Mitsi (Efthymia) Kouri, who, among other things, taught roughly 10,000 newly arrived Greek women how to operate electric sewing machines and sew shirts, has passed away aged 88.
Ms Kouri died on Monday, November 27, and was the wife of Alfredos Kouris, a man who had left a major mark on our community.
The Kouris couple arrived in Australia in March 1956 on the ocean liner “Kyrenia”.
“Once we came to Melbourne, within six months we opened the Greek Machinist School on Elizabeth St in the City,” Alfredos had said and added:
“My wife taught around 10,000 girls how to use electric sewing machines and sew shirts! Then, in 1958, we opened the Primo Clothing shirt factory on the corner of Elizabeth St and La Trobe St (two years after we came to Australia) and just one year later, we opened the first menswear store under the brand name ‘Alfredos Menswear’ on Swanson St in the City, next to Yiannopoulos’ shop.”
Alfredos Kouris, with Mitsi by his side, was a major figure in our community affairs, involving himself in teaching Greek studies, community media, politics, as well as business.
Along with others, he also participated in an impressive campaign to successfully extend the trading of Melbourne stores.
The funeral for Mitsi (Efthymia) Kouri will take place on Friday, December 8, at the Archangels Greek Orthodox Parish Mentone in Parkdale (56 The Corso, Parkdale).
