The Antipodes Festival, in collaboration with the Food for Thought Greek Australian Women’s Network, presents: A Conversation with Justice Emilios Kyrou to be held at the Wheeler Centre tonight.
Early life for Supreme Court Judge Emilios Kyrou wasn’t easy. And it’s the hardships he faced as a young Greek migrant boy that will guide this conversion pertaining to his book publishe din 2012, Call me Emilios. The book is a highly personal exploration of identity, and the determination that transformed him from a vulnerable new migrant to a successful lawyer and ultimately a Supreme Court Judge. Part family history, the book provides a window to the many hardships that motivated an entire generation of Greek migrants to succeed in Australian society, while maintaining their Greek heritage. The book also considers the enormous impact that Australia, a country Justice Kyrou describes as “one of the few true meritocracies in the world”, has had on his life, offering deep gratitude for the many opportunities it has presented him.
“One of the biggest problems I had was my name – as soon as people found out my name was Emilios, which is such an unusual name, I was immediately called a ‘wog’.”Meet John, also known as Emilios.”
“I tried to avoid the radar as much as possible, to go unnoticed. I certainly didn’t advertise the fact that I was Greek.”
At the talk, Justice Kyrou will discuss the themes of motivation and preserving the Greek heritage and will then be interviewed by Eyvah Dafaranos (poet and wife of the Greek Ambassador) on his migrant experience, his role as the first and only Greek-born Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria and aspects of his recently published autobiography Call Me Emilios. The evening’s moderator, Professor Nikos Papastergiadis (The University of Melbourne), and Helen Nickas (Editor and Publisher) will then contribute their reflections and the Greek Ambassador, Haris Dafaranos, will make closing remarks.
Justice Emilios Kyrou is a Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, having been appointed in May 2008. He was born the village of Sfikia, near Veria in northern Greece, and migrated to Australia with his parents and younger brother in 1968 when he was 8 years old. He graduated from The University of Melbourne in 1982 with a first class honours degree in law and a commerce degree. He was the top law graduate and was awarded the prestigious Supreme Court Prize.
A conversation with Justice Emilios Kyrou will take place tonight at 6:00 pm at the The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.