Journalist/writer Panos Georgiou, 79, died last week after a 20-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.
The veteran journalist was well known for his work in the media of the diaspora as he had a real understanding of the stories and struggles of Greek Australians. He was editor-in-chief of the Greek Herald, Nea Patrida and Ellinis magazine from 1976 through to 1982. He had collaborations with Neos Kosmos and Ta Nea magazine and was also content editor for Athlitikos Ihos, sports writer for Ethnos newspaper as well as a presenter for EYPM, 3AB and 3EA. For a short stint, he worked with Melbourne’s newspaper Ta Nea.
Considered one of the most authentic voices of community journalism, Mr Georgiou was popular for his descriptions of life in the antipodes. A man with a sense of humour, his work – inspired by life around him – was able to describe daily life of migrants in a unique way documenting the ordinary stories of Greek Australians at the barber, greengrocers, fast food joints, and anywhere else.
A migrant from Thessaloniki, he was the son of Koula Danou, a resistance fighter with ELAS during the Civil War. Her son was adopted by a woman in Lamia before they moved to Thessaloniki where he was raised. In 1959, he graduated from the 2nd Boys High School of Thessaloniki and signed up as a volunteer in the air force through to 1962. In 1964, he learnt that he was adopted before he departed from Thessaloniki in January 1965 aboard the Patris. His journey on the ship stood as the inspiration behind his first satirical work, “Haire… Patris”.
He married Janice, and they were together for fifty or so years. Together, they had two children Katerina and Thomas.