In his heyday, Konstantinos (Kon) Rozakeas was one of the most recognisable figures in Brunswick. The tall, heavily moustached gatekeeper of the Upfield railway line on Brunswick Road made quite a figure, but he was also known for his deeds that included saving a number of lives at the gates.
Kon’s tenure spanned nearly thirty years that ended upon his retirement in the mid 1990’s.
Eleni and Kon arrived in Australia in May 1956 from the village of Kastanea in the Mani region of the Peloponnese. May is one that is filled with celebrations for the couple that celebrates sixty years of marriage on 31 May, and they also share their name day on 21 May while Kon celebrates his birthday on 23 May.
The couple recently received a lifetime community achievement award from the Moreland Council in recognition for their contribution to the Greek and wider community. Kon and Eleni have been generous contributors to the Royal Melbourne hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre as well as numerous local charities and organisations.
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Like many Greek migrants, Kon and Eleni often worked two jobs at a time, as well as raising six high-achieving children: Maria, Roidoula, Foteini, Petros, Stratis and Diamond.
While Australia has enabled the couple to prosper, they have never forgotten their roots in the Mani region and the traumatic events (WW2 and the Civil War) which led to their move to Melbourne (via Perth, Horsham/Murtoa), over sixty years ago. Arriving with no language and no money, but a formidable work ethic and big dreams, Kon and Eleni can look back with pride on a life well lived.