Over $100 000 was raised for Greek aged care at the Fabulous Fronditha Charity Gala Ball last week.

This is a fantastic record result for Fronditha, and one which will go a long way in the expansion of our Thornbury facility.

President of Fronditha Care, Mike Zafiropoulos, AM, said the $114,756 would be valuable in expanding Fronditha’s 120-bed facility in Thornbury, including a 30 bed dementia unit.

“This is a fantastic record result for Fronditha, and one which will go a long way in the expansion of our Thornbury facility,” he said.

He thanked the donors, the community and the event sponsors, including BMW, for the record amount.

Host Alex Perry helped auction off one of his designer dresses for $5000, and entertained the crowd as he spoke about whether Australia’s Next Top Model was rigged, as well as the importance of looking after Greek elders.

“We’re standing on the shoulders of our forefathers,” he told the well-dressed crowd of around 280 people at Toorak’s Lincoln Reception Centre.

“So at the end of their lives you need to say, ‘we will look after you every single day, as much as you did for us’.”

The popular fashion designer said aged care was an issue close to his heart, as his father was suffering from aphasia, a neurological disease where he has difficulty remembering language.

Parry’s father migrated from Greece in the 1950s, and his mother’s parents came out in the 1930s.

He described his relatives as “the bravest people I know”.

“I would often think, ‘oh here we go, the suitcase story,’ but I often think about it now,” he said.

“And I challenge any of you, if I gave you a suitcase full of clothes and let’s say $2000, to travel across the world to a country you know nothing about.”

And he challenged the younger generation to keep alive the stories of their grandparents’ migration.

“They need to be here and see this,” he said.

He also had a go at special guest George Calombaris, whom he described as a “matinee idol”.
But the pair seemed to have mended their differences when they joined with Mike Zafiropoulos to lead the first Kalamatiano.