at the hospital including Senior Respiratory Physician, Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine (1971-2013); Chairman, Medical Board (1989-1991); Chairman, Visiting Medical Officers Association (1981-1986).
The respiratory physician has also held a number of positions at the Australian Respiratory Council (Vice President, Board Member and Life Governor); the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (Emeritus Member, Honorary Treasurer and Member); and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (Chairman, Fellow and Life Member).
Mr Gianoutsos is also a founding member of the Australian Lung Foundation, and has been a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney since 2006.
– Mrs Mary Mangos OAM, South Australia
Recognised for service to the Greek community of South Australia.
For more than 70 years, Mary has been raising funds to support South Australia’s Greek and wider communities and providing not only her time to worthy causes, but opening up her home and its garden as a fundraising venue for afternoon teas, fashion parades and other charitable events.
Born in Adelaide in the late 1920s to migrant parents from the Greek island of Kastellorizo, Maria Mangos has served on the Board of the Greek Women’s Society of SA -founded by her mother- for more than three decades.
“Her mother was one of the oldest people to receive an honour in her 90s and now mum gets a recognition,” Arthur Mangos, Maria’s son, told The Greek Herald.
“I am very proud of her achievement. The whole family is.
“I hope other people follow in her footsteps and get involved in volunteer community work. Mum is a great role model for generations to come.”
PERSONAL BIO:
Mrs Mangos has been extensively involved in South Australia’s Greek community for many years. She has been a Member of the Greek Women’s Society of South Australia since 1943 and was also the Vice President from 1956 to 2009.
She has also worked with the Greek Orthodox Community (Foundation Member of the Grecian Ball Committee and Volunteer Cook at Theofania events); the Lions Hellenic (President and Member); and the Kastellorizo Association of South Australia (Secretary, Former Volunteer and Supporter, Member of the Glendi Greek Festival Fundraising Club).
Other awards and recognition given to Ms Mangos include: Anniversary Award from the City of West Torrens in 2019 and the Community Service Award from the City of West Torrens in 2010.
Meritorious Award:
– Mr Anthony Michael Kannis PSM (Public Service Medal), Western Australia
Mr Anthony Kannis has been awarded a Public Service Medal and was named in the COVID-19 Honour Roll in the Australia Day Honours List this year. He was recognised for outstanding public service to transport and infrastructure reform, particularly through METRONET.
“I’ve been in the public sector with the WA government for over four decades and have had the opportunity to be involved in some significant projects,” Mr Kannis tells The Greek Herald.
“I’ve been doing that through working in the Treasury Department, the Police Department and also now, the Transport Department.
“At the moment I’ve got responsibility for the biggest investment in rail in WA’s history. We’re going to be spending in the region of $5 billion on rail projects in WA and it will certainly change the look of Perth.”
Mr Kannis, who has Kastellorizian heritage, adds that he’s “very pleased to be recognised” for his work in the public sector and “appreciates” the people that nominated him.
PERSONAL BIO:
Mr Kannis has held a number of roles in the public sector including Deputy Chairperson of the WA Treasury Corporation, the WA Planning Commission’s Infrastructure Coordinating Committee, and the Western Australian Government nominee on the Infrastructure Australia Board. Mr Kannis is currently serving as the Managing Director of METRONET.
During his time as WA Police Executive Director, Mr Kannis contributed significantly to the Frontline 2020 reform program. He also championed gender and equity reform in his portfolio, greatly increasing the number of women in senior positions.
As the Managing Director of METRONET, Perth’s largest investment in public transport, Mr Kannis has driven and implemented the agency’s robust governance framework, critical to the State Government’s economic response to COVID-19.
– Mr Christopher Helmut Petrikas AFSM (Australian Fire Service Medal), New South Wales
Mr Christopher Petrikas joined the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) Tennyson Brigade in 1976. He was first seen assisting in firefighting operations alongside his father, when he was just 14 years of age. For the following 43 years, he served his Brigade and district in many roles, including as Senior Deputy Captain, Captain, Deputy Group Captain, Brigade Training Officer, and he currently holds the rank of Group Captain.
Mr Petrikas has provided outstanding leadership and encouragement to his brigade members and throughout the district. Over his many years of service, he has attended numerous fires within district and on various deployments.
He is an integral member of the Hawkesbury district Incident Management Team and has assisted in controlling some of the most challenging campaign fires, including the more recent Gospers Mountain Fire, where he undertook the roles of Operations Officer and Divisional Commander.
Mr Petrikas is a dedicated trainer and assessor, renowned for his chainsaw training in the NSW RFS and in other agencies, as well as for mentoring frontline firefighters, crew and group leaders.
He is a well-respected volunteer firefighter who has developed strong working relationships throughout the Hawkesbury community, with other emergency services organisations and across all levels of management.
Military – Distinguished and Conspicuous
– Petty Officer Thai-Britney Jade Demos CSM (Conspicuous Service Medal), Royal Australian Navy
Petty Officer Thai-Britney Jade Demos was awarded a Conspicuous Service Medal for meritorious devotion to duty during the establishment of the Navy Cryptologic Operator workforce capability within Fleet Command.
Petty Officer Demos has excelled in her position as a Maritime Intelligence Support Centre supervisor, directly enhancing Intelligence provision to the Fleet through inspirational leadership within the new Cryptologic Operator workforce.
Petty Officer Demos’ superior leadership and management acumen delivered an employment and training framework for Cryptologic Operators that has exceeded requirements. Petty Officer Demos’ professionalism and devotion to duty have delivered a positive impact on those that she has served with.
