At an event last Thursday at the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle the first grant was announced for $5,000, in honour of the Greek Australian benefactor Zisis Dardalis (1938-2023).
The grant was awarded to the Centre for Research of Macedonian History and Documentation (KEMIT) of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle Foundation and Modern History of Macedonia to support its research work.
The grant was awarded following a decision by the members of the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies.The collaboration between the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle Foundation in Thessaloniki and the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies in Melbourne has gained momentum with the common goal of studying, disseminating, and promoting the history of Macedonia.
In a special session last March, the members unanimously decided, upon the recommendation of their president, Professor Anastasios Tamis, to honour Zisis Dardalis, as their honorary president and to establish a special honorary award under the title Zisis Dardalis Grant (Jack Dardalis Grant).
“Zisis Dardalis emigrated to Australia alone, an orphan, and became a unique figure who belongs to all of us,” said Professor Tamis.
Born in 1938 in Siatista, Kozani, Dardalis lost his parents at the age of five during the raids by Germans and Bulgarians in Macedonia. He emigrated to Australia in 1960 after passing through the National Orphanage of Florina and attended the “Aristotle” Technical School of Kalamaria, where he learned the trade of machinist carpenter. After several jobs, he acquired his own factory manufacturing dim sims and spring rolls, establishing Marathon Foods Industry in Melbourne.
“He supported young children with diseases, patients in nursing homes, sports clubs, and groups promoting Greek culture and identity. From 1992 to 2012, he supported La Trobe University and the National Centre for Hellenic Studies and Research (EKEME), which operated at the university until 2008. He gave his soul to the university,” added Tamis.
By 2035, it is estimated that only 7 per cent of the 270,000 pioneering migrants will be alive, with an average age of 88 years, noted Professor Tamis in a lecture on ‘Changing Relationships of National Centres and the Greek Diaspora’.
He added that in 2023, the life expectancy in Australia was 81.3 years for men and 85.4 years for women, averaging 83.3 years.
Zisis Dardalis also funded the establishment of a Modern Greek Studies chair at La Trobe University.
The Dardalis Archives of the Greek Diaspora, which bear his name, include rich material related to Greeks in Australia, approximately seven million documents. Created in 1997 at the former National Centre for Hellenic Studies and Research at La Trobe University, the archives were stored when the Centre closed.
FIn 2013, La Trobe University Library undertook to evaluate and catalog the archives, newspapers, films, artworks, and photographs on migration, history, religion, and culture of Greeks in Australia.
Highlighting that the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies (AIMS) was founded in 1986 by a group of academics, professors, and professionals aiming to promote the cultural and historical identity of Macedonian Hellenism and conduct research in various fields and disciplines, including anthropological, socio-cultural, linguistic, and historical studies on Hellenism.
The collaboration of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle Foundation with the Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies is long-standing and based on relationships of trust and mutual appreciation of the research and multifaceted work of each institution. They share the common purpose of studying, disseminating, and promoting the history of Macedonia.
“The Australian Institute of Macedonian Studies and its people are always supporters of our institution’s educational and research work and our efforts to highlight the modern history and cultural heritage of Macedonia,” stressed Athina Pavlidou, director of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle.
Members of Zisis Dardalis’ family from Siatista, Kozani, attended the event honouring his contribution and role in the social, spiritual, and academic advancement of Hellenism in Australia.
