Greek-Australian Archive – George Moudanidis

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

Interviewer: Eleni Elefterias-Kostakidis Occupation: Mixed business owner, Musician Year of arrival: 1969 Method of transport: Aeroplane to Djibouti then Ship (Patris) George was born in Xanthe, Greece and worked as a shoemaker. In 1969 he sought to escape the political situation in Greece by migrating with his family to Australia. Three years later his family returned to Greece. This return was short-lived and after a few years they returned to Australia. He owned a number of businesses including a mixed business and a café. He was most active as a musician performing at various tavernas in the evenings as well as running a number of Greek choirs. He also wrote one of the songs in the Australian film In Search of Anna (1978). Interview summary George discusses his reasons for leaving Greece and the hard work he and his wife undertook to pay off a home and return to Greece. He recalls that life in Greece was not as he expected. When they returned to Australia they began the process of re-establishing themselves and integrating into the community. He tells how, by chance, he ended up writing one of the songs for the Australian film In Search of Anna that was released in 1978.

HIGHLIGHT What did you do on your return from Greece the second time? "I went and bought a shop, around $30,000, another take-away, at Bondi Junction. A seven-days-a-week shop from 7am in the morning to 12 midnight. […] Opposite this shop was a large house taken by some movie makers who were setting up their sets and they would all come and eat at my place, they would cross the road to the shop and eat. Meanwhile, the sound engineer, came one day and said “George, I need a Greek Musician.” “Why Michael?” I asked. “I am making a film, In Search of Anna, […] and I want a song that shows a young man around 20 years old with his father, who is Greek. He just came out of jail and goes to his father’s place and they argue.” I thought, what can I write about this? So I sat down and left Maria in front to go back to the kitchen where there was an old piano from ‘150 years’ ago. But before that I was writing lyrics on the paper we used to wrap the fish and chips. ‘Oh life, you threw me into the hardships of a foreign land, From the morning I haven’t taken a breath. You have made me crazy, you have made me mad, You have left me alone to cry, to cry, to be in pain.’ […] I recorded it with a guitar onto a cassette and I took it to Michael and said “I have a song for you.” He puts it on some giant speakers and we hear the first chord, an A minor, and the song. Timecode 15:00 - 18:19