At 91-years-old, Nicholas (Niko) Pateras is a testament to the resilience and enduring spirit of Australia’s early migrant generations.
Born on 15 June 1934 in the small village of Proty in Florina, northern Greece, Niko’s journey from a war-scarred homeland to the farmlands of Werribee South is one of hardship, heart and heritage.
The third of five children born to Anastasios and Maria Pateras, Niko’s early years were shaped by the hardships of World War II.
Seeking a better future, he left his village with two childhood friends at just 15-years-old, embarking on a life-changing migration to Australia.
Settling in Victoria, Niko began work on the land in Werribee South—a place where he would sow the seeds of a new life, both figuratively and literally.
He soon took over his own farm as a market gardener and his passion for gardening still flourishes today in his beloved veggie patch.
It is there he grows ‘Florinian Red Peppers’, seeds so precious to Niko that, to this day, he guards them with a comical fierceness, allowing no one to tamper with his prised plant.
In 1957 Niko married Dimitra and together they built a family, raising two sons, Angelo and James. They also cherishing some brief time with a daughter, Melpomeni, who died a day after she was born.
Their legacy continued with six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Faith and family have been the cornerstones of Niko’s life, with the Greek Orthodox Church playing a vital role in his journey.
Despite the decades spent in Australia, his ties to his Greece remained strong.
Over the years, Niko returned to Florina three times. But it was last year, at age 90 he made what he’s called his final visit to Proty.
Surrounded by close family in the village of his youth, he celebrated his 90th birthday.
Today Niko remains in good health with a sharp mind, continuing to embody the resilient spirit of those early migrants, nurturing new life with the same care he gives his treasured red peppers.
