Seven Greek Australians have been honoured with Multicultural Awards of Excellent for their service to the community this week.
The awards are a Victorian Multicultural Commission initiative and aim to highlight everyday heroes who offer their time to ethnic communities of Victoria.
Chris Chistodoulou from Lalor, Pandelis Hatzipandelis from Roesbud, Theodora Koufopoulos from Reservoir, Anna Nichola from Malvern East, Nellie Nikoloudis from Richmond, Maria Sotiriou from Mount Elisa and Maria Vlachodimitropoulos from Wheelers Hill all got honoured for their service to the Greek Australian community.
Mrs Nichola says the award was unexpected.
“I just love people,” she to Neos Kosmos about her volunteer work for the community.
She cooks and visit elderly social clubs twice a week alongside her volunteer work for the Australian Greek Welfare Society.
More than 70 people from an array of backgrounds and 23 organisations were recognised for their achievements, all from different areas of the State.
The awards were also presented by the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Nicholas Kotsiras, Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell, Minister for Education Martin Dixon, and Chief Commissioner of Police Ken Lay.
Mr Chistodoulou was honoured for his work for the Greek Australian Cypriot community, and has been instrumental in the development of the new Cypriot Age Care Facility in South Morang.
VMC Chairperson, Mr Chin Tan said it was nice to see emerging communities represented in the awards.
“This year we are pleased to see new and emerging African communities recognised for their contributions, with Somalia-born, North Melbourne resident Ahmed Dini sharing the Ambassador Award with Africa Day Australia,” he said.
Mr Tha Wah was inducted in the Multicultural Hall of Fame, an award designed to honour newly arrived migrants that have showed great leadership skills and generosity in the community.
Tha was born in Burma and arrived in Australia in 2007 after living and working in refugee camps for 13 years. He helps his community understand the refugee experience, raises funds for charity and is Secretary of a new Karen Baptist Fellowship church.