John Kostoulias has announced his resignation as President of the Federation of Greek Elderly Citizens Clubs of Melbourne and Victoria for health reasons.
Speaking to Neos Kosmos he said that “the time has come to pass the baton”.
Following his resignation, the Federation has informed its member associations that elections will be held to elect a new board of directors on April 5, at 11 am at 7 Union St Brunswick.
Those interested in running for candidacy are requested to respond by March 20.
A police clearance certificate is required and must be submitted with the candidacy application.
One of Kostoulias’ recent actions as president was to raise the issue of the cost of living affecting many retirees in a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The letter is as follows:
Dear Prime Minister,
On behalf of the Federation of Greek Elderly Citizens Clubs of Melbourne and Victoria, representing over 22,000 members, as well as all elderly retirees in Australia, on the occasion of the pension adjustment on March 20, 2024, I would like to highlight some of the pensioners’ problems that I believe require your attention.
The increase of cost of living, not only essentials but also all other items, makes them unaffordable for pensioners.
In supermarkets, prices have gone beyond the bounds of reason.
I see elderly people buying one apple, one banana, etc., as meat and fish have become unaffordable for pensioners.
The various insurance companies are charging whatever they want. Everyone is pointing to electricity being expensive, overlooking the fact that gas is much more expensive.
The doctors do not believe in the Hippocratic Oath but believe in the dollar.
Medications have gotten some increase, apart from those we are forced to pay full price for because they are not in the rebate system.
Even worse is the ordeal for the elderly when they visit public hospitals and are forced to wait up to ten hours to see a doctor. If you can imagine an old sick person waiting so many hours to see a doctor. As for surgeries, one must wait more than two years if they are lucky.
At banks, the old must travel several kilometers to find a bank branch, and when they manage to get there, they cannot be served because everyone always has the excuse that everything is done electronically these days.
All these profiteers do not care if the majority of elderly immigrants do not even know English, and how can they learn the electronic system?
We see supermarkets, gas stations, and a bunch of other companies eliminating staff with vending machines, while instead of reducing prices, they double them.
Prime Minister, on the occasion of the pension adjustment, I would like you to consider all that I have mentioned to you.
And a thought, Prime Minister, perhaps it is time for all those companies that belonged to the state to come back under government control.
