The three Selimis brothers were reunited after 57 years of living life apart. The brothers – Ioannis, Alex and George – all met in Melbourne last weekend in what was a reunion of joy, tears, happiness and brotherly love.
Ioannis, Alex and George all departed Greece for different countries at a young age to make a future for themselves.
Ioannis, a sea merchant has travelled to 176 countries seeing many corners of the world before reaching Australia. Alex departed Greece with no formal education and only the shirt on his back as he made his way to Vancouver, while George headed to Canada and has been living there with his own family.
Many years had passed since the three brothers were together. On Sunday 23 September, this all changed. Ioannis received a phone call a few days earlier from his brother George who shared the news that he and Alex had decided it was time to head to Melbourne for a family reunion, one that was very overdue.
Anyone who hasn’t seen a family member after 57 years would have many emotions. Ioannis had called his daughter Nikki, telling her his brothers were heading to Melbourne.
“The enthusiasm and excitement in his voice was catchy,” she told Neos Kosmos.
For Ioannis this was beyond exciting, after losing his beloved wife of 48 years of marriage in May, this visit was a real boost in his life.
“My father has been through so much in life, with his life experiences and journeys, his commitment to his wife for 16 years as a stroke victim, his pain and anguish having to learn that one of his daughters is unwell, this news of his brothers was a breath of fresh air and hope for him”.
The first night they all sat in the lounge room sharing their stories, they were full of life experiences, hard times and good times of love and loss. Finally for the three brothers Ioannis, Alex and George, it is now the beginning of a new life together and hopefully the start of endless joy.
