2023-04-21

Sydney

Dimitriou, John

Greeks in Australia

Oral history

Community Organisations

Digitised

Interviewer: Nick Doumanis

Occupation: Dentist
Year of arrival: 1964
Method of transport: Ship (Patris)

John was born in the Epirote village of Konitsa situated on the Albanian border. His father made ends meet by working in West Germany, but his mother was convinced that the family would have a better future in Australia, where she had relatives. John had just finished high school when his whole family migrated to Sydney and settled in the Parramatta area. Despite his limited English, John was determined to qualify for university and enrol in either dentistry or medicine. After finishing dentistry at the University of Sydney, he set up a practice in Harris Park, where most of his clients were either Greek or Lebanese. He married a Greek-Australian woman and spent much of his free time involved in Greek associations.

Interview summary
John’s interview deals mainly with his education in Greece and his efforts to enter university soon after his arrival in Australia. He also discusses his involvement in Greek associations, especially the Epirus Brotherhood that he helped establish in Parramatta, where most of his relatives and fellow Epirotes happened to live.

Sound recording

Siobhan Campbell