John Patsikatheodorou, community activist and pioneer of many multicultural services, left us suddenly, aged 66, on 4 June 2018.
Born on 10 May 1952 in Livadi, Elassona in Greece, John boasted that he came from the land of the gods, Mount Olympus, and with ‘theodorou’ in his surname meaning God’s gift, that he was here for a higher purpose.
John arrived in Australia in 1963, and nine years later, completed his Higher School Certificate at Melbourne Boys’ High. He had a passion for maths and science so enrolled in biological sciences at La Trobe University, where he became active in student and multicultural issues.
He engaged with the Greek Students and Graduates Association, resulting in the establishment of the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria, radio station 3ZZZ, the Australian Greek Welfare Society, and the Australian Greek Aged Care Society.
He found his calling when Cyclone Tracey struck during Christmas 1974. He was employed as a bilingual welfare worker with the Department of Social Security assisting with the resettlement of Greeks from Darwin in 1975 and 1976. He felt resettling the displaced Greek community was more important than going to university.
His parents never found out that he had dropped out, and when they asked him why he didn’t have a graduation photo, he made up some story.
For the rest of his life, his activism and compassion touched many lives.
John worked as a student/parent welfare support worker at the Richmond Community Education Centre from 1976 to 1978, and for the City of Northcote in the Town Clerk’s department 1978 to 1982, where he was once pulled up for speaking in Greek with a colleague.
He became a member of the ALP in 1974, and the Australian Chapter of Passok (Pan Hellenic Socialist Movement of Greece). He was employed as an electorate officer from 1983 to 1985 with Brian Howe, the then member for Batman and later, deputy prime minister. He left Brian’s employment because he said he couldn’t work for an MP who advocated for uranium mining.
Between 1985 and 2003, John served as director of two Migrant Resource Centres – Broadmeadows and Inner Western Region (Footscray) – and in 1991 he was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Victoria.
He helped form a number of community organisations and has served on various boards, including Western Health Care, Western English Language Centre, National MRC Association, Broadmeadows Employment Projects, Ministerial Advisory Council on Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Human Services, Moonee Valley/Maribyrnong Local Learning and Employment Network, Footscray Legal Centre, 98.9 North West FM, Regional Ethnic Aged Services Network, Employment Initiatives – Community Jobs Programs, Drug Education – Illicit Drug Strategy City of Maribyrnong, Education and Training Unit, Partnership with VU – Undertaking Ageing Well research – Vietnamese and Italian communities, Settlement Advisory Council, Regional Consumer Council, Broadmeadows Multicultural Early Learning Centre, Greek Community of Broadmeadows and Districts, Brite Services, Terminate Tullamarine Toxic Dump Action Group, and Gladstone Park Community Centre. Even this extensive list is not exhaustive.
We will never know the full extent of his involvement as he was an unpretentious person who did what needed to be done to make people’s lives better without thinking of the impacts to himself or his family.
John was a happy man, renowned for his cheeky sense of humour, and his passion for Greek music and dancing.
When his wife Helen became the mayor of Hume City Council (twice), he was happy to be referred to as ‘the lady mayoress’ and gladly attended all events with her. He also called himself ‘the bag man’, as he carried Helen’s bag while she performed her official duties.
John is survived by the love of his life and soulmate, Helen, three sons, who he loved deeply; Dimitri, Stratos and Nikolas, and soon-to-be daughter-in-law Dimitra.
The world is a sadder place with the loss of this wonderful person. Our local community has lost a stalwart, and the Labor family has lost a cherished comrade.