Being a single mother within the Greek community of 1970s Melbourne was a hard experience for Greek-Australian radio personality Rena Fragkioudaki. Despite the obstacles that were thrown in her way, she persevered to tell her story for the first time recently.

Ms Frangioudaki who helped in the drive to create the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) recently spoke of her experiences on SBS Greek radio. She began her broadcasting career on 3EA which has evolved into today’s SBS Greek radio.

“This is the first time I speak out and the first time I attempt to bring these memories back to life. … Because the good thing is that I have moved on. And I did so by turning the page and not looking back,” she said.

READ MORE: The diary-turned-book of an immigrant single mother from Cyprus surviving in Australia

She said she became pregnant while engaged to be married. Only her younger brother in Greece first knew of the pregnancy and offered his support. Others did not and turned their back on her.

“What made me bitter was that my parents did not live up to the principles that they taught me. I wrote to my father and I lost him.

“I wrestled (in my mind) over what was the right thing to do, I worried about what people would say. I decided to call the child Yianni (after her father), even though I did not know if it would be a boy or a girl.”

It was not just what people would say that was the problem. She found that many in the community turned their backs on her.

“The issue was doors were closed on me. I could not find work or anywhere to stay”.

When she went to hospital for her regular check-ups she met the late Frosso Toumbourou who she known from her first years in Australia when both were members of GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth of Australia).

Ms Toumbourou and her husband, Andoni, helped Ms Frangioudaki to find work in a factory.

“They treated me well and gave me life and courage when friends and acquaintances did not want to know me,” she said.

While she battled with loneliness, she was not getting enough to eat. A doctor at the hospital understood her situation and would take her out to buy food for her.

“I saw my pregnancy through eating maize/corn. I am surprised the baby did not come out as a chicken,” she said.

She told of how people would insult her and her way to work was blocked and she was told not to walk down Lonsdale Street.

“I prayed to God who knew me and I asked Him to help me. I gained strength and I decided to take up my responsibilities as my parents had taught me to do. I would show those who shunned me that I was not someone waiting at a pavement on St Kilda. What had happened, happened,” she said.

When her labour pains came she had no one to take her to hospital so she determined to walk there.

“I started walking from Alma Road at 12.30am and arrived at the hospital at 5am with bruised knees because I kept falling on the way.”

After the birth of Yianni, she continued to be shunned: she was bullied at the radio station where she worked.

A turning point came when she was invited to attend a Radio 3EA function. The master of ceremonies introduced everyone on the table but when it came to Ms Frangkioudaki, he said he did not know whether to address her as “Miss” or “Mrs”.

“I went in front of him and everyone and said: ‘If you cannot respect me as Rena Frangioudaki, then respect me as a mother. I am Mrs Frangioudaki and this is my son.’ I then went sat down. I do not know where I found the strength to do that.

“Over the years people who I did not know came up to me and apologised for their behaviour and the things they said about me,” she said.

“There were people who spat on me and blocked my way. It took a lot of strength and patience to reach the point where I can say I love these people and to show I am a human being.”

She said that for all the difficulties she faced this was a gift from God.