Kastellorizo is approximately 14,000 km away from Melbourne. But Kazzies Down Under have a reputation for finding ways to keep their small Greek island home close to heart.
A recent event organised by the Kastellorizian Association of Victoria couldn’t serve as a better reminder.
Around 50 members and friends gathered at the Como Gardens, the 16-acre property tucked away in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, where proud Kastellorizian George Hetrel (Hetrelezis) and wife Pat live.
The estate includes a 1-acre lake, which the couple calls ‘Megisti’, the official name of the island commonly know as Kastellorizo.
Over the past two decades, their Basin home has been the site of renowned fundraising events.
Family-friendly open day events would feature a range of shows and activities, including the classics: a 650m long miniature railway train ride and tours around the luscious botanical gardens and George’s vintage car collection.
President of the Kastellorizian Association of Victoria Justin Mastores. Photo: Zoe Thomaidou/Neos Kosmos
Philhellenes Geoff Elman, Paul King with Kazzie Peter Coates at the event. Photo: Zoe Thomaidou/Neos Kosmos
Michael and Tim at the event. Photo: Zoe Thomaidou/Neos Kosmos
This time around, the hosts of the Kazzie gathering, George and Pat were also the guests of honour.
“George Hetrel accepted the honour of being our club’s Patron as a result of his charitable work over many years.
“His invitation by putting this on was to say thanks,” George Verginis who helped organise the event with fellow club member Peter Coates told Neos Kosmos.
The BBQ-style luncheon was held inside George Hetrel’s spacious garage housing a rare collection of vintage cars and memorabilia.
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Up until recently, ‘George’s garage’ boasted 16 vintage cars.
The collection has been scaled down over the years, but the oldest one is still there: a 1896 Benz Velo. It had stayed in the Netherlands Motor Museum for a couple of decades on loan before it was purchased by Mr Hetrel.
This model was one of the forerunners, we read on the Como Gardens website, and was mass produced from 1893 to 1900.
Another rare addition is a 1903 Peugeot type 56, one of only sixteen produced and reportedly the only example in the world still in private ownership.
But perhaps the most debated – for car buffs and the like – items in Mr Hetrel’s collections was one that he sold about a year ago: a Mercedez Benz 540K. Word on the street was that the red convertible was originally owned by Adolph Hitler.
Mr Hetrel told Neos Kosmos the story of the car’s notorious past:
“It was brought into Australia by a car enthusiast in the late ’80s, but he provided a false declaration and was taken into custody by the customs. After a series of court cases over a three-year period the court ruled it belonged to customs.”
The customs then called for tenders to auction the car in Sydney.
“I knew the car was a very, very rare one with big history and decided to buy it but thought I’m not going to Sydney to get involved in the auction,” Mr Hetrel said.
The purchase was arranged through a phone bid from his Melbourne home.
“I had a bloke there with a cheque. The audience had gathered to see who [will take it] but they thought that it’s gone overseas. The next day it was revealed the car belonged to a Melbourne confectioner.”
Mr Hetrel had taken the car on ANZAC Parades over the years and drove it interstate at least once, going to Sydney for the Olympics.
A community old in service, young in heart and vision
Olga Black (Mavrokefalou) on the 1903 Peugeot type 56. "I don't suppose I'm allowed to go behind the wheel?" she asked hesitantly. "You can if you like," owner George Hetrel replied giving the green light to a memorable moment for Olga.
Photo: Zoe Thomaidou/Neos Kosmos
Photo: Zoe Thomaidou/Neos Kosmos
His philanthropic work was highlighted throughout the event and during the welcome address by the Association’s President Justin Mastores.
“With wife Pat they have donated generously to causes over the years,” Mr Mastores said of the Hetrels, while thanking the couple for the “warm welcome” in their “beautiful” home.
St John’s Ambulance, SES and the local CFA are among the organisations where the couple have donated or fundraised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years.
In 2018, they made a record $1 million donation to Knox City Council for the refurbishment of Batterham Reserve in The Basin.
Mr Mastores also presented long-time committee member of the Kastellorizian Association of Victoria Sandra Varvodic with this year President’s Award.
Ms Varvodic reacted with tears to the surprise announcement with fellow members heard cheering and saying “You deserve it Sandra!”
While attending the gathering, Neos Kosmos was briefed about the association’s vision for the future, inviting youth involvement, and using dance as a way of initiating younger Kazzie kids into their culture, as well as plans for an upcoming philanthropic group under the name ‘Infinity’, with Greeks and Philhellenes joining forces to help those in need.
Attendees at George's event.
Photo: Zoe Thomaidou/Neos Kosmos
The BBQ-style luncheon featured sausage sizzle, burgers, a buffet of salads and side dishes, desserts, drinks and refreshments.
Christine Dimer (L) was the Kastellorizian of the Year Award recipient for 2017. Lina Coates (R) is the Vice President of the Kastellorizian Association of Victoria. Photo: Zoe Thomaidou/Neos Kosmos
The garage was the perfect space to fit a table long enough to sit around 50 guests. Photo: Zoe Thomaidou/Neos Kosmos
On Saturday 15 October, the Kazzie Community will hold its annual gala dinner, honouring Kastellorizian of the Year Lilliane Gomatos, who was recognised in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her work in “preserving and embedding Greek heritage in Darwin.”
Kazzies are just one of the many communities comprising the diverse Greek diaspora Down Under.
But they’re also one of the first to migrate to Australia – many of them in the early 1900s – and have a long history of contribution to the Greek and wider community.
The Kastellorizian Association of Victoria heads into their centenary in a few months’ time, with a renewed commitment to their proclaimed values of ‘Faith, Hope and Charity’.
