Greek-Australian Archive – Evdokia Kokkinakos

Copyright holder : State Library of New South Wales Please acknowledge : Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Interviewer: Kathy Kallos Occupation: Seamstress Year of arrival: 1957 Method of transport: Ship (Toscana) Evdokia Kokkinakos was born in Athens in 1934. She worked as an apprentice dressmaker for an haute couture designer, who made evening gowns for high-end clients including Athina Onassis and the Greek royal family. At the age of 23 she was sent to Australia by her father, to visit her younger sister who had migrated the previous year. A year after her arrival Evdokia would be married and then running a mixed business store in Alexandria. She and her husband lived above the shop before purchasing their first home in Concord where they settled. Over the years she undertook various jobs as a seamstress in the textile industry. Interview summary Evdokia discusses her early years in Athens, where she was enjoying her work as a seamstress, and her busy social life. Being the dutiful daughter, she followed her father’s wishes to come to Australia to visit her sister. She would come to realise her father wanted to marry her off and spare him from providing a dowry.