On January 1, New Years Day, Leo Lambros turned 100 years old, a rare and incredible feat for a man who first handily fought in war, founded a church and worked in politics.
Lambros welcomed approximately 80 family members and close friends, with some having travelled from regional Victoria (Shepparton and Geelong) and are predominantly the Australian members of his family, his eldest brothers (deceased) children and their children and grandchildren and families.
He also welcomed his oldest surviving koumbara Metaxia Dimitropoulos who is 97 and her family. Other family members include his symbethero Kosta Tsourdalakis who is 96 and his children, grandchildren and great grandchild.
All family and friends warmly embraced him and recounted how they met him and what he means to them and their families.
Lambros celebrated his birthday surrounded by family. Photo: Supplied
Photo: Supplied
Leo Lambros (c) with his daughter Yiota Tsourdalakis (left) and son Con Lambros (right). Photo: Supplied
They were in awe of the acknowledgment and recognition provided by King and Queen, The Prime Minister, The Premier and the Governor General.
A photo album was produced demonstrating a history spanning over 100 years both in Australia and Greece.
Lambros’ words of thanks and love were warmly accepted and everyone wished him another 1000 years and beyond.
With help from his son Con, we’ve gathered a timeline of his century lived, and quite the eventful one at that.
Born on the very first day of 1924 in Akrata, in a village originally known as Valkouvina, Leo Lambros, anglicised from Ηλίας Λαμπροπουλος, was the youngest of seven children.
Two of his siblings died to illness and disaster, and that was almost the case for four-year-old Lambros too, had it not been for his grandmother, who saved him from a collapsing barn during an earthquake in Corinth.
As a young boy, Lambros had an entrepreneurial spirit, running the local kafenio, and it was there that he learned to play tavli (backgammon). A game that he continued to play, and still does, to this day.
Then the Second World War hit, and in 1941, at 17 years-old, Lambros joined and later led a local youth resistance against the Nazis.
The one shining light of this time was that he met his future wife Louisa, who was on a church excursion from Athens to his village.
In July of 1944, Lambros was captured, interrogated and tortured by the Nazis and had it not been for Operation Valkyrie, the most famous assassination attempt on the life of Adolf Hitler by German conspirers, we may not be writing this story.
After the war, Lambros went back and finished high school and was preparing to continue his studies to become an accountant when the Greek Civil War broke out.
This saw Lambros conscripted and sent to officer school to become a captain. He served four years in the army fighting his fellow Greeks, which Con says was the darkest time in his dad’s life and he rarely ever speaks of it.
One story he has shared however was that he survived a major car accident that saw the Jeep he was in roll down an embankment.
The driver was killed and Lambros climbed out of the vehicle, with his cigarette still positioned between his fingers, ready to be lit without a scratch.
Post-Civil War saw him return to his village to care for his father who suffered a major stroke, which he did for two years until he passed away.
In 1956, Lambros decided he had seen enough devastation, and it was time to leave his home country in search for a better life.
His two eldest brothers Andreas and Thanassi migrated to Australia in 1928 and 1930, and his sister Diamanto the same in the early 1950s, so it only made sense for him to follow suit.
Upon arriving in Australia, one of the very first events he attended was the Melbourne Olympics in 1956.
Lambros settled behind his sister’s shop in St Kilda, but two years later she passed away suddenly, so he moved in with his brother.
Next came a struggle of seven years to bring his teenage sweetheart Louisa over to Australia from Greece, and after numerous dead ends, he was introduced to a politician who assisted him.
The 1960s was all about family and work, with Louisa arriving in 1963, the pair were married that same year. The two worked in various factories and other odd jobs before they purchased a milkbar in Lalor, which they would run for almost 30 years.
In 1964 the couple welcomed their daughter Yiota, and then their son Con in 1967.
Lambros was also one of the original founders of the Greek Orthodox parish of Thomastown and was their secretary for 15 years. He often wrote letters on behalf of his parish to the Archdiocese and was called on to assist others in the Greek community.
From the mid-1970s to the late 80s, Lambros was a member of the ALP and was prominent in the rights of workers.
A philanthropist, Lambros would always use the power of gratitude and perspective whenever he and his wife faced challenges, and it was this combined with their devout faith that allowed them to manage both the good and difficult times they faced.
One of those times being when Lambros was in his early 80s and he underwent open heart surgery.
After his wife Louise passed away in 2016, Lambros has battled with depression and a form of dementia and now lives with his daughter and son in law.
“He is grateful for the devotion, love and care they have shown him,” said his son Con.
He shared that Lambros’ three grandchildren have become his focus and source of joy in his latter years and he has two nephews and two nieces who love him dearly.
“Kosta, Louisa and Elias are grateful for the time they spend with their Pappou and continue to learn from him.”
“Dad has made many friends throughout his life and is known as a man of sharp wit, cheekiness, with a love of history, politics and Hellenism.
“Above all else is his love for his family and his faith and looks forward to seeing a smiling face, a greeting and any event that involves his grandchildren.”
Lambros is also the face of the Greek plate smashing business ETHIMA, run by his grandaughter.
