Greek-Australian Archive – Ioannis Dimou

Interviewer: Nick Doumanis Occupation: Builder’s labourer Year of arrival: 1962 Method of transport: Ship (Brittany) Ioannis Dimou was born in 1932 in the village of Pigi, located in the Epirus region. He married a local girl and had three children. Finding it hard to make ends meet as a builder’s labourer, he believed that he could earn far more doing the same job in Australia. After being sponsored by his brother, who had migrated a few years earlier, he arrived in Australia and commenced work in the construction industry in the Parramatta area. Ioannis dedicated much of his free time to promoting Greek social and cultural life, especially the local Epirote brotherhood and youth soccer. Interview summary Ioannis describes conditions in Epirus during the war years, the ill-treatment he endured during his military service and the struggle to secure gainful employment. He talks extensively about the journey to Australia and working conditions in Parramatta in the 1960s and 1970s. He also recalls his involvement with various Greek community associations.