We are celebrating the life of Peter Nicholas Kanis who passed away peacefully on the 25 November 2021. He was 90 years old.
Peter Kanis was born the third and youngest child of Yanis and Asimina Kanis on 13 April, 1931.
Peter’s older brother, Constantine, had been born seven seven years earlier, and his sister Katina in 1927.
Their father, Yanis Constantinos Kanis, had migrated to Australia from Castellorizo in 1913 (as a young teenager who had been sent by his family and travelled alone to Australia).
Peter’s mother, Asimina Amonis, had arrived in 1919 after the First World War with her brother.
Asimina was born in Asia Minor (Myra), moved to Castellorizo and then to Egypt where she was educated, before travelling on to Australia.
Asimina and Yanis were married in 1922 and settled in the East St Kilda area.
The hard-working couple provided well for their three children.
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Although rather strict, life was full of joy and happiness and great times were spent with other Greek relatives and friends, many from Castellorizian background families.
Peter’s father had a successful restaurant named The Rolex, which was in the Melbourne CBD and the Kanis family soon moved to a beautiful house in Church Street, Hawthorn, a leafy eastern suburb of Melbourne which is near the city.
After completing primary school education at Hawthorn West Primary School, Peter attended Melbourne High School.
The hard-work ethos was instilled in Peter right through his childhood, as he studied and also assisted his parents at work and in the home.
It was a very happy home, always filled with friends and family sharing laughter and good food.
Peter excelled at sports, and whilst at Melbourne High School, he was appointed captain of the prestigious school’s 1st XVIII football team.
He had registered with the Melbourne High School Old Boys Football Club (MHSOB) in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) whilst still at school. However, his great talent attracted the attention of the recruiting scouts from the professional clubs.
In 1949 the Hawthorn Football club recruited Peter and he signed with the Hawks starting through their Under-19 team. He was quickly promoted to the Reserves and from there into the senior team where he debuted in 1952 and went on to play nearly 50 matches and kicked 11 goals.
At 175cm and 76kg, Peter played mainly on the wing and as a rover for the Hawks.
He was a star player and a distinguished and popular team-mate and clubman who also overcame a serious leg fracture sustained at Essendon.
Peter created Hawthorn club history when he was captain of the team that played at the famous MCG in the 1956 reserves 1st semi-final against Richmond on 25 August, 1956. It was Hawthorn club’s first appearance in a VFL/AFL final in any grade- and although Hawthorn lost the match 5.9.39 to 9.12.66, Kanis was named one of Hawthorn’s best players.
During the 1950s and 60s there was also a team consisting of Greek-background players and officials named Olympic which participated in the Sunday Suburban competition. Peter and brother Con (also a Hawthorn player) would often play for Hawthorn on the Saturday and then with Olympic on the Sunday.
At this time, VFL/AFL players also had jobs and Peter was employed at Gillette. In this capacity he was promoted and transferred to Adelaide where he signed and played with Norwood in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). His career at Hawthorn had come to a premature halt.
In 1958, Peter had married Juanna Nicholades at the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in Victoria Parade East Melbourne. Their love of each other, their four children, and extended family, was a great partnership which lovingly endured until Peter’s recent passing.
Upon their return to Melbourne, Peter became coach of MHSOB in the VAFA A-Grade for three years and he also coached the Victorian team in the 1968 Interstate matches.
He was selected in the greatest AFL team of players with Greek heritage and has a plaque in his honour at Hawthorn FFC to recognize his contribution to his proud Greek background and subsequent diversity in the AFL.
Peter and Juanna had returned to Melbourne and after a period Peter opened a very stylish Greek Restaurant in ritzy Fitzroy Street St.Kilda which he named The Iliad.
It boasted classical Greek decor and a fine wine and dining menu which included the house speciality of Greek Style Chicken Kiev!
The Iliad soon became a hub for prominent Melburnians and was a favourite for politicians, local artists, sporting identities and Peter’s old Melbourne High School-mates including singers from the world-famous Australian band The Seekers and, of course, many VFL/AFL players of that era.
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in later years, Peter established the successful travel company “World Wide Travel” where, amongst his many other clients, he did a lot of work with the Australian Ballet arranging their international tours. He and Juanna were frequent travellers to Europe and especially to Greece.
Peter loved the family life and he took great interest in the lives and achievements of all his four children, his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as his siblings and his many nieces and nephews. He was the perfect restaurant host, travel consultant, father, friend, and business confidante.
He was so proud of his heritage. He was fiercely loyal, adored his family, and lived a full and wonderful life.
Peter passed away on the 25 November 2021.
His generous hospitality, wicked sense of humour, wit, zest and enthusiasm have left an indelible mark on all of us.
Peter Kanis recovering from a broken leg suffered in a game against Essendon, with his older sister, Katina, George Voyage's late mother. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Peter Kanis, centre, with two Hawthorn teammates preparing for a match against Collingwood. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Peter Kanis grimaces with ball during training for Hawthorn in 1955. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
