Kokia Kolokasis, Irini

Irini Kokias' father, Michalis Kokias, was a prisoner of war in the Cypriot Battalion in 1943. He suffered from amnesia and was sent to Switzerland for treatment. After his recovery, he returned to Cyprus and married Irini's mother. Irini was born in Nicosia on December 20, 1949. She attended The American Academy Nicosia Cyprus school. In 1967, Irini married Erotokritos Kolokasidis, known as Kolokasis for short. They built a home together while Erotokritos worked as a car mechanic, and Irini managed the household. They welcomed two children in Nicosia. In 1973, Erotokritos left for work in Muscat, but returned when the war erupted in 1974, fearing for his family's safety. On July 20, 1974, they witnessed Turkish forces landing behind their house in parachutes, forcing them to evacuate immediately. They fled with only the clothes on their backs, leaving everything behind. For the next three years, they lived in Kakopetria, where Irini's mother owned a shop. In 1975, Erotokritos's sister invited them to Darwin. With just two suitcases of clothes and $200, they arrived in Darwin, devastated by the aftermath of Cyclone Tracy in 1974, which had destroyed much of the city. Despite their initial impressions, they were determined to rebuild their lives. For the next eight years, Irini worked at a local supermarket while Erotokritos worked as a mechanic. They also took on cleaning and painting jobs to make ends meet. They finally completed their own house in 1979, which they had built themselves after long hours of work. Despite the challenges, they look back on those years as "very hard years, but we were young and strong." Later on, Irini pursued further education, obtaining an aged care certificate and attempting to upgrade to a nursing diploma, although she was unable to complete it due to family and work responsibilities. She then became a volunteer at the Red Cross, providing assistance to many people in need. Today, Irini and Erotokritos live happily in their home in Darwin, where they maintain a thriving garden with orchids, mangoes, and fig trees.