IN PERSON ONLY: The Greek Australian Community, 1900-1954

Date: Thursday 4 May 2023 @ 7pm Melbourne
Location: Mezzanine, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Presenter: Dr Christos Fifis

Language of Presentation: English
Entry: FREE

Synopsis

In this seminar, Dr Christos Fifis aims to present the development of the Greek community in Australia from 1900 to 1954. The seminar will consider the structure, the numbers of Greek immigrants per period, the various phases and landmarks of the community, social stratification, class differences and social and political conflicts, the formation of community institutions and organizations and their role in shaping it up to 1954.
The year 1954 is a great milestone in the history of the Greek Australian community. In 1952 the Greek-Australian Immigration Agreement was signed and the exchange of ambassadors between Greece and Australia was agreed. In 1953, the first Greek Ambassador, Dimitrios Lambros, was posted to Canberra and the first mass migration from Greece to Australia began. In 1954 the Australian census was taken which shows the results of the first significant increase in the Greek Australian community, a first sign of the changes that would follow in the next two decades.

Bio

Dr Christos N. Fifis is an Honorary Research Associate in the Department of Languages and Cultures, La Trobe University. He has taught Greek Studies at RMIT, Victoria College, University of Melbourne, La Trobe, and Monash for 33 years. In 1987 he was appointed as the first Senior Lecturer and Head of Greek Studies at La Trobe University. He earned his Ph. D. from the University of La Trobe in 2009 and his M. A. from Melbourne University in 1982. His Ph. D. thesis Navigating through the Generations. A History of the Greek Orthodox   Community, 1897-2008 was a research study of the history of the organisation of the “Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria” since its inception in 1897 to 2008.

Dr Fifis’ research interests include the history and literature of the Greek Australian community and has published numerous articles, two monographs: From our Greek Antipodes. Aspects of the History of the Greek Australian community, (367 pages), Zacharopoulos, Athens, 2015, the volume The First Greek Community in Australia. A History of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, 1897-2018 (560 pages), Zacharopoulos, Athens, 2018, and a volume of essays on aspects of the Greek Australian community: Greek Australian Issues. Articles and Discussions, (326 pages), Zacharopoulos, Athens, 2016. This book was awarded the first prize of the 2019 book competition in the category (history, social issues) organised by the Greek Australian Cultural League of Melbourne. Dr Fifis has also a strong interest in literature and has published several articles and collections of poetry and short stories. In 2021 he published a theatrical play, Το σπίτι της Βασίλως, (Vasslo’s home), based on Greek-Australian historical and social migration experiences.