Federal Member for Hotham, Clare O’Neil MP, joined by Steve Dimopoulos MP, the State Member for Oakleigh, and Nick Staikos MP, the State Member for Bentleigh, hosted a gala luncheon in Oakleigh this week giving recognition to Greek Australians who have made a significant contribution to our multicultural community.
“It is a great honour to serve our multicultural and diverse community in my electorate of Hotham. I am humbled by the extraordinary contribution being made by so many Greek Australians through their leadership and mostly voluntary work serving our community,” Ms O’Neil said.
“These awards give due recognition and honour citizens in our community who have made a noteworthy contribution throughout the year”, she added.
Ms O’Neil presented recognition awards to 20 citizens who had been nominated because of their tremendous contribution to the welfare and wellbeing of the community.
Three of 190 Fronditha Care volunteers have been recognised for their service to the Greek Australian ageing community after being awarded as 2018 Multicultural Leading Citizens.
Evangelia Limneos, Christos Malamidis and Despina Stamatopoulos were personally congratulated by Federal MP Clare O’Neil, who hosted the Multicultural Leading Citizen Awards for her Hotham electorate on 2 May 2018.
Each nominee from Fronditha Care has a longstanding commitment to bringing joy to the elderly residents across the organisation’s five residential aged care facilities and for those requiring home visits on a regular basis.
Ms Limneos volunteers to help people diagnosed with severe dementia who might not be able to speak.
“You need a different type of communication: the human touch, kissing, showing affection. That’s what they understand and appreciate,” she said.
Volunteer Christos Malamidis plays the accordion for the residents and has slowly added to his repertoire to make sure each resident recognises a local song from their village.
Despina Stamatopoulos is affectionately known as “mum” by most of the residents she visits. Having visited every day for more than 10 years, Ms Stamatopoulos believes if “you give love, they give you love”.
Also awarded were: Angelo Sardellis from Oakleigh Greek Orthodox Community Inc.; Evanthia Christofi and Neophyta Evripidou from the Greek Cyprian Senior Citizens Community of Glen Eira; John Mantas, Arthur Baltas and Manolis Palios from the Hellenic Community of the City of Moorabbin; Christos Apostolopoulos, Veniotis Dilivasilis and Helen Antoniou from Clarinda and District Greek Senior Citizens Club Inc.; Angela Pilipasidis and Anna Angelidis from AGAPI Care Inc.