Who would ever imagine that every national and international cricket game in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, is performed thanks to the sheer skill and dedication of a Greek team. It does sound extraordinary – but nothing else is closer to the truth.
Each member of this team has amassed more than 30 years of experience and collected numerous compliments from many star cricket players such as Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh, Michael Clark, Shane Warne, Glen McGrath and Michael Hussey, among others.
The people who make the famous Kookaburra cricket balls are mostly of Greek or Greek Cypriot background. Indeed, the hands of Philip Philippou and Harry Theocharous are the only ones in Australia skilful enough to hand-stitch them. And according to the regulations, only hand-stitched balls are used in any of the ‘top end of the town’ games. Neos Kosmos received a special invitation a while ago to meet this charismatic team.
The great-great-great-granddaughter of Alfred Grace Thompson, the founder of this historic company, is Ms Nicola Thompson, who wanted to say a special thank you to these workers – recognising their long standing commitment and the uniqueness of their skills. “It’s always an absolute delight to be able to give our employees an experience that demonstrates how important they are. Without them, we have no business,” she said.
Androula Christodoulou, Andrew Georghiou, George Kardaris and his wife Irene, Maria Lygouris, Bill Milionis, Andreas and his brother Philip Philippou, Nick Siacolas, Nick Smirnios and Harry Theocharous together accumulate 257 years of service for Kookaburra Sports. Give them some cork, a piece of leather and some yarn and they can turn it into a cricket ball. The successes of Kookaburra sports has been immense through the years and, as Ms Thompson said to Neos Kosmos, the Greek employees not only played an integral role in the company but they also enriched and strengthened the working community of the company.
“They brought a lively culture to the factory. People fondly remember the Greek employees contribution to Christmas parties; cooking lambs in the core making oven, dancing and singing!” says Nicola. Kookaburra Sports was founded in 1890 and since then remains a family owned and run business. Similarly, everyone who meets the Greek team within Kookaburra can sense that in reality they are all members of one big family.
“We have been loyal to the bosses and they have been equally loyal to us” says Andrew Philippou, who has been with the company for 35 years. It is natural for someone to wonder how these newly arrived migrants, who had and still have soccer as a religion, ended up working for a cricket ball manufacturer! “I started as soon as I came to Australia,” says Harry, who migrated in Australia as a refugee after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The rest is history.
Harry brought Andrew, Andrew brought the other Andrew, then that Andrew brought his brother Philip and the story goes on. “In the late seventies a large percentage of our workforce were Greek and Greek Cypriot, many of them came to us through a connection to another employee, either a relative or friend. Still today most of them are related to at least one other employee,” adds Ms Thompson.
Of course, during those early days of employment, their skills were limited. But if someone loves their profession, is dedicated and feels welcomed and appreciated in their workplace, skills can develop to perfection. And this team has managed just that. Their skills today are second to none, as Ms Thompson repeated numerous times while speaking to Neos Kosmos. As for their cricket playing skills? The Greek cricket team has more important business to attend than rubbing and throwing a ball.
