The Stanhope and District Development Committee has taken inspiration from the Canadians, investing in a mural project in commemoration of a bygone era.
When the residents of Stanhope think about the once thriving country town, Con’s Café is one of the first things that springs to mind.
A local meeting place after footy training, Con and Maria Demaris’ café was an amalgamation of a fish and chip shop, grocery store and entertainment complex.
“People in those days didn’t have cars, so the young generation would come and listen to the jukebox or play billiards,” Mrs Demaris’ daughter Tasia tells Neos Kosmos.
Almost two years ago, the Stanhope and District Development Committee caught wind of a similar project taking place in Canada and decided to start a mural project to breathe life back into the now empty shop fronts.
Starting with Con’s Café, the mural took 18 months to complete in a collaborative effort between artists Glenda Cornell and Ann Bell.
This local sanctuary was first started by Mr Demaris, who migrated to Australia from the island of Limnos aged 14. In 1959, at just 18, he decided to start his own business, taking over the Stanhope shop front. Later joined by wife Maria, the two worked hard, seven days a week, welcoming locals and travellers alike with their friendly hospitality for over 20 years.
Mrs Demaris was overwhelmed by the mural.
“I’m very pleased,” she told Neos Kosmos. “Every migrant that comes to Australia has a story.”
As the only Greeks living in the town at the time, the Demaris sisters were the only migrant children at the local country school. Despite knowing they were ‘different’ because of their Greek upbringing at home; both Con and Maria did their best to integrate the family into the community, whilst maintaining their Greek language and culture.
“My mum and dad were very different… a lot of the people in Melbourne stayed in the community and spoke only Greek,” Tasia tells Neos Kosmos. “My dad would go to the football, my mum was a part of the Country Women’s Association.”
Following the death of Mr Demaris, the mural holds even greater significance for the family.
“They were a part of a community and it obviously shows now that they were respected all those years.”