Death, often seen as a morbid topic, generated a debate among a group of Melbourne Greek students who gathered to hear Nick Dallas present his research on the city’s post-war Greek arrivals through Neos Kosmos obituaries.
“To be focusing on obituaries in relation to migration is really cool; I like niche topics like that,” BA student Jamie Gallos told Neos Kosmos after attending the lecture last month.
“You often get to see the same cookie-cutter research in the academic world, but Nick delivered something fresh.”
Gallos assumed president duties about a month ago at MUnGA – the Melbourne University Greek Association – which organised the seminar.
It was their second consecutive one after a years-long pause and focus on social activities.
“If we can have a ball and a drinks night and a lecture or a symposium and a dance workshop, that’s great. Because we cover all areas of what Greek community is which is quite a beautiful thing,” Gallos said.
However, fostering conversations on Greek identity, is a primary motivation for Gallos.
“Because at uni we’re not going to get lectures on Greek dance, post-war migration etc; they’re not necessarily accessible topics.”
“Unless you’re doing subjects that are specifically about diasporic Greeks.”
Greek identity related curriculum became an optional offering at the University of Melbourne following the appointment in 2022 of Dr Adonis Piperoglou in the position of Hellenic Senior Lecturer of Global Diasporas.
“Greeks are now the third gen so it’s great if we can run lectures that cater to these diasporic Greeks.
“I just think it’s fitting for a university to conduct these things.”
Christina Savopoulos, who is completing her Honours in Screen Studies, agrees. She handed over the MUnGA presidency baton last month but remains a Committee member.
“It would be really nice to see the lectures continue next year.
“And it was great to start with this lecture duo, George Kiriakidis the other month on Greek dance styles and now with this lecture by Nick Dallas,” she told Neos Kosmos.
A Melbourne thing
People of all ages came to hear Dallas’ insights into the profiles of Greek migrants and different places of origin in Greece.
“I guess it’s one thing to know, but it’s another thing to see the statistics laid out and the actual percentage of how many people came from where,” Savopoulos said.
For Savopoulos, the event brought memories of a very “Melbourne culture thing”, the Neos Kosmos funeral notices reading ritual.
“It’s kind of a staple that people go back to, a way of connecting community and sharing news.”
“My yiayia would look through and see if there was anyone that she knew each Thursday. And Nick mentioned that at the lecture, about his parents always looking through.”
Gallos also grew up “exposed to Neos Kosmos from a young age.”
“It’s definitely a thing that I’ve seen, you know, ‘who died this week.’
“My pappou read it, my mom’s parents too, it’s become one of those fundamentals that Greeks in Melbourne read.”
He shares his take on it.
“It speaks to something about death and Greeks. They’re trying to understand it and philosophise it and seek comfort with the fact that – what my pappou said all the time – etsi einai i zoi.
“That’s life, as simple as that.”
