Harry Thodis, a pioneering Greek migrant who left a lasting mark on Australia’s community and shipping industry, has passed away at the age of 91. Founder of Hermes Shipping and a lifelong supporter of the Greek diaspora, Thodis embodied resilience, love, and boldness, even beginning to study philosophy at the age of 60.
Born on 15 January 1934 in Loutraki, Corinth, and raised in his family’s village of Perachora, Harry grew up in an era when schooling was a luxury. Despite the hardships, his mind remained curious, his spirit fearless.
Migration and family
In 1959, his life changed forever when he migrated to Australia, which he described as “winning life’s lottery.” At just 25, he met Antje (Anne) Maaten, a 17-year-old Dutch migrant. Their marriage, unusual for the time, was a testament to his confidence and courage and endured for 65 years, defined by mutual love and respect.
Entrepreneurial spirit
After working in factories and breweries, Harry co-founded Hermes Taxi Trucks in 1964 with his brother George and wife Anne. Beginning with just two VW Kombis, they helped young Greek migrants move between shared boarding houses in Melbourne’s inner suburbs.
As Greek families settled in suburban and regional areas during the ’60s and ’70s, the company expanded into a fleet of 30 trucks, offering employment to many young Greeks and giving them their first professional opportunities.
Driven by passion for his community, Harry later founded Hermes Shipping, meeting the needs of migrants who longed to send and receive goods from Greece, from personal belongings to prized olive oil. For Harry, clients were never just customers; they became friends, often embraced as family.
Although he briefly ventured into Acropolis Travel, shipping remained his great love. Today, Hermes Shipping continues to operate under the care of his children, Arthur and Connie, and grandson, Harrison.
A family man and community pillar
Harry was the proud father of Joanne, Arthur and Connie, and a devoted grandfather and great-grandfather. He travelled abroad 47 times, always eager to learn, teach, and share stories.
He cherished Melbourne’s Greek clubs, including the Cyprus-Hellenic Club, and played backgammon well into his nineties at the Greek Elderly Citizens Club in Bulleen.
At 60, he returned to study, embracing philosophy and holding lively debates with friends in Pine cafés. His lifelong commitment to knowledge and community was also reflected in his devotion to reading Neos Kosmos cover to cover, right up until a week before his passing on 21 September 2025.
For Harry Thodis, family, community, and life in Australia were life’s greatest gifts. His legacy endures through his businesses, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but above all through the example he set: a man who dared, who loved deeply, who created, and who lived with a Greek heart open to the world.
