The community lost another of its emblematic characters as Theoharis (Harry) Tashounidis, a successful businessman and family man, passed away aged 89 on the day of his 65th wedding anniversary with his wife, Marcelle (Stella).
He was a well-recognised member of our community that will be remembered as a well-dressed, tireless and generous man who always had a smile on his face.
Harry was 21 years old when he arrived in Melbourne in December 1954 on the ship Cyrenia (Kurhneia), together with Giorgios Tsikaderis, Thodoros Sidiropoulos, Nikos Tokatlidis and Thodoros Kotylou, all of whom remained close friends from there on and left a special mark here in Australia.
Harry was born on August 17, 1933 in Katerini to Ioanis and Vasiliki Tashounidi, and was one of eight children, with three brothers and four sisters.
A pioneer in all he did, he began a business venture in 1971 which brought him great success: importing beverages from Greece.
This proved very popular among all the newly arrived migrants who were able to purchase wines from the homeland, with people queuing up in great numbers when he brought over Malamatina wines in 1971.
Always restless, he soon began production of his own alcohol, “Parthenon Ouzo”, here in Australia in 1973 and, in 2012, he struck a deal to produce it in ouzo’s original birthplace, Greece.
Harry was the founder of Flox Industries Pty Ltd, now known as Flox Wines & Spirits Pty Ltd, and was the Director along with his wife Marcelle, who now is the sole director.
The company has developed tremendously, now importing from 53 beverage companies in 16 countries and has its own registered Australian brands of fine Australian Wines and takes pride in continuing the importing of premium wines & spirits from Harry’s beloved Greece.
Harry and Marcelle were married on April 19, 1958 and, exactly 65 years later, he peacefully passed away.
The family man has left behind a huge legacy with four children (John, Vicki, Rosemary, Elizabeth) who, together with his daughter-in-law Niki and sons-in-law Loukas, Lou and James, gave him seven grandchildren (Tania, Jonathan, Emily, Harry, Celia, Marcelle, Johnny) and three great-grandchildren (Noah, Ivy, Xander).
