In recognition of their hard work and dedication to their Greek heritage, Victoria’s best students of Greek language have recently been awarded with the Premier’s VCE Awards.

Katerina Pandelidou, Year 12 student of Northcote High School and Theodora Siganou, Alphington Grammar School Year 12 student, have been awarded for demonstrating outstanding achievement in the Victorian Certificate of Education.

Pandelidou and Siganou were awarded alongside 282 others who were considered as the state’s best and brightest young minds.

With both students being newly arrived immigrants from Greece, their excellence in Greek doesn’t come as a surprise.

What is surprising though, is that in the few years that the two spent in Australia, in an unknown environment with a different education system, surrounded by a new language and friends, they succeeded and excelled.

Theodora Siganou, of Alphington Grammar, migrated to Australia with her family only four years ago, from the town of Halkida. Her English is now, as well as her Greek, immaculate.

“It was hard to start. For both me and my sister, it was hard to get used to a different language, customs and everything else, but everyone was great to me. My school, friends, teachers, they all helped me and were very supportive. It has been really great,” Theodora tells Neos Kosmos.

For Theodora, the VCE Premier’s Award came unexpected, but not for her parents who took pride in Theodora’s achievement.

For those whose mother language is not Greek, Theodora says it is speaking the language at home that could help preserve their Greek language and heritage.

“I think parents should speak Greek to their children at home. The schools do everything they can, the teachers can help them and support them – but if parents don’t speak at home, I don’t think kids will understand Greek as well as they would otherwise.”

Amongst the 282 top students in VCE subjects awarded for their achievements was also Northcote High student Katerina Pandelidou.

Born and brought up in Greece, surrounded with both Greek and English speaking people, Katerina had the best of two worlds. The Pandelidou family returned to Australia only two years ago, but the new environment didn’t stop Katerina on her way to excellence.

“It was very hard for me to adapt to my new environment. But I am doing well with the support of my family and my teachers.

“Even though I was brought up in Greece and Greek is my mother tongue, I had to work really hard to excel in Greek units. Achieving great results in my other subjects was also difficult for me but I tried my best,” Katerina told Neos Kosmos.

Now in Year 12, education is Katerina’s first priority as she believes it is the only way to ensure her future. The Premier’s VCE Award, she said, came as an acknowledgment of her efforts.

“Northcote High School is a great school, with many inspiring teachers. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my Greek teacher Mrs Soti Zorba.
“It is very important to preserve the Greek language and culture in the diaspora since we are all responsible for passing the Greek tradition from generation to generation and keeping the Greek identity alive,” Katerina said.

The school with the most awarded students was Melbourne Grammar School with 14 VCE awards, the selective-entry Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School got 10 and Methodist Ladies’ College received nine.