Health Minister Jenny Mikakos spoke in Victoria’s Parliament about the late Dimitris Gogos, founder of Neos Kosmos newspaper. Below is an extract from the Parliamentary debate:
I rise today to pay tribute to the founder of the largest Greek Australian newspaper, Neos Kosmos, and a pioneer of multicultural journalism.
Dimitris Gogos, known to everybody as Takis, recently passed away at the age of 88. Takis was born on 13 February 1931 on the island of Chios. His parents were refugees from Asia Minor. He immigrated to Melbourne in 1950 and worked initially at General Motors Holden before turning his sights to journalism.
Takis founded Neos Kosmos in 1957 and went on to become one of the most influential and respected members of Victoria’s Greek community. he built up Neos Kosmos to be the most successful non-English Australian newspaper. he was a stout defender and campaigner for social justice and migrant equality and held an unwavering commitment to his community. The story of Greek migration to Victoria is a long one, and Takis understood that by providing a record of significant events, challenges and success stories the community would maintain a connection to its history and to its culture. Neos Kosmos has gone on to establish an archiving project to preserve and make accessible all of its archives to the broader community through its website.
Takis helped to establish Greek organisations like Pronia and Frontida, using the newspapers’ early offices for fundraising. He worked tirelessly to ensure that hellenism not only survived but thrived in Victoria. His newspaper has been such a fundamental part of so many Greek Victorians’ lives and continues to be for our younger generations as well.
I express my deepest condolences to his family, to his children, George, Tania and Christopher, and their families, as well as to his colleagues at Neos Kosmos. may he rest in peace.