The Greek community of Melbourne are mourning the death of tireless community worker and pioneer Margaret Moraitis OAM, 85, a former president of community welfare organisation PRONIA and who in her active life had numerous roles on multicultural and state organisations relating to health, immigration, education, broadcasting and welfare. She died on Monday, 16 May.

Both Mrs Moraitis and her husband, Dr Spiro Moraitis, served as presidents of PRONIA. Throughout their professional lives the couple were involved in a large number of community, voluntary and government organisations related to social welfare, health and education and often in executive roles.

She married Dr Moraitis in 1959 and gave birth to Anastasia, Katina, Harley and Melissa. She is the much-loved grandmother of Nicholas and Alex.

She was a lover of music, a fan of tennis and a follower of fashion.

Mrs Moraitis was born in Melbourne on 9 April, 1937, the daughter of Evangelos and Katina Hetrelezis. She went to Camberwell High School. She then enrolled for Welfare Studies at Chisholm College of TAFE.

From 1955 to 1958, she worked as secretary for the Commercial Bank of Australia and then as medical secretary in her husband Spiro’s practice in 1959.

Margaret Moraitis OAM (1937-2022). Photo: Supplied

Both were founding members of the Australian Greek Welfare Society (AGWS), now known as PRONIA, when it was formed in 1972. Each was to serve as President, on the executive, as well as chair, archivist and Secretary.

She was also to serve on numerous health-related committees and task forces including as Chairman and Convenor of the AGWS (1985-87), and the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV) from 1988 to 94. She served as a member of the Ministerial Ethnic Health Task Force of Victoria (1990-92) and the Anti-Cancer Council Ethnic Advisory Committee (1990-92)

As a member of the ECCV, Mrs Moraitis sat on a number of Health Department committees and organisations, including the Central Health Interpreter Service, Ethnic Health Task Force, Victorian Ministerial Ethnic Health Consultative Council, Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria (Non-English Speaking Background Information Project), Medical Treatment Empowerment of Attorney Act (1990), and Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) and the Kastellorizian Association of Victoria.

In June 1987, she received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Her funeral service will be held at St Catherine’s Greek Church, Epping Street, Malvern, at 11.30am on Friday, 27 May.